Balance and experience: two qualities the Bangor Daily News’ 41st All-Maine high school basketball team is steeped in.

Want athletic forwards who can score a tough basket in a crowded lane and then step out for a 15-foot jumper the next time down the court?… Got those.

How about guards who can run like cheetahs, stick 3-pointers, and slash through the lane for an easy lay-in?… Check.

Well, what about imposing centers who simply intimidate opponents in the paint and never consider that someone else might actually want to grab their rebounds?… Oh yeah.

Meet the 1996 NEWS Dream Team: a five-man squad that would give even the most stouthearted coaches nightmares and fits trying to prepare to play them.

Winthrop star T.J. Caouette is the lone repeat member of the NEWS first team. The three-time first-teamer is joined by newcomers and fellow seniors Corey Thibodeau of Old Town, Ryan Martin of Fort Kent, Geoff Sawyer of Westbrook, and Brett Doody of Caribou.

The NEWS All-Maine team honors the state’s 15 best players, regardless of position, class, school, or region. The choices were made by the NEWS sports staff with input and votes from high school and college coaches, sports media personnel, and other veteran hoop observers in the state.

The NEWS Second Team is almost as frightening, and just as well-balanced as the first. Members are Marc Corliss of Mount Desert Island, Mike Burke of Gorham, Hodgdon’s Sam Henderson, Lydell Capers from Hyde in Bath, and Richmond’s Jeff Bodge.

The Third Team, which features speed and ballhandling ability, includes Tom Jamo from Schenck of East Millinocket, Adam Sterrs of Boothbay, Bangor’s Jason St. Pierre, Orono’s Jason White, and Matt Townsend from Central Aroostook in Mars Hill.

Small schools are well represented on the ’96 All-Maine roster, but youth is not. The team features four Class A school players, four Class B, four C’s, and three D’s. Only three juniors made the squad.

First Team

Making the boys first team a record three times – no other player has been a three-time first-teamer – is a fitting end to Caouette’s amazing high school career.

The Winthrop Valedictorian averaged 27.7 points and 14.2 rebounds per game and totalled 1,980 points and 1,050 rebounds in his four-year varsity career. He averaged 6.5 steals, 4.3 assists, and 3.5 blocks per game this year.

“He’s the best I’ve ever coached, by far,” said Winthrop coach Dave Poulin. “I still hold that T.J. is the best all-around big man in Maine and will still see his best days as a player in college.”

The Villanova University-bound Caouette, Gatorade Player of the Year for Maine and New England, will also play in the prestigious Hoosier Invitational in Fort Wayne, Ind., later this month.

Like his Old Town Indians, Thibodeau enjoyed a breakout season.

Thibodeau blossomed into one of the state’s best guards while leading his Indians to the Eastern Class A title game. His 1996 averages of 26 points, 4.8 boards, 5.3 assists and 3.7 steals a game doubled his output as a junior.

The lightning-quick guard was almost impossible to stop one-on-one and routinely hit 3-pointers from beyond 25 feet en route to 551 points this season – one less than the school record.

“He came out of nowhere,” said Indians coach Marty Clark. “Even in preseason, he didn’t realize the kind of player he was. He didn’tplan to play basketball next year.”

There’s no danger of that now as Thibodeau plans to sign a full basketball scholarship offer from the University of Maine.

Martin, a ’95 third-teamer, is the first Fort Kent player to make the first team since Tom Pelletier in 1974. Although he was only 6-0, the guard was able to outplay much taller players due to his stellar leaping ability and athleticism.

“He’s as complete and coachable a player as any player who’s put a uniform on in the 20 years I’ve been coaching,” said Warriors coach Larry Murphy.

Martin finished his four-year varsity career with 1,716 points and four straight tournament appearances. His ability to penetrate the lane and score from 3-point range (45 percent) allowed him to play both point and shooting guard and still grab rebounds. He also averaged eight assists per game.

Martin has narrowed his college choices down to Maine, Southern Maine, and St. Joseph’s.

Although Westbrook’s starting lineup boasted plenty of talent, Sawyer was the driving force behind the Blue Blazes’ march to the Western Class A championship.

But offense wasn’t the only thing the Western Maine Tournament MVP and ninth NEWS first-teamer from Westbrook excelled at. He also averaged 3.0 assists and 1.9 blocks per game.

“He’s an incredible defensive player. He always drew the other team’s best players. We valued him a lot for his consistency both ways,” said Westbrook coach Mark Karter. “He’s probably the best big man I’ve ever had.”

The 6-5 center and National Honor Society student is trying to decide between Westbrook College and St. Joseph’s.

Doody is the only member of the NEWS’ starting five not to play in a tourney game this year. Caribou was wracked by injuries to the starting lineup early and often, but still managed a 9-9 finish.

Despite his 6-5 frame, Doody was anything but awkward. In fact, Vikings coach Jeff Holmes used him at almost every position this year, including guard – a guard who averaged 2.1 blocks per game.

“That presented a tough matchup,” Holmes laughed. “He’s so talented physically. He’s 6-5 and has good guard skills, he can post up, bring the ball up the court, and shoot from the perimiter. And he has a scorer’s mentality.”

The honor student has accepted a full scholarship to Le Moyne College in Syracuse, N.Y., where he will study psychology and continue to play basketball.

Second Team

Corliss played like a man possessed in the paint this season – on offense and defense.

“I’ve never seen a kid who plays as hard as he does night in and night out. He’s like a pit bull that doesn’t let go once he locks on,” said MDI coach Wilton Jones.

Corliss, who averaged 2.1 steals a game, will attend either Babson College or Brandeis University.

Capers is the first player from Hyde to make the NEWS All-Maine team. The 6-2 Division I college prospect finished strong, scoring 31 points in the Class D state final. He was equally adept at passing, dishing out 6.2 assists per game.

“He’s so quick and versatile. He rebounds from the guard spot, slashes to the basket well, and can shoot a three or drive to the basket,” said Hyde coach Tom Bragg.

Burke, another junior who is already one of the state’s top high school players, led Southern Maine Athletic Assocation Class B schools in scoring and rebounding and averaged 27.3 points a game in Gorham’s postseason run to the state Class B crown.

“He’s tremendously strong, but quick off his feet. He has good body control and takes people away from the basket,” said Kevin Jenkins, Burke’s coach.

Bodge did everything for the Bobcats, averaging 29.6 points, 9.4 rebounds, six assists, and six steals per game. The swingman will attend either St. Joseph’s, USM, or Maine next year.

Henderson, a NEWS third-teamer last year, led the Hawks to their second straight Class C state crown. The 6-3, 170-pound, Gordon College-bound forward, who averaged 4.1 assists and two steals a game, could beat teams with quickness or strength.

“I think of him and I think of a scoring machine. He can explode by you on the dribble, hit the outside shot, and bang around inside,” said coach Marty Bouchard.

Third Team

Despite routine double-teams and gimmick defenses designed to stop him, Jamo averaged over 20 points a game. When he couldn’t get a good shot, he found the open man at a clip of 8.7 assists a game and also averaged 4.6 steals. Maine is his top college choice.

Sterrs traded points for team productivity, but still managed to score at a 22.2 clip. He also had 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. Sterrs, who holds school marks for season (476) and career points (1,285), is considering St. Joseph’s, Westbrook, and the University of New England.

St. Pierre – a JV player last year – not only started for the varsity, he was their most steady scorer. The junior guard elevated his play in the playoffs, averaging 17.8 points in the Rams’ Class A state championship charge.

Already a top scorer and defender for Orono, White also exploded in the postseason, averaging 21.7 points, 8.3 boards, and 2.7 assists per game despite switching from forward to point guard. White will play basketball and soccer at UMaine-Farmington this fall.

Townsend, a “coach’s dream” according to CAHS coach Jerry Adams, finished his Panthers’ career as the top boys career scorer with 1,346 points. Another playoff hero, he averaged 20 points per game and will take his considerable skills to UMaine-Presque Isle.

1996 All-Maine Schoolboy Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM

Name School Year Pos. Height PPG RPG

T.J. Caouette Winthrop Senior F-C 6-7 33.7 13.6 Corey Thibodeau Old Town Senior G 6-0 26.2 4.8 Ryan Martin Fort Kent Senior G 6-1 21.0 5.0 Brett Doody Caribou Senior F-C 6-6 26.8 10.2 Geoff Sawyer Westbrook Senior C 6-5 18.5 14.3

SECOND TEAM

Name School Year Pos. Height PPG RPG

Jeff Bodge Richmond Senior G-F 6-1 29.6 9.4 Marc Corliss MDI Senior F-C 6-4 19.6 11.7 Lydell Capers Hyde Junior G 6-2 19.5 6.2 Mike Burke Gorham Junior F 6-1 20.8 11.0 Sam Henderson Hodgdon Senior F 6-3 21.1 6.0

THIRD TEAM

Name School Year Pos. Height PPG RPG

Tom Jamo Schenck Senior G 6-0 23.7 4.2 Adam Sterrs Boothbay Region Senior G 5-11 22.2 5.2 Jason St. Pierre Bangor Junior G 6-2 13.4 3.4 Jason White Orono Senior F-G 6-2 19.1 6.8 Matt Townsend Central Aroostook Senior G 6-1 25.6 7.1

HONORABLE MENTION: Brad Olson, Sr., Dexter; Jeff Helgeson, Sr. and Mike Mastropaolo, Jr., Falmouth; Zeb Davis, Sr., Skowhegan; Joe Mannisto, Sr., Old Town; Mike Arsenault, Soph. and Richie Day, Sr., Bangor; Jason Leighton, Sr. and Mike Johnston, Sr., Brewer; Dana Allen, Sr., Gorham; Jim Saccuzzo, Jr., Thornton Academy; Troy Dunphe, Sr., Westbrook; Ben Allen, Sr., and Mitch Orser, Sr., Central Aroostook; John Mills, Sr., North Yarmouth Academy; Corrie Johnson, Sr., Wiscasset; Ryan Fortier, Sr., Mt. Blue; Dave Seward, Sr., Sumner; Randy Buswell, Sr., John Bapst; Don MacPeek, Sr., Leavitt