AUGUSTA — He might not be on the sidelines anymore, but that doesn’t mean T.J. Maines’ coaching itch has gone away. Last week, he got an unexpected opportunity to do it once again.

On Friday, the Cony High athletic director filled in for injured boys basketball coach Isaiah Brathwaite as the Rams dropped a 78-66 decision to Mt. Blue in Farmington. It was a fun experience for Maines, who coached the Rams from 2013-22 before stepping down last fall to accept his current position.

“It was awesome,” Maines said. “It’s great to get those competitive juices going, and it was a lot of fun. The kids played hard, and it was a good basketball game. I really enjoyed it.”

On Jan. 14, Brathwaite was guiding his team through a layup line while coaching in a local middle school league game. Cony’s second-year head coach attempted to dunk the ball but landed awkwardly, tearing his patella tendon (bottom of kneecap) in the process.

Brathwaite was able to coach the Rams the following day against Brewer, but after having surgery on the tendon Thursday, he was unable to do so against Mt. Blue. Maines, who knows the Cony program as well as anyone, was an easy choice to fill in on a one-game basis.

“A couple of (the players) were on the team when I was still the coach, and the others, I’ve pretty much had all of them in middle school and basketball camps,” Maines said. “I’m always around — I’m at games and practices — so they’re pretty used to seeing me. It just made sense.”

Brathwaite, Maines said, has yet to be cleared to return to work at Augusta’s Farrington Elementary School following Thursday’s surgery. Should that approval not come prior to Tuesday, either Maines or someone else would have to coach the team that evening against Camden Hills.

The two have a longstanding relationship, with Brathwaite being Maines’ first recruit during his days coaching at Thomas College before joining his Cony staff as an assistant.

“I’m really proud of him and what he’s doing,” Maines said of Brathwaite. “It’s been fun to be with these guys and coach for him while he’s gone, but he’s doing big things, and as soon as he’s ready to come back, I want him back.”

 

• • •

 

Even as a freshman on a senior-heavy Lawrence girls basketball team last year, Maddie Provost got noticed — by coaches, fans, media and apparently by the state’s flagship program.

After playing a key role off the bench on Lawrence’s Class A State championship-winning team a year ago, Provost took an unofficial visit to the University of Maine over the summer. On Saturday, Provost again visited UMaine, where she said she received a verbal scholarship offer.  

“It feels amazing,” Provost said Monday. “I don’t even know how to explain it, honestly. It’s just such an honor to have that opportunity to compete as a Black Bear someday. It’s something you dream about.”

Basketball, football or baseball programs are allowed to offer verbal scholarships to recruits of any age. Those offers are non-binding until an athlete’s National Letter of Intent is signed and may be rescinded by either party at any time.

According to Provost, she and her family were given three tickets to attend Saturday’s game between Maine and New Jersey Institute of Technology at The Pit. The Black Bears prevailed 81-39, and afterward, Provost decided to stick around for a little bit longer.

She had good reason to do so. During the week, Provost said, Maine assistant coach Tom Biskup had attended one of Lawrence’s games to see her play. Between that and a conversation she had with one of the current Black Bears, Provost had a feeling good news was on the way.

“I’m pretty close friends with (Maine sophomore guard) Sarah Talon, and Coach Tom had been texting her that we were going to chat after the game, so I had a good idea it was coming,” Provost said. “We went to his office, we talked for a bit, and he offered me right there.”

As a sophomore this season, Provost, who is averaging 22.0 points per game, has been a big reason Lawrence hasn’t skipped a beat despite losing the entire starting five from last year’s Gold Ball run. The Bulldogs are 12-0 and are seeking their first repeat since winning four consecutive state titles from 1991-94.

Given that she still has two and a half years of high school basketball to go, Provost is in no hurry to rush the recruiting process. Maine’s offer was only her first, she said, and as her game continues to grow over the next few seasons, she’s likely to get plenty of others to consider.

“As time ticks, we’ll just kind of have to see,” Provost said. “I definitely have a lot of time, so I’m going to just enjoy the process and see where it goes. I’m thankful, and I’m going to keep working, and I definitely have my eyes on the prize. We want to win another Gold Ball.”

 

Around the area

 

Speaking of the Mt. Blue boys, the Cougars are still undefeated at 12-0. They’ll face Messalonskee (8-4) in a major Class A North showdown Tuesday in Oakland. … Other major upcoming matchups include the Monmouth Academy boys (9-2) hosting Mt. Abram (10-0) on Tuesday and the Madison girls (10-0) traveling to face Spruce Mountain (9-2) on Friday. … Since starting 1-3 with close losses to Mt. Abram and Richmond, the Valley boys have won eight straight to solidify themselves in first place in Class D South. The Valley girls, meanwhile, are 13-0 as they take aim at the program’s first-ever state championship. … After their 6-0 start, the Madison boys are now 6-4 after dropping four consecutive contests. 

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