All-star guards stand out> Shaw, Walker, and Tapley are MPVs

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They ran the offense, the defense and tormented opposing teams with their quickness and knack for being wherever the ball was.

Erin Shaw, Holli Tapley and Janna Walker were the make-or-break players for Eastern Maine schoolgirl basketball B-C-D tournament champs Mount Desert Island, Calais and Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook.

As such, the three will receive the Owen Osborne Award Most Valuable Player awards in their respective classes, as selected by a vote of media, tournament personnel and Maine Principals’ Association representatives.

The MVP award commemorates Osborne, a longtime former BDN sports editor.

Capping a four-year All-Tournament career, Tapley was a unanimous selection for her second Osborne award as she and her Blue Devil teammates broke six tournament records on the way to their fifth Eastern Maine title in seven years.

The 5-foot-8 guard was the Blue Devils’ fire and averaged an all-class schoolgirl high of 32.3 points a game to go with her 5.3 rebounds, 5 steals and 4.6 assists.

Without Shaw, the Trojans might not have earned their first EM title in four attempts.

Leading the team in scoring through three games, the wily 5-6 senior guard was explosive in the quarterfinal with 25 of the Trojans’ 42 points and six rebounds, and finished the tournament averaging 18 points a game.

Walker spends her third straight year on the All-Tourney list and grabs her first Osborne award as the linchpin of Southern Aroostook’s intense press and stacked up impressive numbers in virtually every category.

The 5-7 guard/forward averaged 18.3 points and 13 rebounds per game, including a powerful 26-point, 21-rebound and nine-steal final, to lead the Warriors to their second EM title in three years.

MDI and Mount View of Thorndike captured four of the five spots on the Class B squad.

Brianne Barker, MDI’s 6-0 senior forward, came out of hiding in the final and pushed the Trojans past the Mustangs with a 15-point, 12-rebound game to earn her first All-Tourney team spot.

Seniors Amanda Hayes and Leslie Weed impressed tourney observers in Mount View’s drive to its first EM title game in 10 years.

Hayes, a 5-10 senior forward, was a frontcourt force with the ability to take over a game and averaged 13.6 points and 10.6 rebounds a game. Weed added 10.6 points and four rebounds a game to Mount View’s effort.

Orono guard/forward Susan Gardner returns to the list with impressive postseason appearances. The junior directed the Red Riots offense and defense while putting together an all-around game average of 13.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists.

Kerri Russell and Erin Weston served as Penquis of Milo’s one-two punch all season and the pair spend their second consecutive year on the Class C team.

Russell, a determined defender and scorer, earned the single-game field goal record and tied Stephanie Carter of Schenck’s 1988 single-game scoring mark at 46 points.

Russell was a unanimous selection while putting up 25 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists a game as the Patriots made their first EM title game appearance in 22 years.

Weston made opponents pay for ignoring her, scoring 11 points and grabbing 5.6 rebounds each night.

A second-year selection, Holly Rosebush was the fierce heart of Schenck of Millinocket’s tournament drive while averaging 11.5 points and nine rebounds a game.

Limestone’s Kelly Hartman, who is the last of a 13-year Hartman hoops line, came up with 14 points and five rebounds a game for her first All-Tournament spot.

Tracy Guerrette of Wisdom impressed many observers as a fine all-around Class D player while piling up 17 points, 9.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 3.5 steals a game.

Tricia Carver, Jonesport-Beals’ 6-0 freshman forward dominated each Royalettes game, and broke Barbara Lumbert of Forest Hills’ 1983 single-game scoring record of 40 points with a 43-point, 20-rebound semifinal game.

Carver, who with Guerrette and Walker were unanimous choices, also tied a 10 year-old single-game free throw mark at 12, while averaging 26.6 points and 15.3 rebounds a game.

Southern Aroostook’s Brittany White was rarely denied a scoring chance in the low post and racked up 11 points and 8.3 rebounds a game.

Andrea Lunn of Central Aroostook of Mars Hill earned an all-tourney team berth with a 19-point quarterfinal win.

Eastern Maine Girls

All-Tournament Selections

Class B

Name School Pos. Ht. Yr.

Erin Shaw (MVP) MDI Guard 5-6 Sr.

Brianne Barker MDI Forward 6-0 Sr.

Susan Gardner Orono Guard 5-9 Jr.

Amanda Hayes Mount View Forward 5-10 Sr.

Leslie Weed Mount View Guard 5-6 Sr.

Honorable Mention:Kara Henderson, Bucksport; Christy Grover, Bucksport; Rachel Bard, Winslow

Class C

Name School Pos. Ht. Yr.

Holli Tapley (MVP) Calais Guard 5-8 Sr.

Kerri Russell Penquis Guard 5-8 Sr.

Erin Weston Penquis Forward 5-8 Jr.

Kelly Hartman Limestone Forward 5-7 Holly Rosebush Schenck Forward 5-9 Sr.

Honorable Mention:Lora Trenkle, George Stevens Academy; Katie MacMannis, Calais

Class D

Name School Pos. Ht. Yr.

Janna Walker (MVP) So. Aroostook Guard 5-7 Sr.

Tracy Guerrette Wisdom Guard 5-8 Jr.

Tricia Carver Jonesport-Beals Forward 6-0 Fr.

Brittany White So. Aroostook Forward 5-8 Sr.

Andrea Lunn Cen. Aroostook Guard 5-4 Jr.

Honorable Mention:Beth Ingersol, Shead; Kim Michaud, Wisdom; Kim Collier, Southern Aroostook; Jessica Clark, Central Aroostook; Courtney Bryant, Jonesport-Beals