What started with a reflection on what was and what could have been soon turned into a lot of laughs and positive memories.

The 2024-2025 Boothbay Region High School girls basketball team held its post-season awards ceremony Thursday, Feb. 27 in the school library as coach Bruce Orne and his assistants Jesse Peters and Laura Murphy handed out certificates, letters, service bars, stars … and Murphy handled the hugs.

Orne, who just finished his fourth year as Seahawk head coach, first thanked the parents for their support of the team.

“No matter how far we traveled, the team dinners, handling concessions and the practice changes, you were there,” said Orne. “This means more to us than you will ever know.”

Orne said he had high hopes, “perhaps a .500 record or better,” in September but fate intervened during the 5-13 season. Injuries to two starters and a starting player leaving the team left the remaining players being put into roles they weren’t used to.

But the players worked hard, Orne said, and he said the last four games of the season – where they won three of four games – were the most fun of any during his time as coach.

Orne went on to thank his coaches, said they were always there to offer strategy advice during halftime and after the games, and doing everything needed to help the team succeed.

During a break in Orne’s talk, parent Jen Orchard presented a gift to parents Jamie and Les White for filming and taking stats, respectively, throughout the season.

Orne continued by thanking the team’s seniors, Maddie Orchard, Anna Gosselin and Ivory Cody. Orchard and Gosselin were four-year players and Cody played three seasons.

“Their (Orchard and Gosselin) first year was my first year, they came into school during Covid and were thrust into starting positions as freshmen. Not an easy thing to do coming from middle school to high school.” Gosselin missed several games at the end of this season due to a knee injury. Orne praised their leadership during the season.

Besides honoring and handing awards to the seniors, other players honored by Orne with kind words were juniors Tatum French, Sophie White and Abby Orchard, and freshmen Lilly Brown, Arabella Hodgdon and Addie Barter. Freshman Eleanor Erwin, who was one of the injured players not able to play this season, was not in attendance but was recognized. As each player received their award, Murphy gave them a hug.

Plaques were handed out to Arabella Hodgdon, most improved player; Maddie Orchard, coaches award (now named the Dave Landry award for the longtime girls coach); and Tatum French, most valuable player. French and Orchard were Mountain Valley Conference honorable mention all-stars; Gosselin, Cody and Maddie Orchard were MVC academic all-stars.

Following the awards, parents and players enjoyed finger foods provided by the parents while standing around the coaches and reminiscing about the season.