BANGOR – Two, tall, talented forwards who played center this winter because their high school teams needed them there were honored Friday night as winners of the 20th annual Mr. and Miss Maine Basketball awards.

Troy Barnies of Edward Little of Auburn and Ashley Cimino of Catherine McAuley of Portland were recognized during the Maine McDonald’s Senior All-Star Basketball Banquet held at Husson College.

The 6-foot-7 Barnies led Edward Little to an undefeated regular season and the No. 1 ranking in Eastern Maine Class A before the Eddies were upset by Hampden Academy in the regional quarterfinals.

The University of Maine-bound Barnies was named Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A South co-player of the year, averaging 22.8 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.

He also was the KVAC Class A South player of the year as a junior, as well as a third-team Bangor Daily News All-Maine choice after averaging 23.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per outing.

“Mr. Basketball is the greatest honor in Maine and the greatest basketball honor, but in my heart I’m still a little disappointed about not winning the gold ball,” said Barnies. “But I’m really proud of what I’ve done so far.”

Barnies is the second Edward Little player to earn Mr. or Miss Basketball honors, following 1992 Miss Basketball Val Brown. But he was the second member of this year’s Red Eddies’ team to be named Mr. Basketball. EL coach Mike Adams was honored in 1990 while a senior at Mt. Blue of Farmington.

“We had a discussion my freshman year about Mr. Basketball and about how anyone could win it because he thought I had great potential,” said Barnies, who was selected for the award from among a trio of finalists that also included Sean McNally of Gardiner and Andy Shorey of Mountain Valley of Rumford. “We kind of joked around about how he won it. I tried to do what he did, and he helped me a lot with it.”

The 6-3 Cimino led McAuley to its second Western A title in the last three years, averaging 16.1 points, 11 rebounds, and more than four blocked shots per game.

She was selected from a list of finalists that also included Cassie Cooper of Cony of Augusta and Chelsea Barker of Messalonskee of Oakland.

“I was shocked. I wasn’t really expecting the award,” said Cimino. “Cassie and Chelsea are both great players who are well-deserving, so just to be recognized with them in front of all of the McDonald’s players is very exciting.”

Headed for Stanford University next fall, Cimino earlier this winter was selected to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game, scheduled for March 28 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky.

Cimino was a first-team BDN All-Maine selection and the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year last winter and was a second-team All-Maine choice as a sophomore. She finished her career with more than 1,000 points and more than 600 rebounds.

“I played center for the last three years, but when I play AAU and on some other teams I play the 3 or the 4, and that’s what I’m looking to play in college,” said Cimino, who was a 6-1 point guard as a freshman. “I’m not really out of position [at center], I’m just more comfortable facing the basket.”

Among others honored during the banquet were Steve Robinson of Dexter and Hannah Breton of Greenville, recipients of the $1,000 Maine McDonald’s Academic All-State Scholarships; University of Southern Maine women’s basketball coach Gary Fifield, recipient of the Bob Brown Contributor Award; and Toby Nelson of Dover-Foxcroft radio station WDME (103.1 FM), recipient of the newly named Ron Brown Media Award.

Saturday’s 27th annual McDonald’s Senior All-Star Games at Husson College begin with the C/D boys contest at 9:15 a.m., followed by A/B boys at 11 a.m., A/B girls at 12:30 p.m., and C/D girls at 2:15 p.m.