Some had key moments in leading their teams through the 2009Eastern Maine boys basketball tournament, while others' stellar playwas marked by consistency.
But for James Philbrook of Edward Little of Auburn, TylerMcFarland of Camden Hills of Rockport, Cal Shorey of Calais and ChadJames of Woodland, individual success has led not only to teamchampionships, but to their selection as 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 all-tourney teamswere selected by a vote of media, tournament personnel andrepresentatives of the Maine Principals' Association.
In Class A, Philbrook was the most consistent member of a deepand talented frontcourt that led Edward Little to its first EasternMaine championship since 1957.
The 6-foot-4 junior averaged 15 points and 9.3 rebounds in threetournament games. He came up biggest in the regional final againstLawrence of Fairfield when he had 18 points, 10 rebounds and fourblocked shots, as well as two straight baskets in the fourth quarterthat gave the Red Eddies control of the game for good.
Philbrook is joined on the Bangor Daily News EM 'A' all-tournament team by EL teammate Corey Therriault, Brooks Spauldingand Matt Perkins of Lawrence and Jamie Sawyer of Mt. Blue ofFarmington.
Therriault and Sawyer are all-tourney choices for the secondstraight year. Therriault, a forward, averaged 14 points per game,scoring 20 in the Red Eddies' 44-39 semifinal win over two-timedefending champion Bangor.
Sawyer, a point guard, scored 19 points in Mt. Blue'squarterfinal win over Morse of Bath, and his ball-handling helpedthe Cougars commit just three turnovers in the game. He followedthat with a team-high 14 points in a semifinal loss to Lawrence.
Spaulding and Perkins helped Lawrence rise from the No. 10 seedto a berth in the regional final. Spaulding, a center, scored indouble figures in each game, including 18 points in a quarterfinalupset of No. 2 Brewer and 13 in the final against Edward Little.
Perkins had his strongest game in the semifinal against Mt. Blue,helping Lawrence avenge two regular-season losses with six points,five rebounds and five assists.
In Class B, McFarland joined all-tourney teammates Gordon Fischerand Graham Safford in leading Camden Hills to a dominant three-gamerun through the regional tournament. The Windjammers won theirsecond EM title in three years and the seventh in the last 12 years.
McFarland controlled the lane for coach Jeff Hart's club,averaging double figures in both scoring and rebounding for thetournament and also blocking six shots in his team's 62-37 win overRockland in the regional final.
Fischer found several ways to best his opponents, averaging 13points and seven rebounds per game while also effectively setting uphis teammates and blocking shots.
Safford was the Windjammers' floor general, negating anyopponent's notion of pressing the Windjammers on a regular basis.His tournament week was highlighted by a 13-point, four-stealsemifinal effort against Hermon.
Also on the Class B all-tourney team are guard Teel Ilvonen ofRockland and forward Russ Mortland of Presque Isle.
Ilvonen was the tournament's leading scorer, highlighted by a 25-point outburst in the quarterfinals against Medomak Valley ofWaldoboro in which he hit seven 3-pointers. Ilvonen finished histhree-game stint with 10 3-pointers, tying the Eastern B tourneyrecord set in 2008 by Devin Gerrity of Maranacook of Readfield.
Mortland got Presque Isle off to a strong start in postseasonwith 22 points in the quarterfinals against Mount Desert Island, andfinished tourney play as the Wildcats' leading scorer.
In Class C, Shorey's strong play marked the fourth straight yeara Calais player has earned the Warner Award, following Brandon Tomah(2006 and 2007) and Rod Tirrell (2008).
The 6-foot-4 center averaged double figures in scoring andrebounding and had 27 points and 12 rebounds as the Blue Devilsdefeated Stearns of Millinocket 71-45 in the championship game.Shorey also averaged 3.7 blocked shots per game while patrolling thepaint for coach Ed Leeman's club.
While Shorey dominated the lane, Calais teammates Jordan Leemanand Jeremy Carr starred both in the half-court and in transitionwhile earning all-tourney honors.
Carr was the chief finisher on what proved to be a devastatingfast break for Calais, scoring 18 points in each of his team's threetournament games while shooting an astronomical 77.4 percent (24 of31) from the field.
Leeman ran the offense whether playing point guard or posting updefenders. He scored in double figures in each game, including 14points against Lee Academy in the semifinals and 13 points, 11assists and seven rebounds in the title game.
Joining the Calais trio on the Class C team are guards GarenManzo of Stearns and Noah Von Rotz of Washington Academy of EastMachias.
Manzo led the Minutemen to their first tourney appearance in fiveyears and shared the top three-game scoring honors with Carr,including a 27-point quarterfinal outing against Orono.
Von Rotz led the top-seeded Raiders to the semifinals, includinga 26-point quarterfinal effort against Narraguagus of Harrington.
In Class D, James and Woodland backcourt mate Ben Sears ledWoodland to its first regional title.
James came up biggest as the Dragons dethroned 2008 statechampion Central Aroostook of Mars Hill in the championship gamewith 14 points, five rebounds, three assists and six key free throwsin the fourth quarter as Woodland avenged an overtime loss to thePanthers in last year's final. He also joined Sears as a 1,000-point scorer in the quarterfinals.
Like James, Sears also scored in double figures in each of theDragons' postseason victories, including 17 points in thequarterfinals and 16 in the semifinals.
Joining Woodland's dynamic duo on the Class D all-tourney teamare Central Aroostook's Manny Martinez and Caleb Kelly and BrettBradford of Bangor Christian.
Martinez used his quickness to great success on the perimeter,freeing himself up for both the 3-point shot and slashing drives tothe basket. He scored 21 points in the quarterfinals and 20 in thesemifinals for the Panthers.
Kelly used his quickness to great success on the interior,particularly on the offensive boards as he anticipated missed shotsand frequently gathered them in for scoring chances of his own.Kelly's tourney was highlighted by a 21-point, 10-rebound semifinalperformance.
Bradford led Bangor Christian from the ninth seed to a berth inthe semifinals. He scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds in aquarterfinal upset of top-ranked and undefeated Fort Fairfield. withhis two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining providing the marginof victory.
eclark@bangordailynews.net
990-8045
Class A
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
F James Philbrook* Edward Little Jr. 6-4 15.0
F Corey Therriault Edward Little Sr. 6-3 14.0
C Brooks Spaulding Lawrence Sr. 6-4 14.0
G Matt Perkins Lawrence Sr. 6-1 12.0
G Jamie Sawyer Mt. Blue Sr. 6-0 16.5
Honorable Mention: Zach Blodgett (Bangor), Maxx Alexander(Bangor), Shane Ciriello (Edward Little), Jacob Moore (HampdenAcademy)
Class B
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
C Tyler McFarland* Camden Hills So. 6-5 14.0
F Gordon Fischere Camden Hiills Sr. 6-6 13.0
G Teel Ilvonen Rockland Sr. 6-0 15.7
G Graham Safford Camden Hills So. 6-0 10.0
F Russ Mortland Presque Isle Sr. 6-3 14.0
Honorable Mention: Kiefer Lammi (Camden Hills), Chris Nolan(Rockland), Kevin Tarr (Hermon), Andy Ball (Hermon)
Class C
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
C Cal Shorey* Calais Sr. 6-4 16.3
G Jordan Leeman Calais Sr. 5-11 12.3
G Jeremy Carr Calais Jr. 5-9 18.0
G Garen Manzo Stearns Jr. 5-11 18.0
G Noah Von Rotz Washington Acad. Jr. 6-0 19.0
Honorable Mention: Tyler Doty (Lee Acad.), Brandon McLaughlin(Stearns), Bryce Colbeth (Washington Acad.), Tyler Richards(Stearns)
Class D
Pos. Name School Yr. Ht. PPG
G Chad James* Woodland Sr. 5-9 13.0
G Ben Sears Woodland Sr. 5-11 15.3
G Manny Martinez Cen. Aroostook Sr. 5-7 18.3
G Brett Bradford Bangor Christian Sr. 6-0 24.5
F Caleb Kelly Cen. Aroostook So. 6-2 13.7
Honorable Mention: Wayne Clossey (Shead), Aaron St. Pierre(Woodland), Logan McLaughlin (Central Aroostook), Tyler Alexander(Bangor Christian)
*Warner Award winners
