Wildcats make first appearance in B tournament

Jeff Hudson had never been to Rockland before, so you’ll forgive the coach of the undefeated Presque Isle girls basketball coach if he didn’t exactly know he was actually in Rockland when he stopped at a Wendy’s fast-food restaurant there before a recent Tigers game against Winslow.

This is Presque Isle’s first season in Class B, so Hudson never had to scout Rockland, Winslow, or any of the other Eastern Maine Class B teams of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference. This year the trip was almost a necessity.

“I have no idea how good any of these teams are,” Hudson said before the game started. “I know they’re all dangerous. All the games are close, and we haven’t had a close game all year.”

While teams like Presque Isle, Caribou and Hermon have separated themselves in the Penobscot Valley Conference, the KVAC teams have had topsy-turvy seasons. Nothing is certain as the Eastern Maine Class B quarterfinals open Friday, Feb. 13 at the Bangor Auditorium.

Maranacook of Readfield has emerged as the top KVAC team, but even the Black Bears have losses to Rockland and Belfast.

The Lions, along with Camden Hills, Rockland, and Winslow, have at least three losses and they’ve all beaten each other in close games. Even Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield has come on strong lately.

Presque Isle has maintained the top spot in the Eastern Maine Class B Heal Point standings for most of the season. Presque Isle doesn’t have a lot of height, but clearly the team doesn’t need it.

The Wildcats have relied on shooting, tough defense, and more shooting this season.

“We make it crazy,” Hudson said. “We probably take about 15 3-pointers a game. If we make a third of them, that’s a big morale boost for the team and it’s depressing for the other team.

“Our style of play is a lot of fun,” Hudson said.

Presque Isle’s two scoring leaders are point guard Tasha Deschene and shooting guard Michelle Post, who are averaging about 11 points apiece. Deschene also chips in with five assists and five rebounds per contest.

Forwards Anne Delong and Melissa Demerchant, and guard Katie Delong (Anna’s sister) round out the top five. Guard Kylan Smith has been coming off the bench because of a problem with nagging shin splits, while Heather Richards and Moriah Morris have also played in key stretches.

The Wildcats have had seven different players score at 15 points in a game this year.

“That’s one thing that makes us dangerous,” Hudson said. “We don’t have one weapon. People think they can take away our guards, but our big kids shoot pretty well, too.”

Presque Isle sticks with its full-court, man-to-man defense although the ‘Cats do mix in some zone if need be.

Caribou has athletic forwards Lindsay Burlock and Monica Selander, who can do just about anything for the Vikings, including handle the ball, which the Vikes have needed this season. Senior point guard Amy Bouchard suffered a knee injury earlier this year and is out. She was replaced by Michelle Ouellette in the starting lineup.

Makayla Gahagan and Lauren Harrigan have also started this season.

The Vikings opened the season with a 10-0 run until a 57-40 loss to Presque Isle. Caribou also dropped games to Hermon and Class C Houlton.

Hermon has also had a fine season with at least a 13-4 record. The Hawks are one of the more dangerous teams out there because of their combination of guards Marissa McLeod, Shannon Dobbins and Cassie White and strong inside players Shannon Wiggin and Malerie Hall.

Maranacook used their tournament run last year as a spark for this season. So far, it’s worked as the Black Bears will take at least a 15-2 record into this year’s tourney.

“It’s brought a lot of confidence into this year to know that we could compete with a team like MDI and not back down,” coach Mike Packard said.

Maranacook features the top-scoring player in the KVAC. Junior point guard Toby Martin is averaging about 22 points per game. Guard Shannon Bean follows Martin with about 12 ppg.

Maranacook had a bit of a setback as starting forward Kim Denbow is out for the season with an ACL tear, but the Bears still have Abbi Pullen, Kellie Mason and Christine Bardaglio in the mix.

Belfast, Camden Hills, Winslow and Rockland are all considered those dangerous teams to which Hudson was referring.

Belfast’s tall trio of Kates – Katelyn Ross, Kate Bailey and Kaitlin Murphy – are tough inside and out.

The Windjammers have struggled offensively late in games in times this year, but Carlsen’s teams always play tough defense, and guards Marianne Croce (11 ppg) and Samantha Wiley (10 ppg) and forward Claire Neville (six rpg) have had solid seasons.

Forwards Caitlin Hynes (14 ppg, seven rpg) and Annie Pennell (nine ppg) lead Rockland, while guards Kasey Felt and Caitlyn Grant and forwards Mandy Dunton and Lindsay Barnes add between five and nine points per game.