But you still need to activate your account.
As many teams learned last year, anything can happen in the basketball postseason.
The Presque Isle girls basketball team learned you can go into the tourney undefeated with the top seed – and lose in the first round.
Camden Hills learned you can go into the tourney with six regular-season losses and the eighth seed – and win the whole thing.
That’s why this year most Eastern Maine Class B coaches say there’s no standout favorite to win this year’s regional title.
Although Presque Isle and Camden Hills are sure to be in the mix again, there are plenty of other teams looking for the EM crown when tourney play starts Friday, Feb. 18.
Along with the Windjammers, the favorites to come out of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference include Winslow, Maranacook of Readfield and Rockland. The Wildcats will lead such Penobscot Valley Conference teams as MDI, Ellsworth and Hermon.
Presque Isle looks in good shape for the No. 1 seed, although this year Jeff Hudson’s squad goes into the postseason with a loss.
“I think that’s going to be a positive,” Hudson said. “That whole weekend we had a loss to MDI and a close game against Ellsworth and another close game against Hermon. That’s not going to hurt you.”
The Wildcats start one of the toughest backcourts in Eastern Maine, with point guard Tasha Deschene (4 assists per game) and shooters Kylan Smith and Katie Delong all averaging 10-12 points per game. All three also lead the team in rebounding and play tough man-to-man defense.
Center Heather Richards and forward Moriah Morris also starting and C-F Angela Norsworthy has been strong off the bench this year, too.
Presque Isle has gone 8-0 since a 56-55 double overtime loss to the Trojans. The ‘Cats recently picked up a huge win over Hermon, shutting down the Hawks’ taller players in a 66-34 win.
Hermon and Ellsworth split in the regular season but the Hawks might have an edge when it comes to postseason play – they were the Eastern Maine runners-up last year.
Hermon also split with MDI. Coach Margie Deabay would like to see more consistency from her squad.
“We haven’t peaked yet. We’ve had some ups and downs,” she said. “The girls can either come out and play like nobody can beat us, or they come out and play like they did against Presque Isle.”
Hermon has an outstanding set of forwards in Malerie Hall and Shannon Wiggin. Hall, a 6-1 senior, was a member of the all-tourney team last year and is averaging about 13 ppg. Cassie White, a 5-10 guard, is as versatile and athletic as they come – she can go inside and she’s a threat from 3-point range while providing tough defense. She’s averaging more than 10 ppg. Guards Erica Armstrong and Paige MacDonald also start, while forward Ashley Kelley and guard Torri Gibson come off the bench.
MDI’s win over Presque Isle make the Trojans an instant threat for everyone. They’ve got a fine collection of shooters, including guards Amanda Young and 5-11 forward Kelsey Stratton (17 ppg), with 6-0 center Chelsea Dow strong inside. Coach Chip Taylor also goes to his bench frequently, which often makes a team dangerous at the tournament.
But the Trojans are also looking for consistency. In the final week of the season MDI handled Ellsworth, but struggled against Hermon.
Ellsworth’s strong senior class has been its strength this year. Laura Archer and Monique Boutaugh have been key at the guard positions, along with guard Hillary Savage (the only underclassman in the starting group). Forward Darci Fortier has also been starting and 5-10 center Ashley Oleson has been a force in the paint. Ginny Dalrymple is a 3-point threat off the bench.
In the KVAC, the Maranacook Black Bears are hoping to take a step up from last year’s semifinal finish. With point guard Toby Martin leading the way, a berth in the EM final is a possibility.
Martin, an all-tourney team member and All-Maine first-teamer is averaging about 22 ppg and has a good cast to back her up. The Bears are 17-1, with just a 45-43 loss to Rockland.
“We’ve talked about trying to make a run at a championship more this year than we ever have in the past,” coach Mike Packard said. “And really, I think this is the best chance we’ve got.”
Other starters are 5-9 guard Shannon Bean, 5-10 forwards Kristi Violette and Abby Pullen and 5-10 forward Jackie Mrazik. Like Hermon, the Bears are tall all around. Kellie Mason, a 5-10 center, comes off the bench, as does G-F Jenika Kelley, a transfer from Livermore Falls.
Winslow will likely also wrap up its season with at most two losses. Coach J.R. Richards has one of the top post players and guards in Eastern Maine. It’s a dangerous combination.
Stephanie Bossie, a 6-2 center, has been averaging about 10 points and nine rebounds. Amanda Byrne, a strong shooter, passer and defender, also starts with Ashley Carter, an athletic player who can shoot and play defense.
The Raiders have been balanced offensively, but Richards would like to see his team cut down on turnovers – even though their swarming man-to-man defense forces more than its share.
“Every game’s been a building block and I think it’s really starting to come together for us,” he said. “I think when we play real well we maybe can go deep into the tournament, with a little luck and the right pairings.”
Camden Hills has experience – and Sam Wiley – on its side.
Wiley, the 2004 tourney MVP, is having another fine season as the Windjammers’ point guard. She has a lot around her in the backcourt, including Marianne Croce, Georgia Smith and Kayla Gushee, who was very effective coming off the bench in the middle of the season.
Coach Jay Carlsen typically starts a five-guard lineup, including Allie Parent and Kristin Richards, but also has an improved inside game with Carly Holgerson, Kayla Carleton and 5-10 Christina Philoon.
Rockland isn’t as deep as many teams, but most coaches believe junior forward Caitlin Hynes is enough to make the Tigers a threat. The lithe, athletic forward is a tough matchup for everyone as they proved by beating Maranacook.
Comments
comments for this post are closed