He dominated a conference the way no 6-foot-3 center has done in years, if ever.

All while subjugating his outside shot and guard-like skills to the greater good of his basketball team.

And setting a lofty standard of self-discipline not only on the court during winter, but in the classroom and weight room in every other phase of the sun.

If Bo Leary weren’t a finalist for Mr. Basketball, perhaps there shouldn’t be a trophy.

The Maine Association of Basketball Coaches gave Edward Little High School’s star his just reward Friday, announcing him as one of three finalists for the state’s highest hoop honor.

“He’s the hardest worker I’ve ever coached,” EL coach Mike Adams said. “Troy Barnies also worked hard and obviously had tremendous talent, and we all knew the things could do. But nobody I’ve coached got more out of his ability than Bo.”

Barnies was 2007 Mr. Basketball. Adams won the award in 1990 as a senior at Mt. Blue.

All three of this year’s finalists play for Eastern Maine and Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference schools.

Leary is joined by Camden Hills center Tyler McFarland and Hampden guard Graham Safford.

The winner will be named in conjunction with the McDonald’s All-Star Banquet on Friday, March 11 at Husson College.

“Just to be considered with those players is such an honor,” Adams said. “We saw Camden in the preseason, and McFarland is a great player. And obviously we’ve seen enough of Hampden the last two years to know what Safford can do.”

Safford scored 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, in a regional semifinal game Feb. 23 against Edward Little.

Leary overcame severe first-half trouble and was one of all five EL starters in double figures in the Red Eddies’ 70-65 victory.

That moved EL into its fourth consecutive regional championship game — one for each year of Leary’s career. Bangor prevailed, 41-38, denying Leary and EL’s bid for a third straight regional championship.

As was the case in almost every minute of all 21 games, Leary was double-teamed and even triple-teamed, with the Rams daring the rest of the Eddies’ senior-dominated lineup to hit wide-open shots.

“Teams tried various things to stop him, and he played through all of it,” Adams said. “And never once did you hear him complain, see him gesturing or any of that.”

Leary averaged more than 23 points and 12 rebounds per game, including multiple 30-point performances.

He also scored 28 points in EL’s quarterfinal victory over Mt. Ararat.

Mr. Basketball is a career achievement award, but Leary qualifies in that regard, as well. He claimed the Al Halliday Award symbolic of Eastern Class A tournament MVP as a junior.

One week later, Leary was EL’s leading scorer as the Red Eddies made a valiant comeback before falling Cheverus, 55-50, in the state final.

“He worked hard to put up the numbers not only this year but last year to put himself in contention for this award,” Adams said. “And he did it in the offseason. His grandparents own Hoop Camp. Most of the kids like to hang out on the beach or work the concession stand. He was putting in the work every day.”

With two of the 2010 team’s stars — James Philbrook and Yusuf Iman — moving on and joining five other recent EL graduates in college basketball, the Red Eddies needed Leary to play a different role on a smaller, more perimeter-oriented team.

Adams never neeed to ask.

“He came to me in the fall and we had the conversation that in order for us to be successful, we would need him to play inside,” Adams said. “His response was whatever the team needed, he wanted to do.”

Depending upon which school best caters to his academic needs, next Saturday’s McDonald’s All-Star Game could be his swan song.

“I haven’t even decided if I’m going to play in college,” Leary said after the Eastern Class A final.

Adams will believe it when he sees it.

“I was talking the other day with (Mt. Blue coach Jim) Bessey, who I obviously have all the respect in the world for,” Adams said. “I was saying how this year Bo didn’t really get to work on the skills that would serve him well in college, and that a kid his size might not get noticed as a post player. (Bessey) pointed out that the one thing you can’t measure is what’s in a kid’s heart.”

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