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Julianna Allen, Mt. Ararat senior forward
Allen faced more attention from defenses this year, but the Miss Maine Basketball semifinalist still helped the Eagles return to the A North final. Featuring one of the state’s best combinations of length and athleticism, she averaged 10.7 points and 6.5 rebounds for a balanced team while also notching 2.8 steals and 2 blocks per game.
Mary Allen, Bangor Christian senior guard
Allen transferred from Central for her senior year and made an immediate impact. The gifted playmaker averaged 22.7 points, 5.6 assists, 4.8 steals and 5.5 rebounds, and she shot over 40% from 3-point range. “She understands angles. She understands step-backs and how to use them,” Maranacook coach Karen Magnusson said. Allen will play next at Colby.
Olivia Breen, Oceanside freshman forward
Breen dominated KVAC play in her first season, showcasing footwork around the basket as well as good shooting and the ability to back down opponents and get out in transition. She averaged 24.5 points and 10.4 rebounds, and also led the Class B South champion Mariners in blocks and field-goal percentage.
Addison Cyr, Mattanawcook Academy senior center
The 6-foot-1 Cyr, a Miss Maine Basketball finalist, combined size with agility and was likely the state’s top inside player. She averaged 24.2 points and 17.0 rebounds, and recorded 25 points and 23 rebounds in the Class C final against Spruce Mountain. “She would have been at the top of the list if she played Class D, C, B or A,” Hampden coach Nick Winchester said. “She’s that good.”
Grace LaBree, Hampden Academy senior center
The 6-foot-4 LaBree was the anchor of Hampden’s stingy defense and the biggest reason why the Broncos nearly stunned Cheverus in the Class A final, closing off the basket and blocking eight shots while scoring 15 points. The Southern New Hampshire University commit averaged 10.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
Kylie Lamson, Cheverus senior guard
Already a prolific scorer, Lamson showed her clutch gene while ending her career with a Class A title. The Miss Maine Basketball finalist scored 13 of her 26 points in the fourth quarter of a semifinal victory over Biddeford, and 17 of her 21 points after halftime in the title-game win over Hampden. She averaged 20.1 points and 2.4 steals per game.
Thea Laukka, Camden Hills junior guard
The KVAC Class A Player of the Year was a two-way standout. She averaged 14.7 points, 3.5 assists and a conference-high 4.9 steals per game, and was an excellent floor reader and transition passer, as well as a skilled ball-handler and disruptive defender. She’s also an all-conference softball player.
Maddie Provost, Lawrence senior guard
Our choice as Varsity Maine Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Provost capped her stellar career with a Class B title, the Gatorade Player of the Year and the Miss Maine Basketball award. She finished with averages of 27.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, and scored 19 points to go with 15 rebounds in the Class B final against Oceanside. She’ll play next at Holy Cross.
Mollie Puffer, Sanford sophomore forward
Puffer led the Spartans to Class A South’s second seed and the regional semifinals, showcasing toughness around the basket and an improved pull-up game that made her a threat anywhere on the floor. She was the SMAA’s second-leading scorer in the regular season, averaging 17.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
Natalia Silva, Biddeford sophomore guard
Silva averaged 13.1 points while building on a reputation as one of Maine’s top clutch scorers. She was most dangerous in the second halves and fourth quarters, demonstrated when she had 10 of 14 points in the fourth quarter of a Class A South quarterfinal against Windham. She also averaged 3.2 steals during the regular season.
Abbey Steele, Gray-New Gloucester junior guard
Steele was a WMC first-team selection after averaging 15 points and knocking down 41 3-pointers, then raised her game while leading the Patriots to the B South final. She scored a team-high 16 points in the semis against Marshwood, then 33 in the final against Oceanside en route to being named tournament MVP.
Annie Whitmore, South Portland junior guard
Whitmore steered the Red Riots back to a regional final, averaging 11.6 points and four assists with excellent ball-handling skills and a good shooting stroke. She may have been better on the other end of the floor, where she usually took on the opponent’s best player and was named SMAA Defensive Player of the Year.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Billy Goodman, Cheverus: The Stags won their third state championship in five years. He had a star in Kylie Lamson and found the perfect roles for players like Anna Goodman, Abby Kelly, Rachel LaSalle, Addie Jordan, Marian Pitney and freshman Kristin King. He also coached a pressure defense that flustered opponents and helped erase double-digit second-half deficits in playoff wins over Biddeford and Hampden Academy.
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