It used to be that 6-foot schoolgirl basketball players lived in the low post as rebounders and big bodies.

But take a look at the key players in this year’s state basketball tournaments and ask coaches around the state – it’s clearly time to make way for 6-footers who can do it all: play the point, shoot the 3-pointer, break the press, and rebound.

Cony of Augusta’s Julie Veilleux, Brianna Blanchard of Presque Isle, and Mt. Blue of Farmington’s Heather Ernest – all part of this year’s bumper crop of mobile forward-centers – made such an impression with their versatility that they are first-team members of the 23rd Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl Basketball Team.

Westbrook center Kelly Grover and Lewiston forward Kristi Royer also are first-teamers. Veilleux and Blanchard return to the top 15, while Ernest, Grover, and Royer were honorable mention selections last year.

This year’s Miss Basketball, Lynn Girouard of Lewiston, leads the second team. Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference first-team all-stars Amy Stilphen of Gardiner, Morse of Bath’s Katie Stailing, and Messalonskee of OaGardiner, Morse of Bath’s Katie Stailing, and Messalonskee of Oakland’s Bonnie Smith, along with Eastern B Player of the Year Lora Trenkle of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, round out the squad.

Third-teamers are University of Maine-bound Christy Grover of Bucksport, Greely of Cumberland Center’s Jasmine Ashe, Alison Smith of Bangor, Gorham’s Carla Flaherty, and Morgan Brownlee of Portland.

The NEWS All-Maine team honors the state’s top 15 players, regardless of class, position, or region, as selected by the NEWS sports staff with input from coaches, officials, and other veteran basketball observers.

First team

VEILLEUX, the only returning first-teamer from last year’s All-Maine squad and the co-KVAC Player of the Year, didn’t disappoint in helping a young Cony team to a 16-3 record. Not only does the 6-foot-1 junior center have scoring and defensive duties in the post, but she’s also a perimeter threat as a 37 percent 3-point shooter and she can run the offense.

Veilleux shouldered most of the Rams’ scoring, averaging 21.1 points (up from 15.6 last season). She also recorded 8.2 rebounds and 3.3 steals per game. Veilleux scored her 1,000th point this winter, and Cony coach Paul Vachon expects her to eclipse the school scoring record of about 1,400 points set by his daughter, Amy Vachon.

“Extremely talented. Smart. Physically strong,” Mt. Blue coach Chandler Woodcock said of Veilleux. “She likes to shoot face-up and will take it from anywhere on the floor. She’s got a real future in the college game because she handles the ball so well.”

ERNEST, a 6-1 forward-center who shared conference Player of the Year honors with Veilleux, let loose in the Eastern Maine tournament. The Mt. Blue staff doesn’t track rebounds during the regular season, but in the Cougars’ four playoff games – which includes their first-ever Class A state championship win – she averaged 14.5 boards. During the regular season she averaged 23 points per game.

“She’s a great scorer and rebounder, but it wasn’t until the tournament that she showed her versatility,” Gardiner coach Conrad Lewis said. “We thought that if we pressed Mt. Blue, she’d give the ball right up. But she was a big factor in breaking the press and showed a different side in the tournament.”

“She’s an excellent offensive rebounder,” Paul Vachon said. “Heather just gets better every year.”

In addition to the state title, Ernest earned the NEWS’ Owen Osborne Award for most valuable player in the Eastern Maine Class A tournament.

ROYER and KELLY GROVER, both Southern Maine Activities Association all-stars, dominated post play in Western Maine.

Grover has some of the best all-around numbers in the state and the 6-1 senior led the SMAA in scoring with a 19.7-point average. She also averaged 10.4 rebounds, 4.1 steals, and three blocked shots. She shot 69.5 percent from the free-throw line.

“Kelly is a very, very smart player and is a force defensively,” South Portland coach Mike Giordano said. “I think she’s the best post player down here and the best post player I’ve seen.”

Coaches were also impressed with the range of Grover’s offensive talent.

“She’s an excellent shooter from anywhere inside the foul line,” Portland’s Ed Feeney said. “Kelly just makes things work on that team.”

ROYER, at 5-foot-10 the shortest first-teamer, was superb against the likes of taller SMAA rival Grover and led the Blue Devils to a 21-1 record and a Western Maine Class A title.

The senior forward will graduate as Lewiston’s all-time leader in scoring (1,355 points) and rebounding (747) and led the team in scoring (18.3 points), rebounding (8.3), and blocks (1.4) this season. She was a 78 percent free-throw shooter this season and also averaged 2.5 assists.

“One of the things I like about my team is that we can really get up and get rebounds,” said Gorham coach Carol Merrifield. “Kristi’s not that tall in there, but over the years she’s one of the people I pick out who is athletic enough to jump with us.”

“She gave Lewiston its inside game,” Westbrook coach Ben Palubinskas said. “She’s got a nice, smooth shot.”

Presque Isle’s BLANCHARD, the Big East Player of the Year and an All-Maine third-teamer last year, is also one of the most well-rounded players in the state.

The 5-11 junior forward led the Big East in scoring with 23.5 points, averaged 9.0 rebounds, and led the Big East with 6.2 steals per game – a testament to her versatility. Coaches pointed out Blanchard’s ballhandling ability as one of the best in the state – and a reason that Blanchard could be playing in college.

“Brianna is just a great all-around player,” Bangor coach Tom Tennett said. “She’s on the front end of their press and she makes a lot of things happen that way.”

Blanchard was also a 78 percent free-throw shooter and shot 37 percent from 3-point range.

“Blanchard, I think, is the one who could step forward,” Gardiner coach Conrad Lewis said. “She’s got the complete package.”

Second team

GIROUARD was capable of taking over a game from the 3-point arc and will leave Lewiston with records for most 3-point attempts, most 3-pointers scored, and highest 3-point average. The 5-foot-7 guard shot 35.8 percent from 3-point range this season and averaged three assists and 2.2 steals along with 15.1 points per game.

“Lynn is awesome and she’s only going to get better,” Greely coach George Conant said of the SMAA all-star. “She handles the ball well and she’s a deadly shooter, and that’s something that you can’t teach.”

TRENKLE was an honorable mention last year but burst onto the statewide scene by leading the Eagles to their first Eastern Maine Class B title this season. Trenkle drew the toughest defensive assignments, but her strength lies in her ability to read the game. The 5-9 guard averaged six assists (the highest of the top 15) and proved she could score, averaging 15 points.

“You’re just not going to stop Lora Trenkle,” Bucksport coach Mike Archer said. “She can shoot, she can penetrate off the dribble and she plays great defense.”

BONNIE SMITH, who was also an honorable mention last year, impressed plenty of coaches in the regular season. A 5-foot-11 forward and an outstanding three-sport athlete, she did everything for the Eagles with 21.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.

“She’s got a pure jump shot and there aren’t that many girls in high school who have that,” Gardiner’s Lewis said. “She’s just a player, and I know we had trouble stopping her.”

STILPHEN went over the 1,000-point mark during the Tigers’ semifinal loss in the Eastern Maine tournament. A physical forward who can takein the Eastern Maine tournament. A physical forward who can take the ball up the court, she averaged 3.4 steals and three assists along with 17.6 points and 7.1 rebounds.

“She’s a strong kid who handles the ball,” said Presque Isle coach Jeff Bearden, who coached against Gardiner in an Eastern Maine quarterfinal. “I was impressed with her perimeter shooting, and if you put someone shorter on her, she’ll shoot over them. But she can go to the basket, too.”

STAILING, a 5-foot-10 center, is another reason the KVAC could be the state’s strongest conference next season. She racked up big numbers as a sophomore this winter, averaging 22 points, 12 rebounds, and shot 74 percent from the free-throw line. Morse coach Tom Morong estimates that Stailing took one charge per game.

“Katie is an all-around physical player,” Woodcock said. “She’s going to be something in a couple of years.”

Third team

The only member of the All-Maine team to have a Division I college scholarship, CHRISTY GROVER fought through double- and triple-teams to average 19.2 points and 3.7 blocks. As one might expect, the 6-2 Grover spent a lot of time at the free-throw line (40 attempts in two games against Stearns of Millinocket alone) and she responded by shooting 74 percent.

ALISON SMITH’s inside and outside skills made her a tough matchup and helped Bangor finish as the Eastern Maine Class A runner-up. An All-Big East player, the sophomore averaged 15.2 points on a Rams squad with multiple offensive options.

ASHE and FLAHERTY were co-winners of the Robert Butler Award for the outstanding Western Maine Conference senior.

Ashe, a Miss Basketball finalist and a consummate floor leader as the Rangers’ point guard, averaged 4.4 assists and four steals. She finished her career with 966 points and will attend Colby next season.

Flaherty, who is headed to Bates, was the Western Maine Class B tournament MVP and was key to Gorham’s state title run. She averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 steals, and 3.3 assists as a guard-forward who can shoot and play inside.

The athletic BROWNLEE, who started at center for Western Maine runner-up Portland, averaged 4.1 steals along with 14.5 points. Western Maine coaches say they wouldn’t be surprised if Brownlee, a junior, plays for a Division I program.

1999 All-Maine Schoolgirl Basketball Team

FIRST TEAM

Name School Yr Pos. Ht. PPG RPG

Brianna Blanchard Presque Isle Jr. F 5-11 23.5 9.0

Heather Ernest Mt. Blue Jr. F-C 6-1 23.0 NA

Kelly Grover Westbrook Sr. C 6-1 19.7 10.4

Kristi Royer Lewiston Sr. F 5-10 18.3 8.3

Julie Veilleux Cony Jr. F-C 6-1 21.1 8.2

SECOND TEAM

Name School Yr Pos. Ht. PPG RPG

Lynn Girouard Lewiston Sr. G 5-7 15.1 2.0

Bonnie Smith Messalonskee Jr. F 5-11 21.5 11.3

Katie Stailing Morse So. F 5-10 22.0 12.0

Amy Stilphen Gardiner Sr. F 5-10 17.6 7.1

Lora Trenkle George Stevens Jr. G 5-9 15.0 5.0

THIRD TEAM

Name School Yr Pos. Ht. PPG RPG

Jasmine Ashe Greely Sr. G 5-6 13.8 3.0 Morgan Brownlee Portland Jr. C 5-10 14.5 11.0 Carla Flaherty Gorham Sr. G-F 5-9 14.3 6.2 Christy Grover Bucksport Sr. C 6-2 19.2 12.8 Alison Smith Bangor So. F 5-9 15.2 9.1

HONORABLE MENTION: Nikki Allen, George Stevens Academy; Jamie Arnold, Portland; Noel Beagle, Gorham; Lisa Brown, Gardiner; Tricia Carver, Jonesport-Beals; Megan Cressler, Camden-Rockport; Kara Crockett, Bangor; Justine Ferland, Old Town; Tara Gagnon, Dirigo; Lakeesha Holloman, Lewiston; Amanda Leavitt, Maine Central Institute; Jessica Libby, Orono; Lanna Martin, Calais; Sarah Marquez, Orono; Erin Melcher, Valley; Sara Ricker, Shead; Jocelyn Sawyer, Sacopee Valley; Jen Swatling, Mount Ararat; Megan Woodcock, Mt. Blue