Vachon, Caouette honored

BANGOR – There was little surprise when Winthrop’s T.J. Caouette was named Mr. Maine Basketball, but there was much speculation about who might carry home the Miss Maine Basketball trophy.

Amy Vachon of Cony and Westbrook’s Bri Fecteau had faced off last Saturday for the second straight year in the Class A state schoolgirl basketball championship, with the Rams of Augusta getting the better of the Blue Blazes again.

But that was despite Fecteau’s 22-point performance, including a 16-point, second-half deluge, as her UMaine-bound backcourt counterpart poured in a cool 17 points while making 5-of-6 free throw attempts with the game on the line.

The winners are selected by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches.

Also in contention was Bangor’s Katie Clark who was the Rams’ heart in a 16-4 season, during which she averaged 29.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, earning a Black Bears’ basketball scholarship of her own.

In the end, it was Vachon who left with the honor at Friday night’s 1996 McDonald’s Boys/Girls East/West Senior All-Star banquet, held at Husson College’s Newman Gymnasium.

“I really wasn’t expecting this, I think they should have given it to all of us,” Vachon said.

Also nominated for the Mr. Maine Basketball award were Dexter’s Brad Olson and Caribou’s Brett Doody.

Caouette, a 6-foot-7 forward bound for Villanova on a basketball scholarship, averaged 33.5 points, 14.4 rebounds, and 6.5 steals per game this season for the Ramblers.

Olson, a 6-9 center, put in 21.4 points and grabbed 15 rebounds per game for the Tigers. The 6-6 Doody led the Vikings’ charge this season with 28 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.