The spotlight awaits.

For Searsport High senior center Bree Robert, the 1993-94 schoolgirl basketball season could be her time to stand out.

Robert has played a key, albeit overshadowed, role in the recent success of the hardcourt Vikings. In the three years that Robert has roamed the paint, bleeding Searsport blue, the Vikes have posted a 50-7 record with three straight Eastern Maine Class C tournament appearances.

Now, in this, Robert’s final season as a high school player, comes the acid test. Seven seniors left last year’s 18-2 Eastern Maine Class C semifinalists, including do-it-all guard Amber Howard, whose 5-foot-6 frame always seemed to overshadow Robert’s physical 6-foot presence.

Not anymore, though.

As first-year coach Ron Brown said, “somebody told me that the heart and soul of that team last year was Amber and Bree. Maybe Amber was the heart and Bree was the soul. Unfortunately for us, the heart is now in the backcourt at Colby.”

Yet the soul lives on, readying herself to step into the spotlight and lead a young Searsport High School team back to the high school basketball promise land – the Bangor Auditorium, site of the regional playoffs.

It’s quite the task, considering only two players – Robert and senior guard Jen Russ – are the only two players who saw significant playing time last season.

Robert seems to be ready.

“Yes, I am. I deal with pressure all right,” Robert said. “I think we’ll do really well. Our coach is setting up a lot of offenses and defenses that we can handle. We’ve caught on quick.”

If anybody can do it, Brown says, the 6-foot Robert could be the one.

“She’s outstanding,” said Brown. “She does something different every day. Skill-wise, she’s on par with any kid I’ve had at this level.”

“We just had a lot of trouble with her size and strength,” said Schenck Coach Jay Brown, who last faced Robert when she was a sophomore. “She dominated us on the boards.”

A natural love of basketball coupled with a strong-willed internal drive to succeed has driven Robert over the years, changing her style from a polite, excuse-me style of game into an intense competitor who wants to win.

Mount View Coach Beth Staples, who coached at Searsport the last two years, saw a major change in Robert between her sophomore and junior seasons.

“I remember her sophomore year, she would block a shot and apologize,” said Staples. “By the time her junior year ended, she would block somebody and pretty much spit on them. Away from the court, though, she’s still such a nice girl.”

Robert credits Staples with making her the player she has become.

“She taught me just about everything I know in terms of my inside moves,” Robert said. “She taught me to believe in myself that I could become a good player. She gave me a lot of confidence.”

Despite this confidence, Robert pushes herself to become even better.

“She’s her own worst critic,” Brown said. “She’s tough on herself. She wants to play all the time.”

This year, Robert will get her chance.

She’ll be the key to Searsport’s success this season, stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight for one final season.