Adversity failed to deter `Cats

Injuries and sickness may deter some teams, but not the Presque Isle High Wildcats.

The Wildcats rolled to a 16-5 record and an Eastern Maine Class A girls basketball crown despite injuries to several players during the season.

Three key seniors each made key contributions for the ‘Cats after being sidelined.

Stacy Hafford came back after suffering a broken leg and then rebounded from an acute kidney infection. Kerry Eaton battled back to top playing condition after a bad bout with the flu and Laura Holloway is still receiving therapy for a sore back.

Three sophomores – Cheryl Nightingale, Sally Graves, and Becky Beaulieu – have also coped with foot injuries to help contribute for the Wildcats.

“The bench came through for us a lot and the kids won a couple of close games at the buzzer that gave them a big lift,” said veteran PI coach Dick Barstow, who has 501 career high school wins.

Despite shuffling players in and out of the lineup, the ‘Cats still played well as a team, Eaton said, explaining PI’s success.

“Basically, we started playing well as a team,” she said. “I guess we peaked at the right time. We knew we could win it all even though a lot of people said we couldn’t.”

The ‘Cats will test their solid team play on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. when they play the Portland Bulldogs for the Class A state crown at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland.

The consistent play of three PI seniors – Eaton, Hafford and Kristen Davis – has also been a key in bringing the ‘Cats to the state game, Barstow said.

Eaton provided tough defense in the post and paced the PI rebounding game.

“When she gets the boards, we win the games. She also averaged double figures (in scoring), kept out of foul trouble and played good defense,” Barstow said.

Davis proved to be the ‘Cats top all-around performer.

“She did everything. She brought the ball down for us, played strong forward, played the post and led the team in assists,” Barstow said, adding that Davis averaged almost 10 points per game.

Hafford, despite missing several games, came on to be the ‘Cats leading scorer.

“She can shoot the 3-pointer, drive to the basket and shoot with either hand,” Barstow said, adding Hafford hit nearly 50 percent of her field goals.

Another pivotal factor for the ‘Cats has been their defense, which held opponents to an average of 46 points in three tournament games. PI advanced to the state final by beating Nokomis of Newport in the quarterfinal 52-49, Old Town in the semi 63-43, and top-ranked Cony of Augusta in the final 50-46.

PI uses an aggressive man-to-man defense.

“It is getting so that the kids take great pride in being able to play someone one-on-one. It has gotten to be a challenge for them to play good defense and not get beat,” Barstow said.

Hafford said the ‘Cats capitalize on offense from the opportunties created by their defense.

“Our defense usually controls our game,” she said. “We’re not a great offensive team, so defense has a lot to do with what we’ll be able to get on offense.”

Caribou High girls coach Roland Duprey, who has seen the ‘Cats play several times, said he thought the PI defense “was excellent” in its last two tourney games.

“Kristen Davis did a great job underneath. (Jennifer) Hersey and Eaton stopped the (other teams’) penetration and when they did drive, they blocked a lot of shots,” Duprey said.

Also contributing for the ‘Cats have been seniors Sharmon Jackson and Jodi Logan, juniors Hersey, Jennifer Staples and Andrea Sponberg and sophomore Nikki Fulton.