McAllian wins Warner Award in ‘A’ Bears’ Martin, Blue Devils’ Tirrell, Panthers’ York also named tournament MVPs

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Just four boys basketball teams statewide remain undefeated in the aftermath of the Eastern Maine tournament and this year’s recipients of the William C. Warner Most Valuable Player Award are the main reasons why.

Seniors Jon McAllian of Bangor, Ryan Martin of Maranacook of Readfield, Rod Tirrell of Calais and Cameron York of Central Aroostook all played pivotal roles in helping their teams survive the challenges of regular-season play. They subsequently stood tall when postseason existence was on the line, as all four led their teams to regional titles.

Two MVP recipients, Martin and York, were unanimous choices, with Martin earning the honor in Class B for the second time in three years and becoming just the seventh two-time winner in the 14-year history of the award.

York joins Andrew York, Class D Warner Award winner for Central Aroostook in both 2005 and 2006, as one of the few brother combinations to receive the honor.

The Warner Award, established in 1994 in memory of a former Bangor Daily News sports editor and reporter, and all-tourney teams were selected by a vote of media, tournament personnel and representatives of the Maine Principals’ Association.

McAllian, a 6-foot-5 guard, shot 61 percent from the field and averaged 12.7 points to lead Bangor to its second consecutive EM title. That effort was highlighted by a 17-point game in the final against Edward Little of Auburn, when he made three consecutive 3-pointers to open a third-quarter lead for the Rams that they were able to maintain en route to a 61-54 victory.

McAllian, who also received the Al Halliday Award as outstanding player-sportsman of the Eastern A tournament, was joined on the Eastern Maine Class A all-tournament team by Ryan Weston of Bangor, Corey Therriault and Ben Hartnett of Edward Little and Jamie Sawyer of Mt. Blue of Farmington.

Weston, an all-tournament choice for the second straight year, averaged 12 points during the tournament and rose to the forefront in the championship game, when he scored a team-high 23 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.

Therriault kept Edward Little close in the EM final with a 27-point performance, and the junior forward averaged 15.3 points per game. Hartnett led a veteran Red Eddies backcourt with an average of 12.3 points an outing, highlighted by 18 points in EL’s semifinal win over Lawrence of Fairfield.

Sawyer was an offensive catalyst for a Mt. Blue team that reached the semifinals for the second straight year. The junior guard had 17 points in a quarterfinal win over Cony of Augusta, then helped Mt. Blue stay close to Bangor for much of their semifinal thanks to 12 points and solid ballhandling.

In Class B, Martin sparked a Black Bears offense that averaged 86.5 points in its semifinal and championship game victories. The 5-9 guard scored between 23 and 27 points in each tournament game while shooting 26 for 50 (52 percent) from the field and 16 of 18 (89 percent) from the free-throw line.

Joining Martin on the Eastern B all-tournament squad were Maranacook’s Devin Gerrity, Paul Campbell of Camden Hills of Rockport, Derek Libbey of Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln and Adam Kingsbury of Presque Isle.

Gerrity set an Eastern B tourney record with 11 3-pointers and shot 79 percent (11 of 14) from beyond the arc. Campbell and Libbey earned all-tournament honors for the second straight year. Campbell led Camden Hills to a second straight trip to the regional final and scored a team-high 17 points in the final. Libbey shot nearly 50 percent (19 of 39) from the field while averaging 23.0 points as the Lynx reached the semifinals.

Kingsbury, an honorable mention all-tourney choice in 2006, averaged 23.5 points in two games, including a 31-point outburst in a one-point semifinal loss to Camden Hills.

In Class C, Tirrell was the model of consistency in leading Calais to its third straight regional title, scoring 22 points in the quarterfinals and 23 points in both the semifinals and championship game. The 6-4 senior forward shot 68 percent (26 of 38) from the field, including 11 of 15 (73 percent) from 3-point land.

With Tirrell on the Eastern C all-tournament team are Sam Bell of Calais, Luis Medina and Devan Parker of Lee Academy and Mike Lowell of Schenck of East Millinocket.

While Tirrell was the primary finisher for Calais, Bell was the Blue Devils’ main creator – an effort highlighted by his 21 points and seven assists in the final. An honorable mention all-tourney choice last winter, Bell shot 53 percent (19 of 36) from the floor for three games, including 10 of 14 in his team’s 77-54 win over Lee in the final.

Medina provided a steady perimeter influence for the Pandas during their postseason run, ranking among the team leaders in rebounds and assists as well as scoring. Parker led Lee in rebounding, including a career-high 18 in the Pandas’ semifinal victory over Schenck, when he added 19 points to lead his team to a narrow victory.

Lowell was named to the all-tourney team for the second straight year, scoring 16 points in each of the Wolverines’ two games and sparking a semifinal comeback against Lee that fell just short.

In Class D, York led Central Aroostook to its third Eastern Maine championship in the last four years. The 5-11 guard shot 52 percent (23 of 44) from the field in three games and scored a tournament-high 40 points in the Panthers’ semifinal win over Fort Fairfield. In that game, York tied a tournament record by making 17 free throws – in 18 attempts.

York is joined on the Eastern D all-tourney team by Central Aroostook guard Manny Martinez, Woodland guards Chad James and Ben Sears and Deer Isle-Stonington forward Eben Powers.

Martinez joined York as a double-figure scorer in each of Central Aroostook’s three games, and his 3-pointer in overtime gave the Panthers the lead for good against Woodland in the final.

James led Woodland in scoring while shooting 82 percent (23 of 28) from the free-throw line in three tourney games. He also played a key defensive role in limiting 2007 tourney MVP Collin Ciomei to just four points in the Dragons’ semifinal victory over defending state champion Deer Isle-Stonington.

Sears nearly matched James’ offensive output and also was an able rebounder for the Dragons. He had 20 points and eight rebounds in the quarterfinals, then added 16 points in the final.

Powers scored 21 points in each of Deer Isle-Stonington’s two tournament games, shooting 81 percent (17 of 21) from the field for the Mariners.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

990-8045

BDN All-Tourney Teams

Class A

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

G Jon McAllian* Bangor Sr. 6-5 12.7

C Ryan Weston Bangor Sr. 6-5 12.0

F Corey Therriault Edward Little Jr. 6-3 15.3

G Ben Hartnett Edward Little Sr. 5-11 12.3

G Jamie Sawyer Mt. Blue Jr. 6-0 14.5

Honorable Mention: Billy Zolper (Bangor), Kyle Philbrook (Edward Little), Lee Suvlu (Bangor), Wes Sexton (Lawrence), Adam Bernstein (Bangor)

Class B

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

G Ryan Martin* Maranacook Sr. 5-9 25.0

G Derek Libbey Mattanawcook Sr. 6-0 23.0

C Adam Kingsbury Presque Isle Sr. 6-3 23.5

F Devin Gerrity Maranacook Jr. 6-2 15.3

G Paul Campbell Camden Hills Sr. 6-2 10.3

Honorable Mention: Mike Poulin (Maranacook), Will Bardaglio (Maranacook), Brady Vose (Mattanawcook), Christian Pieri (Camden Hills), Alex Goldrup (Medomak Valley)

Class C

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

F Rod Tirrell* Calais Sr. 6-4 22.7

G Sam Bell Calais Sr. 5-11 15.0

G Luis Medina Lee Acad. Jr. 6-2 10.7

F Devan Parker Lee Acad. Sr. 6-0 11.4

G Mike Lowell Schenck Sr. 6-2 16.0

Honorable Mention: Cal Shorey (Calais), Hakeem Rodriguez (Lee), Parker Brown (Houlton), Ryan Hill (Houlton), Nick Saunders (George Stevens)

Class D

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

G Cameron York* Central Aroostook Sr. 5-11 24.3

G Chad James Woodland Jr. 5-9 17.0

G Manny Martinez Central Aroostook Jr. 5-7 15.7

F Eben Powers Deer Isle-Stonington Jr. 6-0 21.0

G Ben Sears Woodland Jr. 5-11 15.3

Honorable Mention: Logan McCarthy (Central Aroostook), Ryan Noyes (Fort Fairfield), Collin Ciomei (Deer Isle-Stonington), Cody Closson (Fort Fairfield), Kasey Brewer (Central Aroostook)

*Warner Award winners