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It may be time for a change in the Eastern Maine Class D schoolgirl basketball ranks this season.
Teams from Aroostook County have won the coveted Eastern Maine championship the last three seasons, but could face a challenge from Downeast teams in the 1990-91 campaign.
“The way it shapes up this year I don’t see any clear favorites in “D,” said first-year Jonesport-Beals coach Lowell Beal. “Maybe Machias in our area (is a favorite)…. and Ashland has a lot of people back so they’ll be tough. But I think (the title) could be up for grabs this year.”
Both Machias and Jonesport-Beals appear to have tourney teams.
The J-B Royals feature depth and will take advantage of it by playing a lot of players. The Royals will change up frequently on defense in an attempt to force the tempo and take advantage of its skilled backcourt and team quickness.
Key players for the Royals include senior forwards Jenny Kenney and Vondell Johnson along with junior guards Bobbi-Jo Faulkingham and Lynette Beal.
While J-B will be quick and fast, Machias will attempt to take advantage of its height with a solid inside game behind 6-foot sophomore center Becky Tower and 5-10 junior forward Sarah Shaw.
“The Tower girl from Machias is a real good player,” said Woodland Coach David Irving. “I threw everyone I had against her (when we played them), but we still couldn’t match up.”
Machias, coached by Bob Sinford, also features some solid outside shooters in guards Jamie Wood and Amy Wolverton. Their accurate shooting could take the pressure off the inside game.
The Lubec Hornets, another Downeast club, will also be using a strong inside game to stay in the tourney chase. The Hornets feature high-scoring, 5-11 sophomore center Ivy Newcomb, but also will be putting an added emphasis on its running game behind some experienced guards.
Some solid teams from Aroostook County should also be contending for the tourney bids.
Ashland, which has compiled a 32-4, two-year, regular-season record, looks strong again. The Hornets have several key players returning with some added flexibility on offense and defense.
Amy Murphy, a 5-10 senior center, is being relied on for inside points, but the Hornets also can count on 5-11 senior forward Jennifer Clark and 6-0 junior forward/center Meredith Baker.
The Washburn Beavers, Central Aroostook Panthers of Mars Hill, and Southern Aroostook Warriors of Dyer Brook should challenge the Hornets.
Veteran coach Ron Ericson has built a solid program in Washburn as his teams have won three state titles in the last five years. That program should make Washburn competitive again even though Ericson has no starters returning.
Central Aroostook, the defending EM champ, returns only one starter, but goes nine-deep as Coach Kevin Jackins will rotate a lot of players.
The Panthers are attempting to improve on last season’s 9-10 record when they lost in the tourney’s quarterfinal round. Three returning starters and overall good team speed could help the Panthers reach that goal.
There are 14 teams in EM Class D and eight will qualify for tournament play.
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