The Dexter Tigers feel it is time for a change.

Last season, the Tigers posted a 12-6 record. Two years ago, they were 13-3, and 10-8 the season before.

However, each year, the Tigers failed to make the schoolgirl basketball tournament.

“We’ve won 35 games in three years and we still watched the tourney from a TV set,” Dexter Coach Mike Haskell said. “The kids are anxious to put it together this year and get to the tourney.”

Haskell is predicting parity in Eastern Maine Class B this season and believes his team can get in the tourney if it wins 12 to 14 games. He said his players are not frustrated with the past seasons. Instead, they are even more motivated.

“We lost four games (last season) by a basket. If we could have just won one of those, we may have gone,” Haskell said. “I have some good kids with a good attitude and work ethic.”

Haskell will be relying on three returning starters and a strong junior class to pace the Tigers. Tracie Connors, a 5-foot-10 senior forward, returns to give inside strength while 5-5 sophomore Mandy King will direct the offense. Karen Hersey, a 5-6 junior, is the shooting guard.

“A lot depends on Tracie Connors. We’ll look for a lot of points from her,” Haskell said. “Karen Hersey can shoot the three-pointer and Mandy King is a super guard.”

If that trio can produce, with consistent play from the juniors, then the Tigers “should be in good shape,” Haskell said.

Amy Bagley, a 5-10 senior, will provide inside help along with 5-10 sophomore Chris Downing.

The juniors expected to contribute are forwards Jessica Smith (5-7), Eva Wing (5-9), Toni Levensalor (5-10) and guards Nicci Lobdell (5-7), Rachel Sinclair (5-2), and Theresa Washington (5-4).

DEXTER

Last year: 12-6, 9th in Eastern Maine Class B

Returning starters: 3

Key players: senior Tracie Connors (F, 5-10); sophomore Mandy King (G, 5-5); junior Karen Hersey (G, 5-6); senior Amy Bagley (C, 5-10)

Coach/year: Mike Haskell, 5th year

Outlook: Coach Haskell is hoping for point production from Connors and some three-point shooting by Hersey to help pace the Tigers. King provides solid on-court leadership from her point-guard spot and may be the key in helping the Tigers pick up their tempo.

FORT KENT

Last year: 12-6, 10th in EM Class B

Returning starters: 3

Key players: senior Neile Joler (G, 5-4); junior Kendra Marquis (C, 5-10); senior Jessie Desjardins (G, 5-6); sophomore Michelle McBreairty (G, 5-5)

Coach/year: Don Murray, 2nd

Outlook: The Warriors are young, but they are quick and have a strong schedule against teams like Presque Isle, Caribou, Calais, and Houlton. Coach Murray is hoping the quickness and schedule could carry his club into the tournament, which they missed last year despite winning 12 games.

HOULTON

Last year: 16-5, EM Class B champs, lost state title to Gorham

Returning starters: 3

Key players: senior Ellen Lee (F, 5-8); senior Kim Dahl (G, 5-5); sophomore Liz Nelson (C, 5-10); senior Courtney Tilley (F, 5-10)

Coach/year: John Donato, 14th

Outlook: Coach Donato has established the Shiretowners as a perennial tourney team and it appears Houlton has the potential to return. The Shiretowners feature good size up front sparked by Nelson, a quick inside player with good jumping ability. Dahl and Tilley add scoring punch along with two solid seniors in Stephanie Swallow and Jennifer Sargent, who will split the point-guard duties. Laura Buswell, who was sidelined last year with a knee injury, returns to add depth.

FOXCROFT

Last year: 9-9, 12th in EM Class B

Returning starters: 8 (shuffled lineup many times as 12 players saw constant action)

Key players: sophomore Jean Englebrecht (F, 5-9); sophomore Leah Thistle (F, 5-9); senior Cori Knight (C, 5-10)

Coach/year: Ken Grant, 5th

Outlook: The Ponies have five players who are 5-10 and will look to control the rebounding game to fuel their fast break. Grant is emphasizing the fundamentals such as boxing out and converting free throws. He is hoping the Ponies, who have good team depth, can play aggressively and pick up needed pointworthy wins against opponents like Orono, Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln, and Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield.

HERMON

Last year: 14-6, lost EM Class B final to Houlton

Returning starters: 2

Key players: senior Dawn Eaton (G, 5-5); senior Renissa Bartlett (C, 5-10); senior Linda Russell (F, 5-9); sophomore Kerry Downing (G, 5-5); senior Amy Downing (G, 5-6)

Coach/year: Tim Thornton, 3rd

Outlook: The Hawks graduated a lot of inside point production in Sharon Rines and Michelle Hamlin, but Coach Thornton’s outlook is positive. He feels his team can run and get points off transition. The Hawks will be pushing the ball up the court and attempting to force their opponents to makes mistakes. How well the inside void is filled could determine the Hawks’ tourney fortunes.

MAINE CENTRAL INSTITUTE

Last year: 19-1, lost to Hermon in EM Class B semifinal

Returning starters: 1

Key players: senior Steph Shaw (F, 5-8); senior Michelle Vigue (F, 5-8); sophomore Becky Vaughan (F, 5-8); junior Cory Monday (G); freshman Emily Walker (F, 5-10)

Coach/year: Julie Treadwell, 7th

Outlook: Some may think MCI is in a building year since the Huskies lost four starters to graduation. Coach Treadwell, however, says her team has worked hard in preseason and has already discovered it has the potential to make it back to the tourney. The Huskies will feature a three-forward lineup with strong inside play expected from Shaw. MCI can also run. Freshman Walker could surprise some teams and transfer student Monday gives the Huskies experience and leadership at point guard.

ORONO

Last year: 14-6, lost in EM Class B semfinal to Houlton

Returning starters: 2

Key players: senior Lori Young (G, 5-8); senior Sherry Abbott (C, 5-10); junior Marcia Therrien (F, 5-10); junior Sara Gardiner (G-F, 5-7); senior Jen Pelleriti (G, 5-4); senior Kalia Wischow (C, 6-0)

Coach/year: Steve Gardner, 9th

Outlook: The Red Riots appear to be headed back to the tourney with some strong inside players complemented by steady perimeter players such as point guard Young. Abbott is suffering from an ankle injury but is expected back in two weeks. The Riots may also be able to turn to Wischow, a transfer student from Wisconsin who Gardner says has good mobility and offensive moves. The Riots will take advantage of their height in the half-court game, but will also press, force the tempo and look for baskets off the break.

MATTANAWCOOK ACADEMY

Last year: 11-8, lost in EM quarterfinal to Hermon

Returning starters: 3

Key players: senior Holly Ludden (C, 5-10); junior Nicolette McGinley (G, 5-7); junior Marcie MacLaughlin (F, 5-8); senior Rene Folnsbee (F, 5-7); sophomore April Lyons (G, 5-6); senior Jackie Knights (G, 5-7)

Coach/year: Ken Libbey, 2nd

Outlook: The Lynx return with the same pointworthy schedule and three starters who helped put them in the tourney last season. The Lynx want to make a return trip and will be using a three-guard offense featuring uptempo play and pressure defense to get there. Coach Libbey wants his club to force turnovers to fuel its running game. The Lynx have a good balance of inside players with perimeter players who can hit the outside shot.

MESSALONSKEE

Last year’s record: 8-10, 11th

Returning starters:

Key players:

Coach/years: Dave Estabrook/1st

Outlook:

One in a series profiling high school basketball teams.