Lawrence High School junior forward Nia Irving, the Maine Gatorade Player of the Year, and Greely High School senior forward-center Ashley Storey, who won the Miss Maine Basketball award, headline the 39th annual Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl Basketball Team.
The team is chosen via votes from coaches, administrators, media officials and observers.
Irving and Storey, who led their teams to the state Class A and B titles, respectively, earned first-team honors, along with Thornton Academy of Saco senior Victoria Lux, Bangor High senior Mary Butler and Gorham High School sophomore Emily Esposito.
Esposito, a third-team choice a year ago, is the first sophomore to earn a first-team spot since York’s Nicole Taylor in 2009.
Irving was a second-teamer last season, and Lux was a third-team pick. Butler was a third-teamer two years ago.
Houlton’s Kolleen Bouchard became the third freshman since 1991 to earn a spot on one of the top three teams. She is a second-team pick. She followed Lawrence’s Cindy Blodgett (1991) and Esposito. The other second-teamers were seniors: Presque Isle’s Hannah Graham, Calais’ Maddy McVicar, Brunswick’s Julia Champagne and Washburn’s Mackenzie Worcester.
Graham and McVicar were second-teamers last season, and Worcester was a third-teamer.
Irving, Graham, Bouchard and Worcester were Eastern Maine tournament Most Valuable Players in their respective classes this season.
The third team comprises seniors Kaitlyn McCrum from Thornton Academy, Maranacook’s Christine Miller and Gray-New Gloucester’s Maria Valente along with juniors Sierra Tapley of Mount Desert Island and Maddie Hasson of South Portland.
The 6-foot-3 Storey, daughter of Amy Wilde Storey, who played on the 1986 gold ball team of Houlton and granddaughter of Jack and Angela Wilde, averaged over 20 points, 10 rebounds and nearly four assists to key Greely’s state-title run.
“She was the whole package,” Gray-New Gloucester coach Mike Andreasen said. “There wasn’t a player in the state who was more valuable to her team. And she could handle the ball.”
“She was our best passer and press-breaker,” Greely coach Joel Rogers said. “Nobody could contain her. She was a real leader who could hit 3s or play with her back to the basket.”
Storey will play at the University of New Hampshire.
The 5-10 Bouchard led the Shires to the Class C state crown by averaging 19.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 steals.
“She is a complete player who plays older than she is,” Calais coach Dana Redding said. “She has great court awareness.”
“Her versatility is second to none,” Houlton coach Shawn Graham said. “She can play point guard, shooting guard and she can play in the post.”
Named as Honorable Mention for the BDN All-Maine Team are: Alisha Aube, Westbrook; Paige Belanger, Lawrence; Ashley Briggs, Scarborough; Felisha Bouchard, Van Buren; Montana Braxton, Cape Elizabeth; Morgan Carver, Gardiner; Mikayla Charters, Nokomis; Katie Condon, Houlton; Olivia Dalphonse, McAuley; Abby Dubois, Old Orchard Beach; Taylor Esty, Rangeley; Abby Hamilton, Gorham; Sarah Hancock, Lake Region; Tianna Harriman, Edward Little; Ashley Howe, Thornton Academy; Jordan Jabar, Waterville; Krystal Kingsbury, Presque Isle; Dominique Lewis, Lawrence; Hannah Marks, Medomak Valley; Joan Overman, Washburn; Rachel Pease, Camden Hills; Chesley Pelkey, Fort Fairfield; Samantha Richards, Spruce Mountain; Kelsey Shaw, MDI; Bri Skolfield, Central; Cordelia Stewart, Bangor; Shannon Todd, York; Mary Toman, Gardiner; Brie Wajer, Lincoln Academy; Jess Willerson, McAuley; Anna Winslow, Oxford Hills.
