A Family’s Legacy in Boothbay Basketball
Lesley Carter and Brian Blethen first crossed paths on a modest court in Boothbay back in 1996, a meeting that would set the stage for a decades‑long partnership in coaching girls’ basketball.
Together they have guided more than three hundred young athletes from the region, instilling not just skill but a love for the game that extends beyond the hardwood.
Their own children have followed the same path with distinction; Faith Blethen earned a Division I scholarship to The George Washington University and now works as a certified public accountant at Deloitte in Maryland, while Glory Blethen serves on the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s squad and recently represented Team USA in a tournament in France.
Funding the Future of the Russell Gymnasium
Motivated by this personal legacy, the couple is now championing the Y‑Hoops Campaign to revitalize the Russell Gymnasium at the Boothbay Region YMCA, aiming to replace aging hoops, install a new dividing curtain and upgrade the bleacher seating.
The initiative has already secured $112,688 in donations and is seeking an additional $37,312 to complete the project, with contributions accepted online, by check or cash, and the option to dedicate gifts to a specific individual or jersey number.
Beyond the renovation, Lesley offers free “skills and drills” clinics for girls in the community, providing an accessible gateway for the next generation to experience basketball without barriers.
Local supporters, including longtime volunteers and regional businesses, have rallied around the cause, underscoring the broader significance of the gymnasium as a communal hub.