Contrary to rumors circling earlier last week, Cony girls coach Paul Vachon said Saturday that he’ll stay put at the Augusta school after leading the Rams to their third state title in four years.

“I don’t have any thoughts of not [coaching],” Vachon said. “I really don’t. I don’t have any thoughts of not doing it next year.

Vachon, whose daughter Amy started for the University of Maine women’s team this season, said the pressures of coaching and trying to get to Black Bear games hasn’t been too much.

Vachon did get to see UMaine play in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Raleigh, N.C. on Friday night. He left on a chartered plane at 8:15 a.m. and was back in Augusta by 11:30 a.m. so he could take the bus with his squad for the championship game in Portland.

“I think it worked out with Amy and things of that sort,” said Vachon, who has been at Cony since the 1985-86 season. “I think I still like [coaching]. I get tired during the season but right now I’m not tired. I’m just very happy for the players.”

It wasn’t the storybook finish the six-foot mercurial guard had hoped to end his high school career with, but Cheverus of Portland’s Angelo Salvaggio remained upbeat in the locker room after Saturday’s state final.

Despite scoring 18 points in the Stags’ 57-49 loss to Skowhegan, Salvaggio’s point total was noticeably less than his three previous tourney games in which he averaged 30.7 points per game.

“We missed a lot of easy shots out there. The shots just weren’t going in and I don’t know why really,” said the senior NEWS All-Maine Team member. “We played from behind all game and that was a plus for them.”

After a team meeting, the two-time western Maine tournament MVP was asked about his future.

“I haven’t committed anywhere. I really don’t know what I’m doing at this point,” he said. “I’ve got a couple of offers I’m looking at. I’m looking at [University of] North Florida and a couple local schools, but nothing definite right now.”

Salvaggio said he may still be a few weeks away from making a final decision.

The Maine Principals’ Association sportsmanship banners for the 1998 tournaments were handed out at halftime of each state final.

Representing the East were the Caribou boys and Messalonskee of Oakland girls.

The West winners were the Portland boys and Lewiston girls.