Tooth Injury Sidelines Key Player in Maine Basketball Tournament

Bangor Christian loses sophomore guard Annie Allen early in semifinal game against Penobscot Valley

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The top-ranked Bangor Christian girls basketball team was without one of its best players, sophomore guard Annie Allen, for most of its Class D North semifinal game against No. 4 Penobscot Valley after Allen suffered a tooth injury in the first quarter. Allen took a blow to the face while going for a rebound and had to leave the game to get her loosened front tooth examined and treated by her uncle, a local dentist. Her absence was a significant factor in Bangor Christian's 52-37 loss to Penobscot Valley.

Why it matters

Losing a key player like Allen, who is the team's second-leading scorer and provides valuable ball-handling and defense, was a major blow for Bangor Christian. The Patriots had beaten Penobscot Valley three times during the regular season, but struggled without Allen's contributions in the semifinal matchup.

The details

In the first quarter, Allen said she took another player's shoulder to the face while going up for a rebound, which loosened one of her front teeth. She did not return to the game and went to see her uncle, a local dentist, to get the injury treated. Allen's older sister, senior Mary Allen, is the team's top scorer, while Annie is the second-leading scorer. Bangor Christian head coach Brock Bradford acknowledged that losing Allen was a factor in the game, but credited Penobscot Valley for their strong performance.

  • The injury occurred in the first quarter of the Class D North semifinal game on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

Annie Allen

A sophomore guard for the Bangor Christian girls basketball team who suffered a tooth injury early in the semifinal game.

Mary Allen

The senior and top scorer for the Bangor Christian girls basketball team, who is Annie Allen's older sister.

Brock Bradford

The head coach of the Bangor Christian girls basketball team.

Rylee Moulton

A senior guard for the Penobscot Valley girls basketball team.

Penobscot Valley

The No. 4 seed team that defeated the top-ranked Bangor Christian team in the Class D North semifinal game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I just kind of went for a rebound and a shoulder went in my mouth. It was just kind of hanging on by like a thread, pretty much. But we fixed it, so it's fine.”

— Annie Allen, Bangor Christian Sophomore Guard (bangordailynews.com)

“That was one of the biggest impacts in the game. We were already fighting a couple of sicknesses. No excuses given. Howland played a great game. But losing Annie was huge. She gives us another ball-handler and scorer and she does a lot on the defensive end that people don't notice.”

— Mary Allen, Bangor Christian Senior and Top Scorer (bangordailynews.com)

“Give them props, they played a good game. It was going to be a tough matchup regardless, and being down Annie, who is a big part of our team and not being at full strength certainly was a contributing factor. But at the end of the day, I felt like we competed. They executed a little bit better than we did.”

— Brock Bradford, Bangor Christian Head Coach (bangordailynews.com)

“That gave Mary one less stud to pass to and put more of a workload on her. That limited their shot attempts and shot-making. Annie can shoot. I hope she recovers quickly.”

— Rylee Moulton, Penobscot Valley Senior Guard (bangordailynews.com)

What’s next

The extent of Annie Allen's injury and her timeline for recovery are still unclear, which could impact Bangor Christian's plans for the remainder of the tournament.

The takeaway

This injury highlights the importance of depth and versatility on a basketball team, especially in high-stakes tournament games. Bangor Christian struggled without the contributions of their sophomore guard Annie Allen, underscoring how the loss of a key player can significantly alter the dynamics of a game.