The success of Camden Hills of Rockport, Dexter and Central Aroostook of Mars Hill in winning 2005 Eastern Maine boys basketball championships stemmed from a number of factors, among them resiliency, guile, coaching and talent.

The three champs also had the most balanced starting five in their classes, meaning they didn’t have to rely on a single player to spearhead their efforts.

But in Tim Stammen of Camden Hills, Chris Rabideau of Dexter and Andrew York of Central Aroostook, the champs had individuals whose consistency throughout the tournament and play at critical junctures of close games have earned them recognition as recipients of the 12th annual William C. Warner Most Valuable Player Award.

The award, presented by the Bangor Daily News, is named in honor of Warner, a former NEWS sports editor who served in the post from 1978 until his death in 1994.

Winners are selected by a vote of tourney media, Maine Principals’ Association representatives, tournament officials and other veteran observers.

Class B: Stammen, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, becomes the sixth Warner Award recipient from Camden Hills or its predecessor, Camden-Rockport. He follows in the footsteps of Tyler Warren (2002), John Knutson (2001), Jim Wilson (1999), Jon Masin-Peters (1998) and Mike Geisler (1994).

Stammen averaged 14.3 points, six rebounds and four assists per tournament game for the undefeated Windjammers, and helped orchestrate the championship-game victory over Foxcroft Academy with his work at the high post. He had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists in the Eastern B final, shooting 8 of 15 from the field.

Stammen narrowly edged out classmate Jamey Davis for MVP honors. The point guard averaged 15 points and five assists, and also grabbed nine rebounds in a quarterfinal victory over Ellsworth. He shook off a bad fall early in the EM final to have 15 points and five assists.

Joining the Camden Hills duo on the BDN Class B All-Tournament Team are Kyle Rideout of Foxcroft, Josh Jones of Erskine Academy of South China, and Greg Whitaker of Presque Isle. Rideout led Foxcroft Academy to its first appearance in a regional final since 1979, averaging 24.7 points and 12 rebounds. He shot 67.5 percent (27 of 40) from the field during postseason play.

Jones averaged 21.5 points in leading the 2004 state champions back to the semifinals for the third straight season. He shot 88 percent (20 of 24) from the free-throw line, and scored his 1,000th career point during the Eagles’ semifinal loss to Foxcroft.

Whitaker led Presque Isle to its semifinal berth, averaging 15 points and eight rebounds in two games. He also dished four assists in a quarterfinal win over Fort Kent.

Class C: Rabideau, a 6-foot-3 senior center, led the balanced Tigers in both scoring (12 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 ppg). Rabideau played a key role as the Tigers pulled away from Madawaska in the semifinals and rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit against Penquis of Milo in the final. He shot 54 percent (15 of 28) from the field.

Rabideau is the second Dexter player in three years to win the Warner Award. Travis Patterson received the honor in 2003. Rabideau is joined on the NEWS Class C All-Tournament Team by Jordan Allen and Devin Perkins of Penquis, Sam Hostetter of Washington Academy of East Machias and Myles Morneault of Madawaska.

Allen, whose brother Jeremy won the 2000 Warner Award, was the catalyst for Penquis as the Patriots challenged Dexter for Class C supremacy. He averaged 14 points in three tournament games, and scored 17 in the regional final. Hostetter personified Washington Academy’s powerful inside game. He had team-high averages of 17.5 points and 10 rebounds in two games, and shot 76 percent (16 of 21) from the field.

Morneault sparked Madawaska to the school’s first-ever tournament victory and appearance in the semifinals. The point guard had 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the Owls’ historic quarterfinal win over George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill, and averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

Perkins was the division’s top shot-blocker, averaging four per tourney contest. He also led Penquis in rebounding (8.3 rpg) while averaging 10.3 points in helping the Patriots reach the regional final.

Class D: York, a 6-1 junior guard, joins Central Aroostook coach Tim Brewer (1994) and Matt Townsend (1996) as Warner Award recipients from Central Aroostook.

York averaged 20.7 points and 7.3 rebounds and shot 70 percent (21 of 30) from the field while working both inside and on the perimeter. His best game came in the semifinals against 2004 state champ Calvary Chapel of Orrington, when he scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds.

Central Aroostook’s Jason Woodworth and Taylor McLaughlin, Tom Bird of Lee Academy and Brock Bradford of Calvary Chapel join York on the BDN Class D All-Tournament Team. Woodworth directed a Panthers’ offense that averaged 74 points per tourney win. Some of that offense he created himself, as he averaged 16 points and five assists. He also scored the 1,000th point of his career during a quarterfinal win against Greenville.

McLaughlin was the third Central Aroostook player to score in double figures in each of the Panthers’ tourney games. He averaged 11.3 ppg, and also contributed mightily on the backboards (10 rebounds in the final) and on defense.

Bird scored 29 points in the final against Central Aroostook to keep the top-seeded Pandas close until the game’s final minute. The sophomore averaged 18.3 ppg and shot 53 percent (20 of 38) from the field.

Bradford scored a tourney-high 32 points in the Sabers’ quarterfinal victory against Deer Isle-Stonington and averaged 25 points and five steals in two games.

Bangor Daily News All-Tourney teams

Boys Teams

Class B

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

F Tim Stammen* Camden Hills Sr. 6-3 14.3

G Jamey Davis Camden Hills Sr. 6-3 15.0

C Kyle Rideout Foxcroft Sr. 6-4 24.7

F Josh Jones Erskine Sr. 6-4 21.5

F Greg Whitaker Presque Isle Jr. 6-5 15.0

Honorable Mention: Matt Carey (Foxcroft), Robin Daley (Mount Desert Island), Bobby Gilbert (Foxcroft), Matt McGlinn (Presque Isle), Mitch Ouellet (Fort Kent), Cameron Puls (Camden Hills)

Class C

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

C Chris Rabideau* Dexter Sr. 6-3 12.0

F Jordan Allen Penquis Sr. 6-1 14.0

C Sam Hostetter Washington Acad. Sr. 6-4 17.5

G Myles Morneault Madawaska Sr. 6-2 12.5

F Devin Perkins Penquis Sr. 6-3 10.3

Honorable Mention: Eric Day (Dexter), Ryan Martin (Dexter), Matt Murray (Dexter), James Ramsdell (Washington Acad.), Mark Sirois (Madawaska), Ryan Yeo (Piscataquis)

Class D

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

G Andrew York* Cent. Aroostook Jr. 6-1 20.7

G Jason Woodworth Cent. Aroostook Sr. 6-1 16.0

F Tom Bird Lee So. 6-1 18.3

G Taylor McLaughlin Cent. Aroostook Jr. 5-11 11.3

G Brock Bradford Calvary Chapel Jr. 6-2 25.0

Honorable Mention: Owen McCarthy (Katahdin), Bryan Miller (Calvary Chapel), Matt Scott (Lee), Jason Thompson (Washburn), Patrick Willett (Katahdin), Gerry Worster (Lee)

*- William C. Warner Most Valuable Player award winners

Girls Teams

Class B

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

G Amanda Byrne* Winslow Sr. 5-7 11.3

F Ashley Carter Winslow Jr. 6-0 8.3

F Kelsey Stratton MDI So. 5-10 12.3

C Caitlin Hynes Rockland Jr. 5-11 12.0

G Toby Martin Maranacook Sr. 5-3 10.0

Honorable Mention: Brittany Morin (Winslow), Kristi Violette (Maranacook), Emma Stanley (MDI)

Class C

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

F Ashley Ames* Dexter Sr. 6-4 23.6

G Sabrina Cote Dexter Jr. 5-8 7.3

C Danielle O’Brien Calais Sr. 5-11 10.6

G Emily Smith Calais Sr. 5-7 12.3

F Trisha MacDonald Stearns Sr. 5-7 17.0

Honorable Mention: Mallory Ames (Dexter), Rachel Torrey (Woodland), Courtney Cochran (Woodland), Michelle Ferry (Woodland)

Class D

Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG

F Shelby Pickering* Lee Sr. 5-8 20.3

G Aarika Ritchie Lee Fr. 5-6 10.0

G Ashley Nemer Ashland Jr. 5-6 12.6

G Mindy Watson So. Aroostook Sr. 5-3 17.0

C Beth Bartley Greenville Jr. 5-11 15.0

Honorable Mention: Karin Bird (Lee), Melinda Chasse (Ashland), Whitney Flint (Ashland)

*- Owen Osborne Award winners