Bouchard named co-MVP for Class C tourney

Hodgdon’s Steamer on All-tourney team
    Houlton freshman Kyle Bouchard was a recipient of one of the highest recognitions from the Eastern Maine Basketball Tournament, recognized annually by the Bangor Daily News.
    Bouchard shares co-Most Valuable Player status for the Class C tournament with Lee Academy senior D.J. Johnson.
    An integral part of the Shiretowners’ drive to success, Bouchard powered his team in the regular season and continued his dominance during the tournament.
RECOGNIZED — Houlton freshman Kyle Bouchard was the recipient of the Bill Warner Most Valuable Player Award for Class C, along with Lee’s D.J. Johnson.
    In Houlton’s first game, Bouchard tossed in 16 points, as the Shires upset No. 2 Sumner in the quarterfinals and then made a “mature” basketball decision in the semifinals when he drew a double team and pitched the ball to an open Nick Guiod who scored a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the one-point win. Bouchard also sparked his team in the third quarter when the Shires outscored Mattanawcook Academy 17-2 behind his 12-point effort for 20 points in the game. In the finals loss to Lee Academy, 58-47, Bouchard once again led his team with 20 points, including 10 in the first half.
    The Warner Award was established in 1994 in memory of a Bangor Daily News sports editor and reporter Bill Warner.
    Other players receiving the Warner MVP Award were: Class A, senior guard, Christian McCue of Hampden; Class B, senior guard Jake Palmer Gardiner; and Class D, junior forward Garet Beal of Jonesport-Beals.
    Jennah Steamer of Hodgdon also got the nod for the Class D All-Tournament team with consistent play in each game, as she was one of the catalyst driving No. 7 Hodgdon to an Eastern Maine final.
    The junior center scored 10 points against Southern Aroostook in the quarterfinals, while in the semis against Central Aroostook, Steamer came up with 14 points. In the finals loss to Washburn, 68-44, Steamer racked up 12 points.