Campbell is state hoop finalist Senior vies for Mr. Basketball vs. Devils’ Wohl, Deering’s Caterina

BANGOR – As the other five finalists for the state’s top two basketball awards gathered at a simultaneous press conference in “the other Maine,” Bangor’s Joe Campbell stood alone to represent Eastern Maine Thursday.

His coach, Roger Reed, said the honor couldn’t go to a more deserving player.

“I guarantee you there’s not a nicer kid being coached in basketball anywhere than he is,” Reed said. “That’s how far I’d go. They don’t come any better. It’s hard to describe what a great kid he is.”

Campbell joined Brian Wohl of Westbrook and Jamaal Caterina of Portland’s Deering High as finalists for the Mr. Basketball Award, which goes to the state’s top senior player.

Campbell and Caterina will face off in the state Class A championship game Saturday night.

Candidates were determined by a vote of the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches.

The Miss Basketball finalists are Katie Stailing of Morse High in Bath, Morgan DiPietro of Greely in Cumberland Center and Lani Boardman of York.

Other Eastern Maine boys who finished among the top 10 in voting by the state’s coaches: Ryan Garland, Hermon; Brandon McCarthy, Katahdin of Sherman Station; James Sam of Caribou and Jeremy Allen, Penquis of Milo.

Four Eastern Maine girls finished among the top 10 vote-getters: Sarah Marquez of Orono, Alison Smith of Bangor, Melissa Gott of Mount Desert Island and Amanda Leavitt of Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield.

Rosters for the McDonald’s Senior All-Star games were also unveiled at the press conference in Husson College’s Hall of Fame Room, as were finalists in the state foul-shooting competition and all-state academic team members.

Campbell said voters will have a tough choice when they have to pick their Mr. Basketball winner.

“I feel extremely fortunate to be a finalist, but the other two guys are very well deserving of that honor as well,” Campbell said.

Campbell and Wohl were NEWS All-Maine third-team selections last year, while Caterina was a first-teamer in 2000 and a second-teamer in 1999.

Stailing was a NEWS All-Maine first-teamer as a junior and a second-team choice as a sophomore. DiPietro was a third-team selection last season.

Campbell helped lead the Rams to the state crown as a junior and has been the cornerstone in Bangor’s regional title run this year.

In his three years of varsity ball (he played on the freshman team in his first season), Campbell’s Rams have compiled a 56-8 record. Their worst postseason showing came in 1999, when they “only” made it to the Eastern Maine final.

Campbell said individual awards are sometimes a byproduct of successful team efforts.

“I don’t like to take a lot of credit for our team’s success. It’s been a team fight the whole year,” he said. “You can’t win with individual players. You need to have a team, and our players have helped me get to where I am today.”

Reed said that kind of response is typical of Campbell.

“He’s been a super kid to coach. He never has an excuse. No matter what you say to him, he says, ‘Yes coach. …” Reed said. “He’s so unassuming. He’s the best team player. He’s just a remarkable kid.”