Team achievement has translated into individual success for members of the 49th Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolboy Basketball Team.

That’s particularly true for the first team, which combined to win three state championships and four regional titles while amassing a 98-10 record last winter.

This year’s NEWS All-Maine first team is made up of 2004 Mr. Basketball Ralph Mims of Eastern A champion Brunswick, Rocco Toppi of Class A state champion Portland, Mark Socoby of Class C state titlist Houlton, Matt Donar of Class B state champion Erskine Academy of South China, and Corey Tielinen of Oxford Hills of South Paris, who led his Vikings to the No. 1 seed entering the Eastern A tournament.

The second team features Mark Gaudet of Valley of Bingham, Shawn Tobey of Marshwood of Eliot, Eric Shone of Portland, Darren Mastropaolo of Falmouth, and Andy Frost of Brewer.

The third team consists of Jon Marstaller of Lake Region of Naples, Brian Wells of Mt. Blue of Farmington, Aaron Gallant of Bangor, Josh Madden of Calvary Chapel of Orrington, and Derek DiFrederico of Stearns of Millinocket.

The All-Maine team is selected by the NEWS sports staff with input from coaches, officials, and other basketball observers throughout the state.

First team

MIMS concluded his remarkable career as Brunswick’s all-time scoring leader with 1,916 points in 85 games – or 22.5 points per game over four years. In those games, Brunswick went 81-4.

“Even now I don’t know if I’ve had time to digest what Ralph did,” said Brunswick coach Todd Hanson. “But he really didn’t care about personal numbers, all he wanted to do was win. He was really cognizant of making the entire team better and raising the level of play of his teammates.”

A two-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A Player of the Year, Mims becomes the first schoolboy player to earn first-team NEWS All-Maine recognition for three straight years since Winthrop’s T.J. Caouette from 1994 to 1996.

“In Maine, he’s unguardable,” said Mt. Blue of Farmington coach Jim Bessey of Mims. “There wasn’t a player in Maine who could guard him one-on-one.”

Mims is considering a number of major Division I colleges, including Florida State, Providence, and South Carolina, or he may opt to attend prep school.

TOPPI earned player of the year honors in the Southern Maine Activities Association while leading Portland to its first state title since 1999. The 6-4 senior, a second-team NEWS All-Maine choice a year ago, ranked among conference leaders in scoring and rebounding, and ended his career with a 28-point, 16-rebound effort as the Bulldogs outlasted Brunswick 69-63 in overtime to win the state title.

“Rocco was the most difficult matchup for anyone in our conference,” said Portland coach Joe Russo of the Mr. Basketball finalist. “He can shoot and handle the ball, and he’s strong under the basket.

“The other thing about Rocco was that he was extremely consistent for us in scoring and rebounding, and then in the state final he showed why he’s one of the best players in the state.”

Toppi, who likely is headed to Brandeis this fall, scored his 1,000th career point during overtime of the state final, joining Robert Pilsbury (a first-team NEWS All-Maine choice in ’99) as the only schoolboy players in Portland High history to reach that milestone.

SOCOBY was the catalyst as 20-2 Houlton earned its first-ever state championship in boys basketball. The rangy sophomore led the Shiretowners in scoring, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots, and shot 54 percent from the field, including 36 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

“Mark delivers on his potential,” said Houlton coach Sean Callahan. “He doesn’t take anything for granted, and keeps working to get better.”

Socoby saved his biggest games for last. He was named most valuable player of the Eastern C tournament after scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 rebounds as Houlton topped Washington Academy of East Machias in the regional final. He followed that up with 32 points, 14 rebounds, four blocked shots, and three assists as the Shiretowners rallied past Jay in the state championship game.

“When the time came with two or three minutes left in the third quarter of those games, Mark knew it was winning time and he and the team responded well,” Callahan said.

DONAR, the son of a coach, led his team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals, and was named KVAC Class B Player of the Year for the second straight season while leading 19-3 Erskine Academy to its first-ever state championship.

“His biggest strength is his complete dedication to the game,” said Erskine coach Tim Bonsant. “He’s put on 25 pounds of muscle since his freshman year; he’s lived in the weight room for the last year.”

Donar’s increased strength enabled him to earn his way to the free-throw line for many of his 1,406 career points – best in Erskine schoolboy history.

“He likes to draw contact,” said Bonsant, whose 1,280 points during the 1980s stood as the Erskine boys record until Donar eclipsed it this season. “He’s strong enough to get fouled and still make the shot.”

Donar plans to attend the University of Southern Maine.

A first-team All-KVAC choice and Mr. Basketball finalist, TIELINEN led Oxford Hills to a 17-1 regular-season finish and a berth in the Eastern A semifinals.

In addition to topping the Vikings in scoring (22.2 ppg) and rebounding (10 rpg), the third-year starter also averaged five assists and three blocked shots per game while shooting 77 percent from the free-throw line – all evidence of his versatility.

“He’s a very smart, very intelligent player,” said Oxford Hills coach Scott Graffam. “One of the things he really worked on going into his senior year was his strength so he could play more on the inside.”

Still, much of Tielinen’s success came on the perimeter, where at 6-5 he created serious matchup problems for opposing defenses and opportunities for his teammates.

Tielinen, who ended his career as Oxford Hills’ second-leading all-time scorer, plans to study engineering at Northeastern University.

Second team

GAUDET scored more than 1,000 points during his three years at Valley after he and his family moved to Bingham from Texas. The 6-0 guard shot 84 percent from the free-throw line this season and made 58 percent of his field-goal tries, many from beyond the 3-point arc. Gaudet was named the outstanding player-sportsman of the Western D tournament and scored 28 points in the Cavaliers’ Class D state championship game loss to Calvary Chapel.

“Mark is just an all-around good player, not only offensively but defensively,” said Valley coach Dwight Littlefield. “He’s a very clever player.”

Gaudet has been accepted at Colby and the University of Maine, and also is considering Bowdoin and Husson.

TOBEY emerged during his senior season as one of the top performers in the SMAA, leading the conference in scoring with 17.8 points per game and adding 6.9 rebounds an outing.

The second-year starter used a combination of quickness and leaping ability to work his way through interior defenses while filling lanes on the fast break for Marshwood, which reached the Western A semifinals.

“Shawn played well against the good teams,” said Marshwood coach Mike Zamarchi. “He can jump over people, and he runs the floor well because he’s quick for his size.”

Tobey wants to study engineering, and may try to walk on at the University of Maine or the University of New Hampshire. He’s also considering St. Joseph’s, Southern Maine, and Norwich.

SHONE was the consummate point guard for Portland, leading the SMAA in both assists (5.3 per game) and steals (4.7 per game). The third-year starter also was one of the Bulldogs’ top defensive players – he had a key steal and layup late in Portland’s victory over Brunswick in the Class A state final – and top free-throw shooters.

“Eric’s been the heart and soul of the team on and off the court for the last three years,” said Russo. “He makes everybody around him so much better. He’s the reason we are where we are.”

The Bates-bound Shone also was the recipient of the SMAA’s Gary Randall Award, given each year to a player in the league who exemplifies sportsmanship, citizenship, and teamwork.

MASTROPAOLO was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year after leading Falmouth to a 17-1 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed in Western B despite routinely being double- or triple-teamed.

The 6-8 Mastropaolo used his size to great advantage near the basket, but also displayed jump-shooting range to 15 feet.

“He’s a pretty good athlete to begin with, and he has the combination of size and being pretty quick to the basket,” said Falmouth coach Dave Halligan.

The All-Western Maine Conference choice has accepted a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at Division I Bucknell next winter.

FROST was the elder statesman on a youthful Brewer High team this winter, and his talent and leadership earned him recognition as Big East Conference Class A player of the year. A third-team NEWS All-Maine choice as a junior, Frost surpassed 1,000 career points midway through his senior season and ranked among the conference leaders in scoring (13.7 ppg), assists (3.94 apg), and steals (3.28 spg).

“He plays with such passion every night,” said Brewer coach Mark Reed. “He’s got great athletic ability, is a tremendous defender, and does a lot of things on the court that you don’t coach, things that are instinctive.”

Frost, who transferred to Brewer as a junior after playing his first two years at Class C Calais, has Southern Maine, Husson, and Maine Maritime among his college considerations.

Third team

MARSTALLER combined crafty play near the basket with 3-point shooting range to propel Lake Region to its first appearance in the Western B final in six years. Marstaller, who is considering Gordon, the University of Southern Maine and Bentley, was named the outstanding player-sportsman of the Western B tourney after being the leading vote-getter on the All-Western Maine Conference team.

A three-year starter, WELLS was Mt. Blue’s “Mr. Do Everything Player,” according to Cougars’ coach Jim Bessey, including establishing school records for most blocked shots in a game (nine) and season (52). The St. Joseph’s College-bound Wells was a first-team All-KVAC choice while leading Mt. Blue to an Eastern A quarterfinal berth. He has been named to the conference’s all-defensive team the past two years.

GALLANT led Bangor in scoring while shooting 74 percent from the free-throw line as the Rams won 15 of their last 17 games after a 1-4 start, including 12 straight before falling to Brunswick in the Eastern A title game. The first-team All-Big East choice also was a premier defender, using his strength and quickness to contest opponents large and small.

MADDEN struck gold in his third straight appearance in the state Class D final, leading undefeated Calvary Chapel to a breathtaking 72-69 victory over six-time champion Valley of Bingham. Madden, who transferred to Calvary Chapel after leading Bangor Christian to the state final in 2002 and 2003, averaged 30 points per game while being named MVP of the Eastern D tourney for the second straight year. He plans to attend the University of Maine.

The lightning-quick DIFREDERICO led Stearns to a berth in the Eastern C semifinals, earning all-tournament honors thanks in part to a 28-point effort in a quarterfinal victory over Calais. The 5-10 guard, who plans to attend the University of Maine, finished with 1,266 career points, and as a senior expanded his game to lead the Minutemen with six assists per contest.

All-Maine Basketball Team

First Team

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG RPG

G Ralph Mims Brunswick Sr. 6-3 28.9 11.4

F Rocco Toppi Portland Sr. 6-4 17.6 9.1

G Mark Socoby Houlton So. 6-6 20.8 10.8

G Matt Donar Erskine Academy Sr. 6-0 19.7 9.2

F Corey Tielinen Oxford Hills Sr. 6-5 22.2 10.0

Second Team

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG RPG

G Mark Gaudet Valley Sr. 6-0 22.8 5.0

F Shawn Tobey Marshwood Sr. 6-5 17.8 6.9

G Eric Shone Portland Sr. 6-1 12.5 4.1

C Darren Mastropaolo Falmouth Sr. 6-8 13.6 12.8

G Andy Frost Brewer Sr. 5-10 13.7 4.7

Third Team

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG RPG

C Jon Marstaller Lake Region Sr. 6-3 18.2 9.3

F Brian Wells Mt. Blue Sr. 6-3 17.0 11.0

G Aaron Gallant Bangor Jr. 6-0 13.5 5.0

F Josh Madden Calvary Chapel Sr. 6-1 17.2 10.8

G Derek DiFrederico Stearns Sr. 5-10 20.0 5.0

Honorable Mention: Brock Bradford (Calvary Chapel), Phil Bourassa (Biddeford), Justin Brown (Gorham), Matt Carey (Foxcroft Academy), Jordan Cook (Hampden Academy), Sean Costigan (Cheverus), Adam Duplisea (Hermon), Tyler Emmons (Portland), Dan Forcella (Falmouth), Sean Fry (Jay), Bryan Grew (Central Aroostook), Conrad Griffin (Wiscasset), Jimmy Griffin (Hodgdon), Adam Haskell (Winslow), Brett Hutchinson (Georges Valley), Doug Joerss (Cony), Josh Jones (Erskine), Jesse Keith (Hermon), Nate Lambert (Lawrence), Darius Parker (East Grand), Kurt Randall (Gorham), Brandon Sewall (Morse), Mac Simpson (Cheverus), Tim Stammen (Camden Hills), Whitney Stevens (Washington Academy), Jason Thompson (Washburn), Matt Wheelock (Hall-Dale), Chris Wilson (Brewer)