The Maine Mr. and Miss Basketball awards are presented each year to seniors whose athletic ability, contribution to winning and leadership qualities shine above the rest.
Awarded by the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches, this year’s Mr. and Miss Basketball will be announced at the McDonald’s All-Star Banquet this weekend.
Here are your three finalists for each award.
Zach McLaughlin, shooting guard, Hampden Academy
Hampden’s gutsy, high-flying leading scorer, McLaughlin guided the Broncos to the Class A state final this year, averaging 22.2 points per game in the tournament despite playing through a bone bruise in his right heel.
McLaughlin missed the final four games of the regular season due to his injury, but averaged 23.2 points on 53 percent shooting, 3.5 assists and 1.8 blocks through the end of January, propelling the Broncos to the No. 1 seed in Class A North and a 19-3 overall record.
McLaughlin, 6-foot-2, was an equally imposing threat off the dribble-drive or on a catch-and-shoot, and worked best in tandem with senior forward JJ Wolfington. McLaughlin scored for the Broncos any way he wanted to, and will be playing for the University of Maine-Farmington next year.
Carter Galley, shooting guard, Oceanside
Oceanside’s all-time leading scorer with 1,484 career points, Carter Galley was also the state’s leading scorer this season, averaging 27.9 points per game — including a 51-point outburst on opening night versus Cony, and a 35-point performance in the Class B South championship versus Lincoln Academy.
A pure shooter, Galley shot north of 50 percent from the field the past three seasons, and shot 54 percent from the field this year (45 percent from beyond the arc), pacing an Oceanside offense that posted 85.4 points per game. Galley also contributed 6.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game.
The Mariners’ offense was so potent this season that the Maine Principals’ Association had to instruct Oceanside to put a lid on their scoring, and Galley was routinely taken out before the fourth quarter of regular season games. Oceanside finished 21-1 on the year, losing to Orono 56-48 in the Class B state championship game.
Chance Mercier, small forward, Ellsworth
With the ability to run the floor, score on a whim and guard all five positions, Mercier won Big East Player of the Year for the second consecutive time this season, and guided the Eagles to the Class B North No. 1 seed for the third consecutive time.
Mercier, 6-foot-1 with terrific vertical ability, was the centerpiece of a highly entertaining Ellsworth attack — recognizable by its blistering pace, abundant ball movement and raw athleticism — averaging 68.2 points and 17.1 assists per game.
The Eagles finished 16-4 this year, beating No. 9 Winslow in the regional quarterfinals, but falling to eventual state champions No. 4 Orono in the regional semis. Mercier averaged 21.1 points on 50 percent shooting, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 steals on the year.
Maddie Fitzpatrick, guard/forward, Cheverus
Having led the Stags to two Class AA state titles in the past three years, and winning Maine Gatorade Player of the Year last season, Fitzpatrick is the odds-on favorite to add the title of Miss Basketball to her esteemed resume this weekend.
At 5-foot-11 and able to play all five positions, Fitzpatrick led Class AA North in points (25.5 ppg), rebounds (11.3 rpg) and steals (4.9 spg) this regular season, dishing out 4.4 assists and nailing two 3-pointers per game as well.
In the tournament, the UMaine-Orono commit sealed Cheverus’ perfect season by dropping 20 points and 17 rebounds against Lewiston in the regional semifinals, 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds against Oxford Hills in the regional finals, and 14 points and 13 rebounds against Gorham in the state finals.
Caroline Hartley, small forward, Scarborough
Guiding the Red Storm to two Class AA South regional final appearances in the past three years, 5-foot-10 Caroline Hartley has been Scarborough’s mainstay, capable of attacking below the rim, guarding multiple positions and shooting from distance.
Hartley averaged 15.7 points, 1.4 threes, 6.9 rebounds, 2.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks this year — all top seven marks in Class AA South — in addition to dishing out 1.7 assists per game. Under Hartley’s leadership, Scarborough finished 16-5 overall this season, despite her being the team’s lone senior.
In the regional semifinals versus South Portland, the Colby College commit tallied 10 points (three 3-pointers), seven rebounds and three steals, and in the regional final against Gorham, she was the Red Storm’s leading scorer with 11.
Ellie Gay, small forward, Gorham
Gorham has won the Class AA South regional championship all three years since the pandemic, and the Rams’ run wouldn’t have been possible without the contributions of their two-time AA South tournament MVP, Ellie Gay.
A relentless scoring threat, Gay averaged 12.1 points per game this year, shooting 75 percent at the free throw line and nailing 2.1 threes per game. Tall and strong, Gay also made her presence felt on the defensive end, snagging 1.9 steals per game.
Helping lead the Rams to an 18-4 overall record and the No. 1 seed, Gay capped off her senior season by scoring an AA South tournament record 51 total points against Noble, Sanford and Scarborough — including 18 of Gorham’s 46 points in the regional final versus the Red Storm.
Boys Mr. Basketball semifinalists were: Marshall Adams (Edward Little), Dylan Burpee (Southern Aroostook), Sammy Calder (Monmouth Academy), Cohen Galley (Oceanside), Ashton Leclerc (Gorham), Evans Sterling (Mt. Blue) and Pierce Walston (Orono).
Miss Basketball semifinalists were: Izzy Allen (Central), Natalie Beaudoin (Lewiston), Emma Lizotte (Thornton Academy), Hayden Madore (Hall-Dale), Mazie Peach (Dexter), Jaydn Pingree (Spruce Mountain) and Addison Sulikowski (Thornton Academy).
