Playing in front of large, cheering crowds at the Bangor Auditorium has long been the childhood dream of many Eastern Maine basketball players.

This year, there is a new venue for Class A players, who will move to the Augusta Civic Center for regional play.

The 2006 tournament will be a showcase for more than 550 high school players from 72 teams. All will try to leave their mark, although the ultimate aim is to help their teams win a regional championship or a gold ball.

A few gifted players will handle the pressure of the tournament. 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 13th annual William C. Warner and Owen O. Osborne Most Valuable Player Awards.

In 1994, the BDN established two MVP awards to honor former longtime sports editors Osborne and Warner, both of whom were fixtures at tourney games during their 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 for years. He died in 1994.

Since the inception of the BDN’s MVP awards, 79 winners from 45 schools have been honored. Lanna Martin of Calais (1999, 2001, 2002) and Dexter’s Ashley Ames (2003-05) own the distinction of being the only players, male or female, to win the award three times.

Heather Ernest of Mt. Blue High in Farmington, Bracey Barker of Mount Desert Island, and Danielle Clark of Nokomis High in Newport are among seven players to win the Osborne Award twice.

Lora Trenkle of George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Susan Gardner of Orono, Holli Tapley of Calais, and Lee Academy’s Shelby Pickering also were repeat girls winners.

Among the boys, in 2004 Josh Madden of Calvary Chapel Christian and Ralph Mims of Brunswick joined Sam Henderson of Hodgdon in select company as the only repeat winners of the Warner Award. Henderson won it in 1995 and ’96. Mims first won in 2002.

Madden is the only player to earn the Warner Award with two different schools. He won it with Bangor Christian in 2003.

Camden Hills (formerly Camden-Rockport) has produced a record eight MVP winners, including boys and girls, in 12 years while Calais boasts seven.

The Windjammers’ honorees include Tim Stammen (2005), Tyler Warren (2002), John Knutson (2001), Jim Wilson (1999), Jon Masin-Peters (1998), and Mike Geisler (1994). Samantha Wiley (2004) and Meg Cressler (2000) are CH’s girls representatives.

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

William C. Warner MVP

Award Winners (Boys)

2005 – Class A: Jordan Cook, Hampden Acad.; Class B: Tim Stammen, Camden Hills; Class C: Chris Rabideau, Dexter; Class D: Andrew York, Central Aroostook

2004 – Class A: Ralph Mims, Brunswick; Class B: Matt Donar, Erskine Acad.; Class C: Mark Socoby, Houlton; Class D: Josh Madden, Calvary Chapel Christian

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)

2005 – Class A: Katie Rollins, Cony; Class B: Amanda Byrne, Winslow; Class C: Ashley Ames, Dexter; Class D: Shelby Pickering, Lee Acad.

2004 – Class A: Katie Rollins, Cony; Class B: Samantha Wiley, Camden Hills; Class C: Ashley Ames, Dexter; Class D: Shelby Pickering, Lee Acad.

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