By Kevin Mills,Staff Writer

Alexa Kaubris took the news with the same humility and team-oriented focus with which she played her entire high school basketball career.

When the Dirigo forward learned she was a finalist for the Miss Basketball Award, she didn’t know quite how to react and then gave credit to her teammates.

Kaubris is one of three finalist announced Wednesday, joining Cony’s Katie Rollins and South Portland’s Whitney Morrow as nominees. The award will be presented at the McDonald’s All-Star Awards Banquet Friday, March 25.

“It’s kind of a shock,” said Kaubris. “I just go out every game and play basketball the way I normally do. I don’t know what to say. That’s awesome.”

The candidates for Mr. Basketball include Gorham’s Ben Thayer, Portland’s Tyler Emmons and Tim Stammen of Camden.

The Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards are presented to senior players that have exhibited outstanding skills and made a significant impact to their teams during their careers. They’ve demonstrated respect for the game through leadership on and off the court and epitomized sportsmanship while being a positive school and community citizen.

Dirigo coach Gavin Kane was thrilled that Kaubris was selected as one of the final nominees.

“I’m so glad to hear that,” said Kane. “That’s such an incredible honor. I’m so pleased that she’s going to be one of the finalists. She’s very, very deserved.”

Kaubris finished her Dirigo career with a 90-1 record, winning three state championships and four regional titles. She surpassed the 1,000-point mark this season and was a two-time Mountain Valley Conference Player of the Year and earned the Robin Colcord Award as the Western C tournament’s most outstanding player for the second year in a row. As a senior, she averaged nearly 17 points per game, four assists and four steals.

What didn’t appear in her stats was her work ethic, determination and commitment to her team. It was never more evident during the tournament. She battled through the flu as Dirigo won an 11th straight Western C title. She was a driving force for the Cougars in last Friday’s exciting win over Dexter in Bangor.

“She was bound and determined that we were going out with a win,” said Kane. “That’s her mentality, and she was going to make it happen.

“I’m not sure there is a player in the state of Maine that give it all on both ends of the floor like Alexa,” he added.

Kaubris has also been named to the McDonald’s All-Academic Team and will attend Bowdoin College next year.

Kaubris, a consummate team player, says being a finalist is a credit to her fellow Cougars and the team’s hard work and success.

“That another tribute to my team,” she said. “They’re the ones that make me look good. If I didn’t have them, there’s no way I’d be able to have the honor of something like this.”

Rollins, who will attend Harvard next year, was also a member of the All-Academic team. She has led her Rams to the Eastern A semifinals and is chasing a third regional title in four years. She became the school’s all-time leading scorer this season while averaging nearly 22 points per game and 10 rebounds. Morrow has led the Red Riots to the Western A semifinals and was the regional foul shooting champion for Southern Maine.