Each year the Eastern Maine high school basketball tournament creates its share of enduring memories. Here are a few from this year.

Shot of the tournament: Kali Rush, Katahdin of Stacyville. Time was running out in overtime of the Cougars’ Class D quarterfinal, and the 5-foot-3 sophomore was behind the backboard along the baseline to the right of the basket, with 6-foot Washburn center Rachel Palmer towering over her. But Rush found a path to the rim – over Palmer, then over the corner of the backboard – and her shot touched nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, giving No. 9 Katahdin a stunning 36-34 win over the No. 1 Beavers. Honorable mention: Whitney Flint of Ashland, whose long 3-pointer with five seconds left in overtime tied the game as the Hornets went on to a double-overtime Class D quarterfinal win over Greater Houlton Christian Academy.

Three at a time: Devin Gerrity, Maranacook, and Rod Tirrell, Calais: Gerrity set an Eastern B tourney record with 11 3-pointers in just 14 attempts for the Black Bears. Tirrell made 11 of 15 in emerging as the leading scorer in the Class C tourney. Honorable mention: Jon McAllian of Class A Bangor, who made 6 of 11 3-pointers, including key long-range baskets during both the semifinals and final.

Long live the streaks: Calais extended its three-year title run to 63-0. The Waterville girls are now 43-0 after winning a second straight Eastern B crown, and the Bangor boys now have won 31 straight after securing the Eastern A title for the second straight year. Honorable mention: The Maranacook and Central Aroostook boys also are undefeated this winter, each 21-0 heading into its state final.

Comeback of the year: Megan Joyce of Oxford Hills of South Paris. The 6-foot sophomore suffered a fractured pelvis 17 days before the tourney and gained medical clearance to return to the court on the day of the Vikings’ Eastern A quarterfinal. Without any practice, Joyce emerged as a dominant player in helping Oxford Hills win its first regional title. Honorable mention: Will Bardaglio, Maranacook, who averaged 16 ppg this year after missing last year’s tourney with mononucleosis.

Top individual performance in a winning cause: Cameron York, Central Aroostook: The senior guard did everything a coach could ask for in the Panthers’ semifinal win over Fort Fairfield. He helped with the ballhandling, joined in CA’s ballhawking defense and scored a tournament-high 40 points. Honorable mention: Flint of Ashland, who scored 16 of her 35 points after regulation in the Hornets’ double-overtime survival of GHCA.

Top individual performance in a losing cause: Adam Kingsbury, Presque Isle. The senior center made the most of his final game with the Wildcats, scoring 31 points in a 61-60 semifinal loss to Camden Hills. His jumper late in overtime gave Presque Isle a 60-59 lead, but Camden Hills’ Dylan Smith scored in the final seconds to prevent the upset. Honorable mention: Corey Therriault of Edward Little, 27 points against Bangor in the EM final.

Sideline ‘strategy’ award: Troy Cilley of Woodland. Faced with trying to contain Deer Isle-Stonington star Collin Ciomei, the Dragons’ coach implemented a 1-1-2-1 zone that gave Chad James the featured defensive assignment. The result? Ciomei was held in check, and Woodland won. Honorable mention: Tim Brewer of Central Aroostook, whose frequent substitutions kept the Panthers fresh and also provided the depth for their third EM title in four years.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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