November 22, 2024
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Barker, Ames, Leeman earn tourney MVPs MDI’s Gott Class B pick for 3rd time

The Mount Desert Island and Woodland girls basketball teams have had a lock on the Eastern Maine tournaments in their classes for the past three years, and it shows in postseason honors. A Trojan had claimed the Class B tourney MVP award for the past two years, while a Dragon had won it in Class D for the last two.

Things aren’t much different this year, except in Class C, where Dexter became the fourth team other than Calais to win the regional title since 1991. And that means there’s an MVP from a new team.

Tigers 6-foot-3 center Ashley Ames was voted the 2003 Bangor Daily News Owen Osborne Most Valuable Player Monday, along with MDI point guard Bracey Barker in Class B and Woodland point guard Kaitlyn Leeman in Class D.

The MVP award was established in 1994 in memory of Osborne, a former NEWS sports editor and reporter. The award and all-tourney teams, which are listed below by classification, are selected by a vote of media, tourney officials and representatives of the Maine Principals’ Association.

CLASS B – Barker is the only returning MVP winner. The 6-foot-1 guard, who is headed for the University of Maine next season, averaged 19 points and 14.6 rebounds per game.

Although her best statistical performance came in the quarterfinals, when she scored 28 points and had 13 rebounds, five steals, four assists and two blocks, Barker’s seven points in the fourth quarter of the EM final against Maranacook of Readfield were crucial.

Barker is joined by teammate Shelley Gott, who is the only player this year to make her third all-tourney appearance. Gott scored 12 points and had 6.3 rebounds per game. Her jumper with 2:02 left in the regional final turned out to be the winning basket.

Toby Martin and Erica Brennan led the Black Bears. Martin averaged 15.3 ppg, including 20 in the semis. Brennan grabbed 10.3 rpg to go with 8.6 ppg. She had 15 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinal.

Jessie Wiggin led Hermon in the biggest upset of the tournament. She scored 11 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter of a win over No. 2 Camden Hills.

CLASS C – Dexter’s Ames averaged 20.6 ppg, which is second-highest among all-tourney members who played three games. To achieve that, Ames was 29-for-42 (69.0 percent) from the field.

She also averaged 12 rebounds and 5.6 blocks per game. Ames, an all-tourney pick last year, had six rebounds and four blocks alone in the fourth quarter of the regional final against Calais.

Teammate Ashley Foster, a 6-foot forward, backed up Ames with 8.6 ppg and 6.6 rpg.

Calais senior Crystal Martin made her first all-tourney appearance. Martin, the sister of former Blue Devils star Lanna Martin (the only three-time MVP winner), carried Calais with 15.6 ppg and 5.6 rpg, including 19 and 10 in a semifinal against Central of Corinth.

Sophomore Jenny Rollins and senior Katie Ahearn got the Red Devils into the semis. Rollins averaged 22 ppg, while Ahearn scored 16 ppg and grabbed 14.5 rpg. Both girls were honorable mentions last year.

CLASS D – Leeman was a Class D honorable mention last year, but her 17.3 ppg and team leadership moved her up to the top five and MVP status.

In the Dragons’ semifinal win over Shead the 5-3 guard scored 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, had four rebounds and five assists. She averaged 4.3 assists in three games.

Woodland forward Katie Smith led the Dragons with 20 points and 10 rebounds in the regional final and averaged 13 ppg and 7.6 rpg.

Lee’s Shelby Pickering was the most productive player at the tournament regardless of class. She racked up 65 points for an average of 21.6 ppg, and had a tourney-high 15.6 rpg.

Panda teammate Kristin Hersom had a well-rounded 13 ppg, 9 rpg and 5-for-11 shooting effort from 3-point range.

Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook senior Nicki Lyons scored 32 points in two games. She went 4-for-5 from 3-point distance in the quarterfinals.

Bangor Daily News All-Tourney Teams

Class B

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG RPG

G Bracey Barker** MDI Sr. 6-1 19.0 14.6

G Shelley Gott MDI Sr. 5-9 12.0 6.3

G Toby Martin Maranacook So. 5-0 15.3 2.0

C Erica Brennan Maranacook Sr. 6-0 8.6 10.3

G Jessica Wiggin Hermon Sr. 5-3 16.0 4.0

Honorable Mention: Kara Horton (MDI), Caitlin Hynes (Rockland), Annie Pennell (Rockland), Shannon Bean (Maranacook)

Class C

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG RPG

C Ashley Ames** Dexter So. 6-3 20.6 12.0

F Ashley Foster Dexter Sr. 6-0 8.6 6.6

G-F Crystal Martin Calais Sr. 5-7 15.6 5.6

G-F Jenny Rollins Central So. 5-6 22.0 7.0

F Katie Ahearn Central Sr. 5-10 16.0 14.5

Honorable Mention: Danielle Feck (Calais), Shanna McGary (Hodgdon), Brittany Veazie (Dexter)

Class D

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG RPG

G Kaitlyn Leeman** Woodland Jr. 5-2 17.3 3.3

F Katie Smith Woodland Jr. 5-9 13.0 7.6

F-C Shelby Pickering Lee So. 5-10 21.6 15.6

G-F Kristin Hersom Lee Jr. 6-0 13.0 9.0

G Nicki Lyons Southern Aroostook Sr. 5-6 16.0 1.5

Honorable Mention: Samantha Cole (Lee), Ashley Brooker (Limestone), Samantha Davis (Shead)

**Owen Osborne Most Valuable Players


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