Mark Socoby’s transition from Class C to the large-school ranks proved to be a smooth one, as evidenced by his selection as 2005 Big East Conference Class A boys basketball player of the year.

Socoby, a junior forward who transferred to Bangor after helping Houlton win the 2004 Class C state championship, led the Rams to a 17-1 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed for the Eastern Maine Class A tournament.

Socoby averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game for coach Roger Reed’s club this winter despite seeing limited minutes in several lopsided Bangor victories.

The 2004 BDN All-Maine first-team choice then had 24 points and nine rebounds in Bangor’s Eastern Maine quarterfinal, a 44-40 loss to Hampden Academy that helped propel the Broncos to the 2005 Class A state championship.

“I thought Mark’s transition went very well,” said Bangor coach Roger Reed. “He came to us as a highly heralded player, but the one thing that was very evident from the beginning was that he is a very humble kid. He didn’t come in with any preconceived notion that he was a star – far from it, he came in as a total team player.”

Socoby eased his way into Bangor’s game plan, gradually increasing his playmaking duties. He finished the season averaging 3.5 assists and three steals per contest.

“As the season went on we asked him to take more of a role in our offense to make things happen, and he did that,” Reed said. “He made everybody around him better, and he also worked hard on all the things we wanted him to do defensively.”

Eastern Maine tourney MVP Jordan Cook joined Socoby on the All-Big East Class A first team, along with Chris Wilson of Brewer and Aaron Gallant and Jordan Heath of Bangor.

Sophomore forward Tanna Ross of Hampden was named the Big East A girls player of the year. She was joined on the all-conference first team by Katie Andrle of John Bapst of Bangor, Katie Quimby of Brewer, Katie Bergeron of Old Town and Jill Beal of Hampden.

Tom Tennett of Bangor and Earl Anderson of Nokomis of Newport shared Big East A girls basketball coach of the year honors, while Russ Bartlett of Hampden earned the boys coaching award.

Seniors Matt Carey of Foxcroft Academy and Natasha Deschene of Presque Isle are the Big East Class B players of the year.

Carey was joined on the All-Big East B boys first team by Foxcroft teammates Kyle Rideout and Bobby Gilbert, Greg Whitaker of Presque Isle and Kyle Staples of Mount Desert Island.

Joining Deschene on the All-Big East B girls first-team squad were Malarie Hall and Cassie White of Hermon, Monica Selander of Caribou, Ashley Oleson of Ellsworth and Kelsey Stratton of MDI.

Dan Clifford of Ellsworth was named Big East B boys coach of the year, while Jeff Hudson of Presque Isle received the girls coaching honor.

Emmons wins Gatorade award

Tyler Emmons of Portland High School has been named the 2005 Gatorade Maine Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

Emmons, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds a game for the Bulldogs, which finished the regular season with a 16-2 record, good for second in Western Maine Class A. Portland reached the regional semifinals before being ousted by eventual WM champion Deering of Portland.

Portland’s career leader in rebounds, Emmons earlier this month was selected the 2005 Southern Maine Activities Association Player of the Year.

Emmons also has competed on Portland’s track and football teams, and has a 93.3 average in the classroom.

“Tyler is one of the most dedicated, hardworking athletes I’ve ever been associated with,” said Portland coach Joe Russo. “His passion for the game is second to none.”

Gustavson earns Roy Award

Peter Gustavson, a senior forward from Falmouth High School, is the 2005 recipient of the Travis Roy Award symbolic of the state’s top Class A senior hockey player.

Gustavson was selected over fellow finalists Aaron Buzzell of Bangor and John Rutt of St. Dominic of Auburn. All three were recognized Sunday evening during the Class A Coaches Association banquet held in Lewiston.

Gustavson scored 33 goals and had 21 assists to lead Falmouth to a 13-6-1 record in the Yachtsmen’s second season as a Class A program. Gustavson’s goal total led all of Western A.

Buzzell helped Bangor compile an 18-5 record and reach the Eastern Maine Class A title game for the first time in school history. The goalie finished his career with 36 wins, a 2.19 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage.

Rutt had 24 goals and 23 assists to lead St. Dominic to the Western A championship game.

Ernie Clark can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or eclark@bangordailynews.net