Mary Toman doesn’t fit anyone’s idea of a high school center, or for that matter even a power forward.

Listed at 5-foot-10, the Gardiner Area High School junior is actually 5-9. That still made Toman the team’s tallest player, and given her success her sophomore season, a shoe-in to play in the paint for coach Mike Gray.

Her size doesn’t measure her toughness, though, which helped her compete against consistently taller opponents. On the defensive end she just battled for rebounds, averaging 10.5 a game this season. Offensively, Toman averaged 12.2 points by utilizing a variety of fakes to get defenders off their feet for a score or a trip to the foul line.

For her efforts, Toman is Kennebec Journal Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Gardiner junior Lauren Chadwick was also considered.

Toman has played soccer and softball but basketball is in her blood.

“It’s always been my favorite,” she said. “Both my parents played in high school. I started playing when I was 5 years old.”

Toman’s freshman sister, Anna, also played on the Gardiner varsity this season while older brother Aaron recently completed his senior season for the University of Southern Maine basketball team.

Aaron (6-2) grew a couple of inches after high school, but like his younger sister was an undersized inside scorer and rebounder in his days at Gardiner.

“He was always a big influence on me,” Mary Toman said. “I am kind of undersized when it comes to strength but desire helps me.”

Toman was one of three returning starters for the Tigers this season along with Chadwick and Logan Granholm. Last year they finished 7-11 in the regular season and surprised the tournament field by reaching the regional final. This season, expectations were much higher for the Tigers and they delivered by finishing 14-4 and gaining the No. 3 seed in Class A North.

Gardiner beat Mt. Blue in the quarterfinal round with Toman grabbing 17 rebounds but then fell to No. 2 Messalonskee in the semis.

“I was proud of what we did,” Toman said. “It gives us motivation (for next year).”

What Toman lacked in size, she made up in quickness which helped her at both ends of the floor.

“She’s not a strong kid looking at her,” Gray said. “The thing with her is she runs the floor so well. She has a great approach once she gets the ball. She has a quick first step to get around a bigger defender.”

Toman is also a good free throw shooter. She began the season by making 22 straight and finished at 80 percent overall. In a come-from-behind win against Skowhegan she went 9 for 9 from the line.

Toman and Chadwick were both team captains this year and generally played all 32 minutes in a game barring foul trouble. Toman took her captain’s responsibilities seriously.

“This year I had to be more of a leader,” she said.

Toman will continue to work on her post moves with help from her dad, brother and coaches and hopes to increase her shooting range. She also plans some weight training beginning this spring. Her tenacity, presumably, will remain intact.

“She holds her own,” Gray said. “She’s really tougher than she looks. She rebounds as well as anybody I’ve ever had. She knows where the ball is going to go.”

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