Presque Isle and Bapst target vacant guard positions in Class B girls

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Every team, at some point, has to deal with losing starters and talented players to graduation.

For both the defending Class B state champ and the Eastern Maine Class B runner-up, how they deal with their graduation losses could determine the course of their 2006-07 seasons.

State champion Presque Isle and regional runner-up John Bapst of Bangor combined to lose four starting guards who were among the top players at their positions in the state.

Even if the Wildcats and Crusaders overcome their losses, which most Eastern Maine coaches expect to happen, there are plenty of squads ready for their shot at the regional title.

Presque Isle is hoping to overcome the loss of guards Katie Delong and Kylan Smith, in addition to that of forward Moriah Morris and backup Katie Moody. The Wildcats do have two talented, experience players returning and a group of backups that coach Jeff Hudson hopes is ready to take on bigger roles.

Guard Sarah Porter and forward Angela Norsworthy are the returning starters and premier players, too. Porter, Shaina Watananuchit and Kayla Legassie will start and share point guard duties although Porter is probably more valuable to PI as a shooting guard.

“That’s one of our biggest problems,” Hudson said. “It’s going to be [point guard] by committee.”

Forward Janna Clukey, who also came off the bench last year, will start this season.

Key backups will include guard Amy Michaud, forward Chelsea Glovins, and freshman Jodie Buckley.

Watananuchit, who was primarily a defensive substitute last year, has displayed a little more of a scoring touch lately.

The Wildcats will be fine on defense and will play a mix of zone and man-to-man as needed. Offensively, however, they’ll need players like Watananuchit to do more scoring.

“That’s our biggest weakness. That and inexperience,” Hudson said. “We have to find someone who can shoot, besides Sarah.”

John Bapst also graduated its backcourt – Ashley Freeman, Chere Wickstrom and Taylor Greenlaw – but returns a strong pair of 5-11 forwards in Hilary Laferriere and Lauren Nichols.

“My post players I’m not really worried about,” Coach Mike Webb said. “Our key is if we can get our guards to get confident and take care of the basketball.”

Webb will also look to guards Samantha Maquillan and Eve Jordan, and forwards Erin McGuan and Christina Andrle. Maquillan will take over the point guard position.

Like Hudson, Webb didn’t go to his bench much last year, but Webb has already used nine players in each of the Crusaders’ first two games. Key bench players will include 6-1 sophomore Sam Gormley and 5-10 forward Torri Gibson.

It’s also a tall group. In addition to Nichols, Laferriere, Gormley and Gibson, Maquillan and McGuan are both 5-10, Andrle’s 5-9 and Jordan is 5-8.

It may take some time for the team to come together.

“I don’t think we’ll be where we need to be for three or four games,” Webb said. “They’re young kids. They’ve been there, but we didn’t go really deep.”

Rather than losing players to graduation, MDI is hoping to have one back after her recovery from an injury.

Kelsey Stratton, a 5-10 guard who saw little time last year due to shoulder problems, is back playing limited minutes. The Trojans would love to have her at 100 percent, but 5-9 forward Amethyst Cousins has more than picked up the scoring slack.

Sue Falt, an experienced 6-foot center, also starts. Guards Lindsay Lewis, Leila Banks, and Amber Orman, a 3-point shooter who came off the bench last year, also start.

“That’s the thing with us. We have good low post play and we can kick it back outside,” coach Brent Barker said.

The Trojans are hoping to have guard Ashley Young (foot) healthy soon. When Stratton and Young are still recovering, guard Molly Vaux, guard-forward Ariel Gray and forward Cassie Minctons will come off the bench.

Mattanawcook of Lincoln didn’t make it to the Bangor Auditorium in its first year of Class B play, but many coaches believe the Lynx (No. 8 last year) have a strong chance to advance in the tournament this season.

Sisters Brooke Hanscom, a freshman guard, and Brianna Hanscom, a 5-11 junior center, could be among the top players in the league, while guard Michelle Paul will be another key piece.

While most coaches believe the Big East to be a tougher conference top to bottom than the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, youthful Waterville is a strong preseason favorite to compete for the EM title.

The Panthers, under new coach Ted Rioux, will feature guards Elizabeth Bell and Sarah Given and 5-11 center Morgan Frame, who had a fine freshman season last year, as did a pair of freshman guards, Paige Gardiner and Stephanie Whitten.

Camden Hills, which had the No. 2 seed but fell in the quarterfinals last year, will likely rebound with a strong back court of 5-9 point guard Allie Parent, shooting guard Kayla Gushee along with Kayla Carleton and Erika Johnson.

The Windjammers also welcome back forwards Kate Fetterman and Kristin Tedford. Coach Jay Carlsen likes what he’s seen from the 5-7 Fetterman so far.

“She worked hard in the summer and fall and in the preseason,” he said. “She’s real quick and she’s great around the basket. … The group may take a little time to get together, but if we can get better every night I think it’s a team that can go deep in the playoffs.”

Belfast has a host of returning players, including 5-9 forward Jillian Ross, 5-10 forward Adeline Hills and guards Stephanie Whittier and Brooke Reed.