The future of the Big East high school basketball conference is looking up, especially if this season’s players of the year have anything to say about it.

A pair of juniors – Kelly Bowman of Nokomis and Chris Funk of Caribou – were honored Saturday by the conference for their outstanding seasons.

Bowman, a 5-foot-10 forward for Coach Charlie Wing’s Nokomis team, and Funk, a 6-5 forward, were both ranked among the conference leaders all season long in each catagory.

In the 12 conference games played this season, Bowman averaged 15.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.7 steals, and 2.6 assists per game. Her numbers for the season, however, were even better.

“She scored 42 vs. Gardiner and in many other games she played so big,” said Wing. “Kelly has improved every year since she joined us. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a girl as devoted to the game of basketball as Kelly. She works hard at it and she wants to get better.”

Funk, who caught the eye of many college coaches this season, tossed 20.7 points per game through the Big East schedule. He also had 10.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.2 steals per outing.

“I was hoping he would get it because he truly deserves it,” said Caribou coach Jeff Holmes. “He’s not only a scorer, but he’s a defender, a rebounder, an assist man. He does a little bit of everything and he does it well. He’s a real all-around player.”

In other awards handed out Saturday, Tim Prescott was named boys coach of the year after leading his Wildcats to the Big East championship.

George Moran of Caribou won the honor as top girls coach.

1994 Big East Basketball Award Winners All-Big East Boys Team Matt Casavant Presque Isle Nat Clark Bangor Brian Colman Brewer Danny Dahl Bangor Chris Funk Caribou Rob Jarvis Bangor Jack Kelly Hampden Jon Kunz Hampden Tate McPherson Presque Isle Erik Salminen Caribou Honorable Mention

Reggie Dorr, Old Town; Travis Dorr, Old Town; Chris Hashey, Old Town; Chris Horr, Brewer; Jody Grant, Nokomis; Matt Kinney, Bangor; Craig McBean, Hampden; Toby Plummer, Presque Isle

Conference champions – Presque Isle

Player of the year – Chris Funk, Caribou

Coach of the year – Tim Prescott, Presque Isle

All-Big East Girls Team Kelly Bowman Nokomis Katie Clark Bangor Brynn Clough Brewer Erin Cole-Karagory Caribou Shannon Field Old Town Laura Grumbach Nokomis Eryn Leavitt Hampden Denise Hewes Brewer Kyla Malbon Old Town Tanya Sibley Old Town Honorable Mention

Betsy Buker, Nokomis; Kim Condon, Presque Isle; Jill Degrasse, Old Town; Amy Dwyer, Hampden; Jen Emery, Brewer; Emily Leavitt, Hampden; Sara Parker, Bangor; Michelle Puls, Bangor

Conference champions – Old Town

Player of the year – Kelly Bowman, Nokomis

Coach of the year – George Moran, Caribou