Blodgett pick as Osborne award winner

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After a Jordanesque 123 points in three games, there couldn’t be any other choice.

Cindy Blodgett was the only selection who could win the inaugural Owen Osborne Trophy, signifying her as the MVP for the Eastern Maine Class A schoolgirl basketball tournament.

Blodgett getting the unanimous selection from a vote of media and tournament committee capped off the Lawrence High School Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive run to the big school regional title.

Joining the 5-foot-9 senior star on the EM “A” all-tournament team are Lawrence of Fairfield teammate Jill Atwood, Cony’s Amy Vachon and Angela Beaudoin, and Nokomis High’s Kelly Bowman.

Blodgett averaged 41.0 points per game on 58 percent field shooting to lead the Bulldogs. She scored 37 (sixth all-time in girls EM “A” tourney action) in the quarterfinal game against Hampden, 39 (third all-time in the EM “A” girls field) in the semifinals against Nokomis of Newport, and 47 (tops all-time for girls tournament scoring, regardless of class) in the regional final against top-seeded Cony of Augusta.

“What more can you say?” asked Lawrence Coach Bruce Cooper, following the regional championship game.

Atwood supplied Blodgett with backup offensive support, averaging 12.3 ppg in Lawrence’s three victories. Five of Atwood’s points in the tourney came on free throws down the stretch of the regional final win over Cony, in which Atwood had 15 points.

Representing Cony on the all-tournament team are Vachon, a sophomore point guard, and Beaudoin, a senior forward.

Beaudoin anchored a surprising inside effort by the free-shooting Cony Rams, scoring 42 points in three games (14 ppg), including 19 and 17 in the semis and regional final, respectively.

Vachon, who averaged 12 ppg, was instrumental in running Cony’s high-powered offense and spearheading the Rams’ stingy defense.

In addition to scoring 23.5 ppg in two appearances, the 5-foot-10 Bowman, a junior forward, almost went down in tournament history as the girl who KO’d Blodgett’s quest for a fourth straight title.

Bowman and Blodgett collided head-to-head while chasing after a loose ball near midcourt during their semifinal contest. Bowman received a bump on her head while Blodgett had nine stiches to close a serious cut over her right eyebrow.

Both players returned to action and, needless to say, played well enough to make the all-tournament team.

Eastern Maine Girls

All-Tournament Selections

Class A

Name School Pos. Yr.

Cindy Blodgett (MVP) Lawrence Guard Sr.

Jill Atwood Lawrence Guard Sr.

Amy Vachon Cony Guard So.

Angela Beaudoin Cony Forward Sr.

Kelly Bowman Nokomis Forward Jr.

Honorable Mention: Kelly Duffy, Cony; Eryn Leavitt, Hampden; Shannon Field, Old Town; Tanya Sibley, Old Town; Wendy Atwood, Lawrence.

Player AG G AF F PTs

Cindy Blodgett 81 47 28 23 123

Jill Atwood 31 13 10 9 37

Amy Vachon 26 11 19 10 36

Angela Beaudoin 31 15 18 12 42

Kelly Bowman 31 19 17 9 47

Eastern Maine Boys

All-Tournament Selections

Class A

Name School Pos. Yr.

Josh Nash (MVP) Medomak Valley Guard Jr.

Billy Cole Lawrence Forward Sr.

Tommy Reynolds Lawrence Guard Sr.

Daren Meader Waterville Guard Sr.

Tate McPherson Presque Isle Center Sr.

Honorable Mention: Jon Kunz, Hampden; Chris Funk, Caribou; Tom McLellan, Presque Isle.

Player AG G AF F PTs

Josh Nash 62 32 25 19 87

Billy Cole 48 28 15 11 57

Tommy Reynolds 29 12 19 15 39

Daren Meader 29 14 17 12 41

Tate McPherson 25 14 9 6 34