Knutson named top ‘B’ star Leavitt, Godley earn other Warner Awards

They stand 6-foot-5, 6-6, and 5-10 respectively, but John Knutson of Camden Hills, Buddy Leavitt from Piscataquis in Guilford, and James Godley from East Grand of Danforth have a lot in common.

They’re acknowledged veteran leaders of their basketball teams, they filled that leadership role by leading their teams to number one seedings in their respective regional tournaments, and they were major reasons why their teams won those tournaments.

Oh, and they’re also all winners of the eighth annual recipients of the William C. Warner Award after being voted Eastern Maine Tournament MVPs: Knutson in Class B, Leavitt in Class C, and Godley in Class D.

The Warner Award was established in 1994 to honor longtime NEWS sports editor Bill Warner, who held the post for 16 years until his death that same year.

The MVPs and fellow members of the NEWS All-Tournament teams are selected by a vote of tourney officials, Maine Principals’ Association members, and members of the media.

Joining Knutson on the all-tourney B squad are fellow ‘Jammers captain and senior forward Brian Fitzpatrick, Hermon forwards Ryan Garland, a senior and the 2000 Warner MVP, and sophomore Ron Lane, and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield guard Andrew St. Clair.

Leavitt is joined on the Class C squad by junior teammate and guard Kyle Pulkkinen, Calais junior center Joe Footer, Penquis of Milo senior forward Jeremy Allen (2000 Warner MVP), and Hodgdon junior forward Tyler Putnam.

The Class D team is made up of Godley and freshman Darius Parker from East Grand, senior guard Brandon McCarthy (2000 Warner MVP) from Katahdin of Sherman Station, Woodland senior teammates John Kesel and Frankie Morrison, and Bangor Christian junior center Pat McLeary.

Ironically, despite all three being back in the tournament field this year, none of the 2000 Warner MVPs was able to duplicate the feat of Hodgdon’s Sam Henderson, who is still the only two-time MVP winner. All three, however, did make encore appearances on the all-tourney teams.

Knutson was a big matchup problem for teams trying to defend his Windjammers man-to-man. The senior forward has plenty of size to play in the paint and bang with other team’s biggest players, but also has great quickness which allows him to match up with guards and create shots away from the basket. His accurate shooting touch makes him particularly dangerous as he can bomb a 3-pointer as easily as score on a rebounded miss.

Knutson dominated the Eastern Class B tourney, averaging 21.7 points and eight rebounds over three playoff games.

Leavitt was a near-unanimous pick for MVP as he was the major reason his unbeaten Pirates made it look somewhat easy as they sailed through the choppy waters of a loaded Class C tourney field.

The senior center with guard-forward skills was impossible to guard one-on-one as he averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds per game and showcased his outside shooting in the finals by canning six 3-pointers.

In Class D, Godley’s greatest competition for MVP came from teammates Darius Parker and Otto Ruebsamen. Although Parker’s scoring average was higher than Godley’s, it was East Grand’s junior guard who got the nod over the freshman as he provided leadership for the fleet Vikings and was a defensive presence as well.

Godley simply made the Vikings go as he averaged 18 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.3 steals to turn in his tourney’s best all-round and consistent effort.

All-Tourney team

CLASS B

John Knutson***, Camden Hills, 6-5 forward, senior; Ryan Garland, Hermon, 6-4 forward, senior; Brian Fitzpatrick, Camden Hills, 6-3 forward, senior; Ron Lane, Hermon, 6-4 forward, sophomore; Andrew St. Clair, MCI, 6-4 guard, junior

Honorable mention: Mike Susi (MCI), Derek Awalt (Ellsworth)

CLASS C

Buddy Leavitt***, Piscataquis, 6-6 center, senior; Joe Footer, Calais, 6-5 center, junior; Jeremy Allen, Penquis, 6-3 forward, Tyler Putnam, Hodgdon, 6-3 forward, junior; Kyle Pulkkinen, Piscataquis, 5-9 guard, junior

Honorable mention: Andy Frost and James Frost (Calais), Jeremy Kervin (Hodgdon)

CLASS D

James Godley***, East Grand, 5-10 guard, junior; Brandon McCarthy, Katahdin, 5-5 guard, senior; Darius Parker, East Granda, 5-9 guard, freshman; John Kesel, Woodland, 6-1 guard, senior; Frankie Morrison, Woodland, 6-3 forward, senior; Pat McLeary, Bangor Christian, 6-5 center, junior

Honorable mention: Craig Allen, (Central Aroostook), Otto Ruebsamen (East Grand); Corey Shields (Southern Aroostook)

***Warner MVP Award winner