Morning Sentinel
Frame leads Panthers to 2nd straight state title
BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 03/22/2008

BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF

There was no one like Waterville junior Morgan Frame in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B division this season. As a 6-footer, she probably had a size advantage on you. If she didn't, she was definitely quicker.

"I'm happy that I don't have to game plan for her," Waterville coach Ted Rioux said, "because she absolutely is a nightmare to game plan for."

This season, Frame averaged 18.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.2 steals and 2.1 blocked shots per game. That makes her the choice for the Morning Sentinel Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Lawrence standout Brogan Liberty was also considered.

Frame's many skills meant she never really had an off game all season. From playing AAU basketball, she could move left or right after posting up and could also face the basket and drive for a score. From spring track, she had speed, running technique, and strength.

"I was never really fast until eighth grade," Frame said. "I started playing soccer. We had a new coach. Her name was (Trish) Pfluger, and she ran us and ran us. That was really what made me faster, and it made me do track."

The only potential downfall in Frame's game is her occasional foul trouble. She stayed away from that this season, which kept her on the court when needed.

"I've always had a hard time with foul trouble," Frame said. "My dad and my grandfather, before the game, the only thing they say is, 'No fouls. No fouls.' They know that's my weakness. If I get lazy, then I do that. So I really have to push myself to be in position."

Of course, Waterville was so deep and dominant this season that in most games, Frame getting into foul trouble would not have been a problem. The Purple Panthers rolled to their second straight undefeated season.

While Waterville fell behind Lake Region in the first quarter of the Class B title game, the Panthers stormed to a 54-35 victory and their second state title in a row.

"You read (the Web site) MBR and you read other things, and they say, 'Oh, other teams are going to beat them,' " Frame said. "That, for us, is what really does it. That's what we really play for. All of us. We all think about that and talk about how they think we can't do it again."

Frame is already a force near the basket, so Rioux wants her to develop a consistent outside shot to make her even more attractive to college coaches. While Rioux lets her shoot 3-pointers in practice -- he says she makes about 33 percent -- he has not yet let her do that in games.

"What she needs is the repetitions to make sure that her form is correct every single time," Rioux said. "I've seen her go around the arc and hit seven, eight, nine in a row."

Frame will visit colleges next month, and says it is her dream to play Division I college basketball. She is looking at the University of New Hampshire and Maine.

"It's scary to think about," Frame said. "It's a different level in basketball. I don't know what division I'm going to be doing. And to be away from these girls is hard, too, obviously. We've grown up together."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

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