Skilled teams make A girls a toss-up

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There’s no rest in the North.

That’s the North division of the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, where there are so few marginal teams that every night will likely be a battle. As one coach put it, there could be an awful lot of 9-9 records at the end of the regular season.

With Cony of Augusta picked to again dominate the South division, the North will provide the most intrigue. Eastern Maine Class A runner-up Skowhegan, along with Messalonskee of Oakland, Lawrence of Fairfield, Mt. Blue of Farmington, Bangor and Hampden, make the division a toss-up.

“Everybody has improved,” Skowhegan coach Heath Cowan said.

The Indians, who have finished as the runner-up three straight years, graduated standout point guard Nicole Paradis and forward Kayla Thompson, along with several other guards. Zara Saydjari, who might have started at a guard position, will miss the entire season with a knee injury.

Skowhegan has a potent combination in guard Bethany Sevey and forward Megan Smith, both All-Maine honorable mention players last year, but it may take some time for the Indians to find their way without Paradis.

“When things start to go a little bit bad they start looking around a little bit,” Cowan said. “We’re no where near where we need to be right now but you just have to make sure you’re ready to play come tournament time.”

The Indians will start guards Lindsay Pinkham and Ashley Matchett, 5-foot-8 forward Alexis Evans. Kaylee Brown, a 5-11 forward, will likely be the first big player off the bench. Jordan Atkinson will spell Pinkham at the point guard position.

Where Skowhegan lost guard player, Bangor lost post play.

The Rams have a ton of athletic, quick guard-forwards, but they’re still looking for a dominant forward-center with the graduation of Kelsey Curtis and Serena Dubois.

Coach Tom Tennett is hoping to develop some of his young talent, including Curtis’ sister, Kristina, fellow freshman Stephanie Comstock, and exchange student Carolina Anselmino.

“We don’t have any size,” Tennett said. “We told Stephanie and Kristina that we’re going to bring them up this year. We’re really trying to get them ready for next year and anything we get out of them this year is really kind of a bonus.”

Comstock has looked promising in early action.

The Rams do have a group of four experienced guards in Amy Hackett, Brooke Hackett, Emily Heath and Allie Clukey, who can play defense and score when needed. They’ll rotate in and out of the starting lineup with forwards Caitlyn Smith, Casey Hartley, and Tawnya Godinez.

“I think right now, we have eight kids who are returning,” Tennett said. “I look at that as, we could go with any combination.”

Godinez was a backup post player last year but shown a fine long-range shooting touch early in the season.

Forward Amy Wadleigh, who saw significant playing time last year, is out for several weeks with a shoulder injury. She could figure into the starting rotation when she returns.

Hampden has a neat collection of talent starting with senior guard-forward Tanna Ross.

Ross, who missed the entire 2005-06 season due to a knee injury but still gained a scholarship to the University of Maine starting next year, is back in the starting lineup. As a 6-footer who can shoot, she’s a tough matchup.

“She’s a very good player,” Hampden coach Ben Greenlaw. “She gives us great leadership, she’s vocal and the kids respect her and listen to what she has to say.”

Point guard Kayla Webb, center Kimble Rawcliffe, and guards Lauren Maltz and Mikki Libbey have started early in the season. Tenacious guard Lindsey Martin comes off the bench.

“The [starting five] has been good for us so far. … I really like what [Martin] brings us off the bench,” Greenlaw said. “She gives us a scoring punch and defensive intensity.”

The Broncos should also get a boost from the return of Maltz, who did track and field last winter. Rylee Rawcliffe will be the first forward off the bench.

Mt. Blue features another future Black Bear, 6-4 center Christina Mosher. She’ll get help from 5-7 forward Bonnie Silkman and 5-9 forward Meaghan Robinson along with guards Alyson Webster, Michelle Oswald, Amanda Deschenes and Sarah Fournier.

Messalonskee of Oakland features All-Maine third-team guard Chelsea Barker, her twin sister Amanda Barker, guards Ashley Busque and Ashley Roderigue, and 6-foot forward Melissa Oliver.

Lawrence’s 5-9 forward Brogan Liberty is considered one of the top players in the conference. She’ll lead the Bulldogs, who graduated guard Holly Noyes, along with guard Carly Perry and 5-10 forward Alexa Bernatchez.

Nokomis of Newport always seems to be in contention every year, mainly because the Warriors play such tough man-to-man defense and get offense when they need it.

Point guard Kelley Paradis and 5-11 center Tatum Welch were among the top players in the North. Senior guard Teresa Cooper is also back and Noelle Lincoln, a sharpshooting guard, transferred from Bangor to Nokomis and is playing for the Warriors.

In the South Division, Cony is already a preseason favorite to get back to the Class A state game. The Rams have not two but three premier forwards in Dartmouth-bound Cassie Cooper (KVAC South Player of the Year), Rachel Mack and Kristi Violette.

Cony’s only question mark comes in its back court after the graduation of Monica White and Maggie Rende, although coach Paul Vachon consistently develops top-notch guards.