AUGUSTA — It’s been 18 years since former Cony High School athlete Chrisanne Burns was killed in an automobile accident while home for Thanksgiving on college break.

Most of the players at the basketball tournament in her memory Saturday weren’t even born at the time of her death, but not a day goes by that her parents Gary and Carolyn don’t think about the daughter they lost. Saturday night, they spoke to a group of players, fans and parents at the tournament and implored them to avoid the mistake Chrisanne made when she got behind the wheel after having a few drinks.

“It was 18 years ago tonight that Chrissy left the house and we haven’t seen her since, except at the funeral parlor,” Gary told the group at a ceremony between tournament games. “Just don’t do what she did. It was all over in a matter of minutes.”

Burns was 19 at the time of her death and a sophomore at Green Mountain College in Vermont. The tournament in her memory began the following year with the theme “Think, it could happen to you,” written on hundreds of T-shirts that have been distributed to participants.

“I want you to think about your family,” Carolyn told the assembled players. “If you make a bad decision, they’ll have a T-shirt, but they won’t have you.”

Gary Burns mentioned a young person killed recently in an auto accident in Winslow as he continued to drive home the idea that a loss like that can devastate a family or community in an instant.

“There’s not a damn thing I can do to bring my daughter back,” he said. “But if we can send a message to you . . .”

* * *

Cheverus coach Bob Brown and his Stags made a third straight appearance at the Chrisanne Burns tournament and once again looked strong despite the absence of several players who were members of the football team that won its second straight Class A state title last week. The players were all on hand but not dressed for the games.

“They could have played according to school rules and MPA rules but not my rules,” Brown said. “It wouldn’t work at the end of the (football) season.”

Brown, who got his start at Cony, is now in his 52nd year of coaching. His career includes head coaching stops at six Maine high schools and three colleges — Southern Maine, St. Anselm and Boston University. He and Cheverus football coach John Wolfgram have a good working relationship.

“Sometimes people forget, this is high school sports,” Brown said. “You go through high school once in your life. Do it all, enjoy it all. John Wolfgram and I are in total agreement that the footwork and quickness is good for his football players and the strength and the toughness is good for the basketball team.

“The other thing is we’ve only got about 470 kids in our school, so kids have to play more than one sport.”

Brown said at least three of the football players will start for this year’s team. Last season, the Stags went unbeaten before losing to Bangor in the state championship game. Brown said this year’s team will get a lot more competition from teams on its schedule.

“We’re going to be decent,” Brown said. “I would say we’ll be in the top five in Western Maine. I would say Deering is one, Portland two. I would say Bonny Eagle and Sanford and Thornton and us are in the next group.”

Brown lost 6-foot-9 junior Matt Cimino to a prep school in Massachusetts but has a good big man in 6-7 senior Shawn Grover.

“When he competes on every single play, he’s as good as there is around,” Brown said.

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Cony held its boys and girls alumni games Friday night in conjunction with the tournament.

“We had a great turnout,” Cony athletic director Paul Vachon said. “We had 15 (men) and 16 (women).”

Unlike games in the past, the teams played among themselves rather than scrimmage the high school varsity teams. Greg Burns, class of 1988, was named the MVP of the men’s game while Kelsie Bryer, class of 2000, was the women’s MVP.

* * *

The Cony boys team turned in a solid performance against Cheverus before losing by 10 over the final three minutes when the score was tied.

The Rams return three players who saw plenty of action last season, led by 6-6 center Walker Cooper. Junior Chandler Shostak and Zac Lachance also saw plenty of minutes last season and will play key roles. Coach Tim Bonsant was pleased with the play of junior point guard Austin Figoli, a transfer from Rangeley and senior Josiah Hayward.

“He’s always digging out loose balls and he’s looking to pass first, score second,” Bonsant said of Figoli. “He’s a true point guard.

“Josiah Hayward is going to help us a lot. He gets to the rim well. He sat most of last year, but he had a terrific summer, put a lot of time in.”

* * *

The Cony girls team returns five seniors, led by Mia Diplock and Melanie Guzman, along with two juniors and seven sophomores. The Rams should be among a group of a half dozen teams that compete for one of the top spots in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference.

“It’s definitely early,” coach Karen Magnusson said. “It’s exciting to get into the season and start.”

The Rams used several players Saturday in defeating a pretty sound Sanford team by four points.

* * *

The Mt. Blue girls have shown steady improvement since going winless two years ago. They took some lumps last season, too, but with 10 returning players they may hand a few out this season. Saturday, they hung tough with a Cheverus team that should be among the best in Western Maine before falling by about a dozen points.

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com

 

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