The 2010 Eastern Maine schoolboy basketball tournament was filledwith moments to remember.
Many of those moments stemmed from the play of Yusef Iman ofEdward Little of Auburn, Tyler McFarland of Camden Hills ofRockport, Ben Teer of Washington Academy of East Machias and BrandonTheriault of Schenck of East Millinocket, this year's recipients ofthe William C. Warner Most Valuable Player Award.
The Warner Award, established in 1994 in memory of a formerBangor Daily News sports editor and reporter, and BDN Eastern Maineall-tournament teams were selected by a vote of media, tournamentpersonnel and representatives of the Maine Principals' Association.
McFarland, a junior center for the two-time reigning Eastern Bchampion Windjammers, joins an exclusive club as a two-time WarnerAward recipient.
Others so honored during the award's 17-year history were SamHenderson of Hodgdon (1995-96), Ralph Mims of Brunswick (2002 and2004), Josh Madden of Bangor Christian and Calvary Chapel (2003 and2004), Jordan Cook of Hampden Academy (2005-06), Andrew York ofCentral Aroostook of Mars Hills (2005-06), Brandon Tomah of Calais(2006-07), and Ryan Martin of Maranacook of Readfield (2006 and2008).
Class A
Iman was the leading scorer in the Eastern A tournament whileleading the Red Eddies to their second straight title.
He also had a flare for the dramatic, hitting the game-winning 3-pointer in overtime against Bangor in the semifinals, then makingthree late free throws in a four-point win over Brewer in the final.
Iman is joined on the Eastern A all-tourney team by teammateJames Philbrook, Dom Drake and Ray Bessette of Brewer, and ClarkNoonan of Bangor.
Drake and Bessette used their quickness to create scoringopportunities for themselves and their teammates, and sparking anaggressive defense that rallied Brewer from double-digit deficits inboth their semifinal win over Hampden Academy and in the finalagainst Edward Little.
Bessette led Brewer in scoring, with a single-game high of 21points against Hampden Academy. Drake scored a team-high 16 pointsin the final while averaging more than five steals per outing duringthe tourney.
Philbrook, the 2009 Eastern A tourney MVP, played a key role inreturning Edward Little to championship status with unselfish playthat was epitomized by his work in the title game, when he had ninepoints, 12 rebounds and eight assists. He also scored 15 points inthe semifinal win over Bangor.
Noonan was a consistent inside force for Bangor throughout theregular season, and that continued into postseason play. The first-year starter for the Rams had 16 points and nine rebounds inBangor's quarterfinal win over Cony of Augusta, and followed thatwith 12 points and nine rebounds in the semifinals against EdwardLittle
Class B
McFarland was a dominant inside presence during Camden Hills'title run, but he also displayed his versatility.
In addition to leading the Windjammers in scoring, the 6-6 junioraveraged 10.3 rebounds and four blocked shots per outing and made 11of 12 free throws. McFarland also showed off his perimeter defenseby limiting leading tournament scorer Ryan Petros of Ellsworth tonine points in the final.
Joining McFarland on the Eastern B all-tourney team are CamdenHills teammate Keegan Pieri, Petros, Alex MacKenzie of MedomakValley of Waldoboro and Mike Cochrane of Mount View of Thorndike.
Pieri was a capable frontcourt complement to McFarland with hisballhandling skills, perimeter shooting touch and defensive ability.He scored 15 points in a semifinal victory over Medomak Valley.
Petros averaged 23 points per game while leading Ellsworth to theregional final, including 33 points in an overtime quarterfinalvictory over Rockland.
MacKenzie provided a solid Medomak Valley with remarkablyconsistent statistics on its way to the semifinals. He had 15 pointsand eight rebounds in a quarterfinal win over Presque Isle, and 14points and eight rebounds in a semifinal loss to Camden Hills.
Cochrane helped Mount View earn a trip to the semifinals with abig quarterfinal effort in which he scored eight of his game-high 21points in the fourth quarter of a hard-fought victory over Old Town.
Class C
Though not the tallest player on the court, the 5-foot-8 Teerplayed the biggest of roles in leading Washington Academy to itsfirst EM title since 1998.
On offense he shot with accuracy from 3-point range in, or hepenetrated defenses with the dribble or bullet-like passes. Ondefense his perimeter pressure set the tone for a WA team thatthrived on converting turnovers into fast-break offense.
Teer averaged 15.7 points, six assists and five steals per gameas the Raiders ended Calais' four-year hold on the regional crown.
Also named to the Eastern C all-tourney team were WA teammatesNoah Von Rotz and Bryce Colbeth, Cam Shorey of Calais and JosiahRichard of Foxcroft Academy.
Shorey nearly willed Calais to another title, averaging a Class Ctourney best 22.7 points per game on 28 of 47 shooting from thefield along with 11 rebounds per contest. The 6-5 junior had 26points and 12 rebounds in the EM final.
Von Rotz earned all-tournament honors for the second straightyear with an offensive game that ranged from 3-point shots to slamdunks. He scored 21 points in the quarterfinals, then had 19 pointsand five assists in the semifinals.
Colbeth, an honorable mention choice last year, saved his bestgame for last, with 14 points, seven rebounds and five steals in theregional final. Colbeth also had 10 rebounds in the semifinals.
Richard led Foxcroft Academy to a semifinal berth in its returnto Class C. His two free throws with 2.8 seconds left in thequarterfinals gave the Ponies a two-point win over Stearns ofMillinocket. He followed that with 18 points, five rebounds andthree steals in a semifinal loss to Washington Academy.
Class D
Theriault led Schenck to its first Eastern Maine title in 16years, largely by breaking down defenses by dribbling into the laneand then either finding teammates for high-percentage shots ortaking his own shots.
The junior guard had 18 points and nine assists in theWolverines' quarterfinal victory over Greater Houlton ChristianAcademy, then scored a game-high 19 points as Schenck defeated FortFairfield in the regional final.
Also on the Eastern D all-tournament team are Travis Noyes andJohn McNamee of Fort Fairfield, Jared Waite of Schenck and JustinAlley of Jonesport-Beals.
Noyes fought off an ankle injury suffered just before thetournament to lead the Tigers to the final. His two free throws with13.3 seconds left in the semifinals gave Fort Fairfield a one-pointwin over Shead of Eastport, and he had 16 points and 12 rebounds inthe final against Schenck.
McNamee gave Fort Fairfield a low-post presence few rivals inEastern D could match. He opened tournament play with 30 points and18 rebounds in the quarterfinals and averaged 12.7 rebounds in threegames.
Despite being just 6-1, Waite was strongest near the basket forSchenck. He recorded double figures in scoring and rebounding ineach of his team's first two tournament games.
The 6-foot-6 Alley averaged 13.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in twogames while leading the Royals to the semifinals after a three-yeartournament absence.
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Boys All-Tournament Teams
Class A
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
*G Yusef Iman Edward Little Sr. 5-10 20.3
F Dom Drake Brewer Sr. 6-1 13.0
G Ray Bessette Brewer Jr. 6-0 15.7
C James Philbrook Edward Little Sr. 6-4 10.7
C Clark Noonan Bangor Sr. 6-6 14.0
Honorable Mention: Jacob Moore (Hampden Acad.), Bo Leary (EdwardLittle), Zach Blodgett (Bangor), Noah Burditt (Hampden Acad.), NateCarson (Brewer)
Class B
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
*C Tyler McFarland Camden Hills Jr. 6-6 18.3
F Keegan Pieri Camden Hills Jr. 6-6 11.3
F Ryan Petros Ellsworth Sr. 6-1 23.0
F Alex MacKenzie Medomak Valley Sr. 6-3 14.5
F Mike Cochrane Mount View Sr. 6-2 15.0
Honorable Mention: Andrew Austin (Ellsworth), Travis Dyer(Presque Isle), Jason Hughes (Mount View), Chris Nolan (Rockland),Joel Gabriele (Camden Hills)
Class C
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
*G Ben Teer Washington Acad. Sr. 5-8 15.3
C Cam Shorey Calais Jr. 6-5 22.7
G Noah Von Rotz Washington Acad. Sr. 6-0 17.3
G Josiah Richard Foxcroft Acad. Sr. 5-9 15.0
F Bryce Colbeth Washington Acad. Sr. 6-2 10.0
Honorable Mention: Youssou Ndoye (Lee Acad.), Ryan Beers (LeeAcad.), Ian Champeon (Foxcroft Acad.), Jeremy Carr (Calais), JoeMcCloskey (Penobscot Valley)
Class D
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
*G Brandon Theriault Schenck Jr. 6-0 14.7
F Travis Noyes Fort Fairfield Jr. 6-0 13.3
C John McNamee Fort Fairfield Sr. 6-5 18.0
F Jared Waite Schenck Sr. 6-1 13.7
C Justin Alley Jonesport-Beals So. 6-6 13.0
Honorable Mention: Garet Beal (Jonesport-Beals), Eric Theriault(Schenck), David Medeiros (Shead), Dakota Sleeper (SouthernAroostook), Terry McCafferty (Schenck)
*Warner Award winners
