The Class D girls’ teams have their work cut out for them when their tournament begins next Monday.

Tom Berry coaches the girls from Southern Aroostook Community High School. Since the team had some early wins and has played well lately, he’s “pleased that we finished as high as we are.” He sensed early in the season that his players had grown comfortable playing with each other.

In his seventh consecutive post-season appearance, Berry said, “It’s still just as much fun. We’re looking forward to it. It’s quite an accomplishment for the kids.”

He said that his players’ familiarity with post-season play takes the edge off what otherwise might be a stressful experience. `In the last three years, every senior has played all four of her years in post-season play. It takes a little bit of scariness out of the auditorium.”

Berry sees no advantage to practicing there, since “the bleachers are pushed in, only half the lights are on, there’s no popcorn smell, and no heat. It’s a totally different atmosphere on game day.”

Berry values his well-balanced team. “I play eight or nine kids regularly. There are some standouts, but with all the kids combined, I really feel it’s a team,” he said. “When we’ve played the poorest is when we haven’t been able to go to the bench.”

No one can deny those leading scorers, who consistently rack contributions, though. “Janna Walker, who plays a combined post-guard situation; Kim Collier, our No. 2 scorer, plays guard; and Shay Fox is a post player, a small forward type,” Berry said. “Those three have averaged in the low double figures, while there are a lot of kids who chip in their points on a regular basis. I like to play those girls, too.”

Though Berry said he doesn’t tailor his game play to fit the competition, he still anticipates facing off against some stiff opponents, including Jonesport-Beals, Greenville, and Central Aroostook.

“We’re really happy to be there,” said Berry. “We’re going into it with a feeling that if we do what we can, the best we can do it, we’re going to be happy.”

When she’s not teaching first grade, Julie Prescott is coaching the Central Aroostook girls’ team. She must be doing something right, since her one-year appointment has become a four-year coaching experience.

“I’m lucky enough to be here coaching, she said. Following last season’s tournament season, where her team made the semi-final round and upset the No. 1 team, she “expects to do well when we go back to the tournament.”

Prescott predicts some tough competition from Jonesport-Beals and Southern Aroostook, but “anyone can be tough on a given night,” she said. “We’re capable of doing well, but you never know what’s going to happen.”

The team depends on its tallest player, Jessica Clark. Another standout player, Jaimie Alexander, “makes a lot of things happen on the floor. She can penetrate and shoot outside and creates openings on the floor for the other players,” Prescott said.

Sophomores and juniors predominate the young team, which has only two seniors. Their prior tournament experience will help ease some pre-game jitters as the time draws near. “Once you’ve played there,” Prescott said, “it gets easier.”

Besides some possible post-season play, Prescott will rely upon the players’ anticipation of tournament play to maintain their readiness. “They’ll be pumped up; they’ll be ready to play,” she said. “If making the tournament doesn’t get them excited, I don’t know what will.”