When it comes to high school rivalries, games between neighboring Calais and Woodland are as heated as any.

The Calais girls basketball team logged a key win Friday night when they beat the Dragons 46-36 in a game that could mean more than bragging rights and avenging an earlier loss.

As the regular season winds down, teams are striving for valuable Heal points. That’s just what the Blue Devils may get out of beating Woodland. Longtime coach Bob McShane is hoping for a second- or third-place finish when the final standings for Classes B, C and D are released Feb. 13.

In the case of Calais and Woodland, which are both in Eastern Maine Class C, neither wants a No. 4 finish in the final standings. In fact, many teams are trying to avoid a fourth-place because that would probably set up a meeting with top-ranked Dexter in a semifinal.

Last week, the Tigers, who are undefeated as they try to defend their 2004 state title, had a firm 16.45-point lead over No. 2 Woodland. Just 3.39 points separate the teams ranked 2-6, with Calais at the No. 6 spot. Stearns of Millinocket, Central of Corinth, and Washington Academy of East Machias are also in that mix.

The Maine Principals Association will release the latest set of points today.

The Blue Devils have Class C Houlton and Class D Shead of Eastport remaining on their schedule, while the Dragons will face Washington Academy and Class C Narraguagus of Harrington.

“No one wants that No. 4 spot,” McShane said, “so [Woodland] was a big win for us. It was a big crowd, a good atmosphere.”

Dirigo of Dixfield coach Gavin Kane came to scout the game, which he does once a year, McShane said. Kane’s Cougars have won the last 10 Western Maine Class C titles.

McShane said the fact that starting guards Emily Smith and Tracie Eagan combined for just four points – all of which came from the free throw line – meant Calais would have to play strong defensively. Indeed, the Blue Devils held Woodland standouts Courtney Cochran and Michelle Ferry to a combined seven points.

“It was just a good defensive contest,” McShane said. “If you had told me that our two starting guards would have four points between them I’d say we wouldn’t have a chance.”

Instead of getting points from the guards, especially Smith, who has been averaging a team-high 11 points per game, the Blue Devils got 13 from 5-foot-11 center Danielle O’Brien, along with nine from guard Ashley Allen and eight from Jessie Brown, a 6-foot center who comes off the bench.

The Dragons beat the Blue Devils 44-38 on Dec. 19. Ferry scored 14 and Cochran had 11 in that game.

With the end of another season approaching, McShane is again being asked if it is his final one. Despite rumors to the contrary, McShane said he’s not made any decisions on whether he’s going to retire after this season, although he admits he’s going to think about his future with the program he put on the map.

“I’ll think about it for a few weeks at the end of the season, talk to the athletic director,” he said. “But I would never say anything about it right now with the tournament still ahead.”

McShane, who was the DAC Coach of the Year in 2004, took over the Calais program in 1987 and has led the Blue Devils to five Class C state titles and nine Eastern Maine crowns.

Ames nearing scoring record

What more does Dexter senior Ashley Ames need to complete her high school career?

How about the school’s all-time scoring record?

Ames, a 6-foot-4 forward, is just 32 points away from breaking the Dexter mark of 1,571 points. Travis Patterson, a 2003 Dexter graduate, currently holds the record.

The Tigers traveled to Stearns of Millinocket Monday night.

While she’s certainly capable of putting up 32 points in a game – last week Ames scored 43 in a game against Foxcroft to set the school’s modern record for most points in a game – she’ll most likely break the career scoring mark Tuesday when Dexter hosts Penquis of Milo. The Tigers also have a game against Searsport Feb. 11.

Ames, the 2004 Eastern Maine Class C tourney MVP, led the Tigers to an undefeated season and the state championship last year. Dexter is 15-0 so far this season.

Bangor’s White shines in Hawaii

A few weeks after returning from Tourney Sport USA Hawaii Classic, Bangor High softball player Kelly White is still flying high after playing with some of the country’s top softball talent.

White likely would have been on the Bangor varsity basketball team but decided not to play because she didn’t want to leave the team for 10 days in the middle of the season. It took a lot of fundraising energy and some sacrifices, but she said the trip was worth it.

“It was a great learning experience,” she said recently. “It was neat to see all the other players from all over the country.”

Each team played 10 games. White’s team finished fourth in its division. White pitched and played shortstop, and was even named to the all-tournament team.

So was Maine’s other representative, Ambre Davidson of Scarborough. The two girls were introduced together during a ceremony honoring all of the players.

White was one of 200 girls from 48 states selected and one of more than 2,000 who were nominated for the tournament.

Bangor High softball coach Nancy Snowdeal nominated White, who was the Penobscot Valley Conference Co-Pitcher of the Year and helped the Rams to a 13-4 record last season.

“It was really cool to represent Maine,” White said.

Part of the reason White wanted to go to Hawaii was to test herself against some of the top competition in the country. She had her hands full, she admitted.

“There was some exceptional talent there,” White said. “The talent level was very competitive. It was intimidating but also inspiring. You see girls who are better players than you and you try to play your hardest.”

White said she’s also grateful for all the monetary help she had from her family, several local businesses and Dedham Middle School, which White attended before she started at Bangor High. She raised $2,900 on her own.

She was also touched by a donation made by Mike Turner of Turner Sporting Goods in Bangor. He offered her a new TPS bat, bag and gloves.

“People I never thought of helped me out,” she said.

Auburn forum date correction

The University of Maine’s Center for Sport and Coaching has corrected the date of a “Sports Done Right” forum in Auburn. The forum will be held March 24, not Feb. 24 as it was listed in Saturday’s edition of the NEWS. The site is still Auburn Hall.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.