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

Within the next few years, with the future of the Auditorium uncertain, the Eastern Maine basketball tournaments may be moved elsewhere.

The 2004 tournament will again be a showcase for more than 550 high school players from 72 teams. All will try to leave a lasting impression, although the ultimate aim is to help their teams win a regional championship or a gold ball.

During the tournament, a few special players will handle the 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 talented players, whose performances will forever become a permanent part of tournament lore, will be recognized for their efforts.

The Bangor Daily News continues its tradition of honoring the best tourney performers with the selection of the All-Tournament Teams and the 11th annual William C. Warner and Owen O. Osborne Most Valuable Player Awards.

In 1994, the NEWS established two MVP awards to honor former longtime sports editors Warner and Osborne, both of whom were fixtures at tourney games 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 68 winners, representing 38 schools, have been honored. Lanna Martin of Calais holds the distinction of being the only player, male or female, to win the award three times. She did so in 1999, 2001 and 2002.

Heather Ernest of Mt. Blue High in Farmington, now a star at the University of Maine, along with Danielle Clark of University of New Hampshire, a former standout at Nokomis High in Newport, are among seven players to win the Osborne Award twice.

Bracey Barker of Mount Desert Island, 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.

Among the boys, 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.

Calais has produced a combined seven MVP winners in 10 years and Camden Hills (Camden-Rockport) boasts six while Mount Desert Island and Jonesport-Beals own five each.

Six of the Blue Devils’ seven honorees were on the girls side. Martin and Tapley have won twice each while Lanna Martin and Kelly Dow were Osborne Award winners. Joe Footer is Calais’ lone boys recipient.

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

William C. Warner MVP

Award Winners (Boys)

2003 – Class A: Zak Ray, Bangor; Class B: Micah Grant, Winslow; Class C: Travis Patterson, Dexter; Class D: Josh Madden, Bangor Christian

2002 – Class A: Ralph Mims; Class B: Tyler Warren, Camden Hills; Class C: Joe Footer, Calais; Class D: Pat McCleary, Bangor Christian

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, MDI; 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)

2003 – Class A: Danielle Clark, Nokomis; Class B: Bracey Barker, MDI; Class C: Ashley Ames, Dexter; Class D: Kaitlyn Leeman, Woodland

2002 – Class A: Jauna Andrews, Cony; Class B: Bracey Barker, MDI; Class C: Lanna Martin, Calais; Class D: Ashley Marble, Woodland

2001 – Class A: Danielle Clark, Nokomis; Class B: Melissa Gott, MDI; 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, MDI; 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