Playing basketball in front of large, exuberant crowds at the Bangor Auditorium is the childhood dream of thousands of Eastern Maine youngsters.

During the course of the 2002 Eastern Maine basketball tournaments, more than 550 high school players from 72 teams will suit up in the hopes of showing their stuff on the court at the Bangor Auditorium.

While the ultimate aim of every player is to help his or her team claim a regional championship or a gold basketball, there will be a handful of individuals whose efforts will stand out.

Over the course of the tournament, a select few players will handle the considerable pressure of the postseason. They’ll make the tough shots, sink the clutch free throws and come up with timely steals to help lead their teams to Eastern Maine championships.

Those elite players, whose performances will forever become a permanent part of tournament history, will be duly recognized for their efforts.

The Bangor Daily News continues its tradition of honoring the best of the best in tourney play with the selection of the All-Tournament Teams and the William C. Warner and Owen O. Osborne Most Valuable Player Awards.

In 1994, the NEWS established two MVP honors to recognize former longtime sports editors Warner and Osborne, both of whom enjoyed the thrill of covering tournament games, writing about the participants and coordinating coverage of the event during their storied careers.

The Osborne Award is presented to the outstanding female player in each class, while the Warner Award goes to the top male performers.

Winners are selected by a vote of tourney media, Maine Principals’ Association representatives, tournament officials and other veteran observers.

Osborne served as sports editor for more than 20 years until his death in 1978. Warner succeeded Osborne and held the NEWS Sports Editor post until his death in 1994.

Since the inception of the NEWS MVP awards, a star-studded list of 64 winners, representing 34 schools, have been honored. Heather Ernest of Mt. Blue High in Farmington, now a standout forward at the University of Maine, is among five players to win the Osborne Award twice.

Lanna Martin of Calais, Lora Trenkle of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Susan Gardner of Orono and Holli Tapley of Calais also were repeat girls winners. Martin may have a chance this season to become the first three-time recipient.

In the boys ranks, Sam Henderson of Hodgdon continues to hold the distinction as the lone repeat winner of the Warner Award. He won it in 1995 and ’96.

Class D Jonesport-Beals and Calais of the Class C ranks have led the way among schools, producing five winners each, combined. Josh Knowlton and B.J. Alley are the Royals’ boys winners, while Tricia Carver, Jan Beal and Sandi Carver won for the Royalettes.

All five of the Blue Devils’ honorees were on the girls side. Martin and Tapley have won twice each and Kelly Dow was an Osborne Award winner.

Camden-Rockport in Class B has produced three MVPs.

This year, eight more players will earn the distinction, etching their names permanently into Eastern Maine tournament lore.

William C. Warner MVP

Award Winners (Boys)

2001 – Class A: Joe Campbell, Bangor; Class B: John Knutson, Camden Hills; Class C: Buddy Leavitt, Piscataquis; Class D: James Godley, East Grand

2000 – Class A: Nick Loukes, Bangor; Class B: Ryan Garland, Hermon; Class C: Jeremy Allen, Penquis; Class D: Brandon McCarthy, Katahdin

1999 – Class A: Jed Johnson, Lawrence; Class B: Jim Wilson, Camden-Rockport; Class C: Ryan Rivera, Central; Class D: Josh Knowlton, Jonesport-Beals

1998 – Class A: Braden Clement, Skowhegan; Class B: Jon Masin-Peters, Camden-Rockport; Class C: Brandon Ashby, Washington Academy; Class D: B.J. Alley, Jonesport-Beals

1997 – Class A: Travis Gilmore, Mt. Blue; Class B: Steve Smith, Bucksport; Class C: Erik Benge, Narraguagus; Class D: Nick Wiberg, Deer Isle-Stonington

1996 – Class A: Corey Thibodeau, Old Town; Class B: Jason White, Orono; Class C: Sam Henderson, Hodgdon; Class D: Matt Townsend, Central Aroostook

1995 – Class A: Matt Kinney, Bangor; Class B: Marc Corliss, Mount Desert Island; Class C: Sam Henderson, Hodgdon; Class D: Tim Manchester, Machias

1994 – Class A: Josh Nash, Medomak Valley; Class B: Mike Geisler, Camden-Rockport; Class C: Mark Farmer, Schenck; Class D: Tim Brewer, Central Aroostook

Owen Osborne MVP

Award Winners (Girls)

2001 -Class A: Danielle Clark, Nokomis; Class B: Melissa Gott, Mount Desert Island; Class C: Lanna Martin, Calais; Class D: Ashley Marble, Woodland

2000 – Class A: Heather Ernest, Mt. Blue; Class B: Meg Cressler, Camden-Rockport; Class C: Lora Trenkle, George Stevens; Class D: Tricia Carver, Jonesport-Beals

1999 – Class A: Heather Ernest, Mt. Blue; Class B: Lora Trenkle, George Stevens; Class C: Lanna Martin, Calais; Class D: Sara Ricker, Shead

1998 – Class A: Janet Riese, Cony; Class B: Susan Gardner, Orono; Class C: Holly Quint, Hodgdon; Class D: Tracy Guerrette, Wisdom

1997 – Class A: Kim Condon, Presque Isle; Class B: Erin Shaw, Mount Desert Island; Class C: Holli Tapley, Calais; Class D: Janna Walker, Southern Aroostook

1996 – Class A: Amy Vachon, Cony; Class B: Susan Gardner, Orono; Class C: Holli Tapley, Calais; Class D: Jan Beal, Jonesport-Beals

1995 – Class A: Amy Vachon, Cony; Class B: Cara Moir, Stearns; Class C: Carrie Cram, Schenck; Class D: Kelly Copp, Machias

1994 – Class A: Cindy Blodgett, Lawrence; Class B: Liza Doughty, Hermon; Class C: Kelly Dow, Calais; Class D: Sandi Carver, Jonesport-Beals