The Cony girls basketball team didn’t exactly struggle to find ways to win as the Rams of Augusta rolled through the Eastern Maine Class A tourney and won the program’s ninth regional crown.

Credit Katie Rollins, who was the catalyst with her imposing post presence and unselfish play.

“Katie wanted the ball, Katie got the ball, and Katie made great decisions with the basketball,” Cony coach Paul Vachon said after his star forward dropped in 27 points in Monday’s 65-48 victory over Skowhegan in the regional final.

The Harvard-bound senior, who led Cony in scoring and rebounding in three tourney wins, was the unanimous pick for the Bangor Daily News’ Owen Osborne Most Valuable Player for the second year in a row.

The MVP award, which was established in 1994 in memory of a former NEWS sports editor and reporter, and all-tourney team are selected by a vote of media, tournament personnel and representatives of the Maine Principals’ Association.

This is the fifth year a Cony player has been picked as the MVP since the award was first handed out. Amy Vachon was also a two-time winner from Cony.

Rollins is joined on the all-tourney team by Ram teammates Cassie Cooper and Briiana Rende, who were both on the all-tourney team last year. Megan Franklin and Nicole Paradis of Skowhegan also were named to the all-tourney squad for helping the Indians get to the EM title game for the second year in a row.

Rollins, an honorable mention choice in 2003, averaged a tourney-high 20.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. She was 28-for-41 from the floor in the three games for a sparkling 68.2 field-goal percentage.

As impressive as her footwork and post moves were, the Miss Maine Basketball finalist also liked to pass the ball. Rollins averaged three assists per game, including four in the quarterfinal win over Lewiston.

No doubt many of those passes were to the 6-1 Cooper, who also returns to the all-tourney team. The sophomore forward averaged 16.3 ppg and 11.3 rpg, and had perhaps her most well-rounded game in the semis with 17 points, 15 rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. Cooper shot 56.6 percent from the floor.

Rende, the third of the Cony trio back this year, added quiet offense in the quarterfinal and semifinal – if you consider 10 assists in those two games to be quiet – but really came to life in the final. The 5-6 point guard poured in 17 points, including 8-for-13 shooting from the free-throw line, grabbed nine rebounds and had another five assists.

Franklin, a 5-8 senior forward, is making her first all-tourney appearance. She was the most consistent scorer for the well-balanced Indians, averaging a team-high 13 ppg and 6 rpg. Franklin shot well throughout the tourney, including 12-for-22 (54.4 percent) overall and 4-for-6 from 3-point range.

Sophomore point guard Paradis, who returns from last year’s all-tourney team, saw a drop in scoring in the postseason – that’s what happens when the opposition’s best defender blankets you all game – but the quick ball-handler found ways to contribute anyway. She dished out five assists in the final and averaged 3.3 ppg.

Class A All-Tourney Team

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

F Katie Rollins* Cony Sr. 6-2 20.3

F Cassie Cooper Cony So. 6-1 16.3

G Briiana Rende Cony Sr. 5-6 9.3

F Megan Franklin Skowhegan Sr. 5-8 13.0

G Nicole Paradis Skowhegan So. 5-4 3.3

Honorable Mention: Chelsea Barker (Messalonskee), Rachael Mack (Cony), Kelley Paradis (Nokomis), Bethany Sevey (Skowhegan)

*Owen Osborne Most Valuable Player