2021 Basketball Preview

2021 PREVIEW

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

The high school basketball season has just begun and we’re excited to be watching both in person and online this year. Here’s a look at the teams and players from around the state to keep an eye on this season, along with some Bangor-area schedules so you won’t miss a minute of the action. For the full schedule for your local team, as well as updates and regulations regarding in-person viewing and how to stream games online, be sure to visit the school’s website and social media pages to stay up-to-date. Best of luck to all the teams!

AFTER 3 STRAIGHT NORTH TITLES,

HAMPDEN ACADEMY GIRLS BASKETBALL FACES MORE CHALLENGING FOES

By Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff

If Hampden Academy had two fewer students, coach Nick Winchester and his Broncos girls basketball team would be gearing up to defend their three consecutive Class A North championships.

But they didn’t, so the Maine Principals Association’s enrollment number for Hampden Academy of 801 elevated the Broncos to Class AA for the next two years.

The MPA cutoff between Class AA and A is 800 students. So 799 would have kept them in Class A. The Broncos return four of their five starters off last year’s team that lost in overtime in the Big East Class AA-A pod title game to Bangor. HA went a combined 33-3 in the regular season during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 campaigns.

“We were shocked when we found out we were going up to AA,” said Hampden Academy junior guard Bella McLaughlin. “It will be a different pace and it will be more physical. But it complements the way we play: fast and physical.

So we should be able to compete and find some success.”

Guards McLaughlin and Cam Neal and forward Emma Haskell are seasoned veterans and Lauren Voteur started at forward as a freshman. Guard Lucy Wiles, who was also a freshman, saw a lot of valuable playing time and Winchester said he has two reliable senior guards who will be important reserves in Taya Archer and Taylor Gardner.

“This is the most experienced team I’ve had in

my five years at the Academy and the most skilled, offensively,” Winchester said. “But we’re going to have to play our best every night to compete.”

HA has been a very efficient defensive team under Winchester.

Jay Kemble’s Bangor High School Rams have no shortage of talent or experience and are coming off a 12-1 season in winning the Big East AA-A pod and crossover championships.

Dynamic point guard Emmie Streams averaged 9 points and 6 assists per game and backcourt partner Laela Martinez led the team in steals with three. Both are exceptional ballhandlers and tenacious defenders.

Rebounding and inside scoring will be provided by the 6-foot Quinn sisters, Abbie and Mimi, who are also effective rim protectors. Athletic wing Taylor Coombs can rebound, run the floor and score and Lily Chandler is a well-rounded guard.

“This is the best transition team I’ve had,” Kemble said. “And the girls have really high basketball IQs.” The Rams’ swarming defense held teams to 33 points per game during the pod season.

Kemble said the avenue to the Class AA North championship goes through Oxford Hills, the defending two-time state champ.

Five-foot-seven guard Sierra Carson is a difference-maker for the Vikings from South Paris.

Sophomore Maddie Fitpatrick is a gamechanger for Cheverus High School in Portland and 5-foot-10 University of Maine-bound Sarah Talon from Windham High is an exceptional athlete who will give defenses fits with her jumping ability and scoring touch.

Talon can hit the three or penetrate the paint and she was rated the No. 9 player in New England by Prep Girls Hoop.

Lewiston and Edward Little of Auburn will look to improve upon their 5-13 records from 2019-20; Portland was hit hard by graduation after a 15-3 campaign and will be rebuilding while Deering High of Portland will try to erase the memories of an 0-18 season.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

Dec. 17 vs. Deering — Away Dec. 21 vs. Edward Little High School — Home Dec. 23 vs. Lawrence — Away Dec. 28 vs. Hampden Academy — Home Dec. 30 vs. Windham — Home Jan. 4 vs. Brewer — Away Jan. 11 vs. Lewiston — Home Jan. 14 vs. Windham — Away Jan. 17 vs. Skowhegan Area — Home Jan. 21 vs. Hampden Academy — Away Jan. 25 vs. Oxford Hills Comprehensive — Away Jan. 28 vs. Portland — Home Feb. 1 vs. Lewiston — Away Feb. 5 vs. Oxford Hills Comprehensive — Home Feb. 8 vs. Edward Little High School — Away Feb. 11 vs. Brewer — Home

Dec. 18 vs. Portland — Away Dec. 21 vs. Brewer — Home Dec. 23 vs. Oxford Hills Comprehensive — Home Dec. 28 vs. Bangor — Away Dec. 30 vs. Cheverus — Home Jan. 4 vs. Lewiston — Home Jan. 6 vs. Edward Little High School — Away Jan. 8 vs. Messalonskee — Home Jan. 14 vs. Cheverus — Away Jan. 21 vs. Bangor — Home Jan. 25 vs. Brewer — Away Jan. 28 vs. Windham — Home Feb. 1 vs. Skowhegan Area — Away Feb. 4 vs. Deering — Home Feb. 8 vs. Lewiston — Away Feb. 10 vs. Oxford Hills Comprehensive — Away *Be sure to confirm game dates, times and spectator rules with each individual school.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

2 REIGNING STATE CHAMPIONS WILL NOW BOTH COMPETE IN CL ASS A A BOYS BASKETBALL DIVISION

By Ernie Clark, BDN Staff

Two reigning state champions will be part of the nine-school Class AA North boys basketball field this winter.

Edward Little High School of Auburn won the 2020 Class AA state title, outlasting Thornton Academy of Saco to earn its second gold ball in three seasons.

The other champion in the Class AA ranks is Hampden Academy, which has been moved up to the largest-school division by enrollment after capturing the 2020 Class A crown.

Hampden’s Class AA schedule includes home-and-home games with Bangor, Cheverus of Portland, Lewiston, Edward Little and Oxford Hills of South Paris and single games at Deering of Portland and Windham and at home against Portland.

The Broncos also will play five games against Class A foes, including homeand-home against Brewer and single games at home against Camden Hills of Rockport and Skowhegan and at Messalonskee of Oakland.

“Our shift to AA certainly adds some mileage to our season along with having a highly competitive schedule,” Broncos coach Russ Bartlett said.

Classification is not the only change the Broncos face this winter, as 6-foot-8 center T.J. Henaghen, who would have been a senior at Hampden Academy this year, has transferred to Williston-Northampton School in Easthampton, Massachusetts.

While the Broncos return their other four starters in juniors Landon Gabric and Brandon Butterfield and sophomores Zach McLaughlin and JJ Wolfington, Bartlett said developing depth will be pivotal to the team’s prospects this winter.

Also key to Hampden’s success will be overcoming the loss of Henaghen’s height in a division flush with talented big men.

That tall order includes coping with the likes of 6-foot-7 Bangor sophomore Landon Clark, 6-foot-10 Oxford Hills senior Colby Dillingham and a rangy Edward Little front line anchored by 6-6, 235-pound senior John Shea.

Edward Little was picked first in the Class AA North preseason coaches’ poll, joined by Deering, Lewiston and Bangor in the top four with Oxford Hills also receiving several votes.

Deering also has size in the post in 6-8 senior Alex Willings, while Lewiston boasts a deep nucleus in seniors Malik Foster and David Omasombo, junior Eli Bigelow and sophomore Yusef Dakane. Oxford Hills has two key veterans off its Class A state runner-up football team in 6-2 senior Isaiah Oufiero and 6-2 junior Elias Soehren as well as six players standing 6-4 or taller.

Bangor, which reached the Class AA North semifinals in 2020, will field a veteran roster featuring 11 seniors.

Coach Brad Libby’s club will have to overcome football injuries that have sidelined senior starting guard Joey Morrison (knee) for the season and classmate Cabryn Streams (hand) for at least eight weeks.

Clark should be pivotal to the Rams success this winter after being a key player during last winter’s abbreviated season, while other key players are seniors Colton Emerson, Keegan Cyr, Max Clark and twins Ben and Braydon Caron.

“We want to get out and run and use our depth and athleticism to our advantage,” said Libby, who guided Bangor to its most recent state championship in 2019. “We are undersized but very athletic. Our goal is to get better every day we step on the court. We want to be a tenacious, high-effort and high-energy team.”

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

Dec. 17 vs. Deering — Home Dec. 21 vs. Edward Little High School — Away Dec. 23 vs. Lawrence — Home Dec. 28 vs. Hampden Academy — Away Dec. 30 vs. Windham — Away Jan. 4 vs. Brewer — Home Jan. 11 vs. Lewiston — Away Jan. 14 vs. Windham — Home Jan. 17 vs. Skowhegan Area — Away Jan. 21 vs. Hampden Academy — Home Jan. 25 vs. Oxford Hills Comprehensive — Home Jan. 28 vs. Portland — Away Feb. 1 vs. Lewiston — Home Feb. 4 vs. Oxford Hills Comprehensive — Away Feb. 8 vs. Edward Little High School — Home Feb. 10 vs. Brewer — Away

Dec. 17 vs. Portland — Home Dec. 21 vs. Brewer — Away Dec. 28 vs. Bangor — Home Dec. 30 vs. Cheverus — Away Jan. 4 vs. Lewiston — Away Jan. 6 vs. Edward Little High School — Home Jan. 8 vs. Messalonskee — Away Jan. 14 vs. Cheverus — Home Jan. 21 vs. Bangor — Away Jan. 25 vs. Brewer — Home Jan. 28 vs. Windham — Away Feb. 1 vs. Skowhegan Area — Home Feb. 4 vs. Deering — Away Feb. 8 vs. Lewiston — Home

*Be sure to confirm game dates, times and spectator rules with each individual school.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

Dec. 17 vs. Nokomis Regional — Away Dec. 21 vs. Hampden Academy — Away Dec. 23 vs. Cony Middle/High School — Away Jan. 4 vs. Bangor — Home Jan. 6 vs. Gardiner Area — Home Jan. 17 vs. Lawrence — Home Jan. 20 vs. Nokomis Regional — Home Jan. 22 vs. Messalonskee — Away Jan. 25 vs. Hampden Academy — Home Jan. 28 vs. Lawrence — Away Feb. 1 vs. Camden Hills Regional — Home Feb. 4 vs. Skowhegan Area — Home Feb. 11 vs. Bangor — Away

Dec. 17 vs. Nokomis Regional — Home Dec. 21 vs. Hampden Academy — Home Dec. 23 vs. Cony Middle/High School — Away Dec. 28 vs. Mt. Blue High School Athletics — Away Jan. 4 vs. Bangor — Away Jan. 6 vs. Gardiner Area — Away Jan. 8 vs. Mt. Blue High School Athletics — Home Jan. 11 vs. Erskine Academy — Home Jan. 20 vs. Nokomis Regional — Away Jan. 22 vs. Messalonskee — Home Jan. 25 vs. Hampden Academy — Away Jan. 28 vs. Lawrence — Home Feb. 1 vs. Camden Hills Regional — Away Feb. 3 vs. Skowhegan Area — Away Feb. 10 vs. Bangor — Home

*Be sure to confirm game dates, times and spectator rules with each individual school.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

Dec. 18 vs. Caribou — Away Dec. 22 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Dec. 30 vs. MDI High School — Home Jan. 5 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Jan. 8 vs. Waterville — Home Jan. 11 vs. Old Town — Away Jan. 15 vs. Orono — Away Jan. 19 vs. Washington Academy — Away Jan. 21 vs. Ellsworth — Home Jan. 25 vs. MDI High School — Away Feb. 2 vs. Ellsworth — Away Feb. 5 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Home

Dec. 18 vs. Caribou — Away Dec. 21 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Dec. 30 vs. MDI High School — Home Jan. 4 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Jan. 6 vs. Old Town — Away Jan. 8 vs. Waterville — Home Jan. 12 vs. Old Town — Home Jan. 14 vs. Orono — Away Jan. 20 vs. Washington Academy — Away Jan. 22 vs. Ellsworth — Home Jan. 26 vs. MDI High School — Away Feb. 1 vs. Ellsworth — Away Feb. 5 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Home

Dec. 18 vs. Presque Isle — Away Dec. 22 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Away Jan. 4 vs. Ellsworth — Away Jan. 11 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Jan. 13 vs. Old Town — Away Jan. 15 vs. Bucksport High School — Home Jan. 17 vs. Orono — Away Jan. 26 vs. Orono — Home Jan. 29 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Feb. 1 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Away Feb. 4 vs. Ellsworth — Home

Dec. 18 vs. Presque Isle — Away Dec. 21 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Away Jan. 5 vs. Ellsworth — Away Jan. 12 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Jan. 14 vs. Bucksport High School — Home Jan. 17 vs. Orono — Away Jan. 25 vs. Orono — Home Jan. 27 vs. Old Town — Away Jan. 29 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Feb. 2 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Away Feb. 5 vs. Ellsworth — Home

Dec. 21 vs. Washington Academy — Away Dec. 28 vs. Ellsworth — Away Dec. 30 vs. Maine Central Institute — Home Jan. 5 vs. MDI High School — Away Jan. 7 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Away Jan. 11 vs. Hermon — Home Jan. 13 vs. John Bapst Memorial High School — Home Jan. 15 vs. Presque Isle — Away Jan. 17 vs. MDI High School — Home Jan. 22 vs. Maine Central Institute — Away Jan. 26 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Home Jan. 28 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Jan. 29 vs. Orono — Away Feb. 4 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Feb. 8 vs. Orono — Home

Dec. 22 vs. Washington Academy — Away Dec. 28 vs. Ellsworth — Away Dec. 30 vs. Maine Central Institute — Home Jan. 4 vs. MDI High School — Away Jan. 6 vs. Hermon — Home Jan. 8 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Away Jan. 10 vs. Orono — Away Jan. 12 vs. Hermon — Away Jan. 15 vs. Presque Isle — Away Jan. 17 vs. MDI High School — Home Jan. 22 vs. Maine Central Institute — Away Jan. 25 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Home Jan. 27 vs. John Bapst Memorial High School — Home Jan. 29 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Feb. 5 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Feb. 9 vs. Orono — Home

*Be sure to confirm game dates, times and spectator rules with each individual school.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

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BREWER BOYS FACE NEW CHALLENGES IN QUEST FOR CL ASS A BASKETBALL TITLE The last two winters have seen the Brewer boys basketball team at its best at the most important time of the season.

But two years ago the Witches were outlasted in the final seconds of their Class A North semifinal by Hampden Academy, which went on to win the 2020 state championship.

Then last winter, coach Ben Goodwin’s club went 14-2 and had to settle for winning the Big East Conference AA-A-B pod championships to cap off a schedule limited geographically by COVID-19.

“This group has a lot of confidence in themselves,” Goodwin said. “They came through the COVID situation real well, they handled themselves well and we did the best we could with what we had. We had a tough loss to Hampden the year before that but they came back. They’re always fighting.”

Brewer’s primary competition for regional supremacy is different again this year.

Hampden is now in Class AA, but in the Broncos’ stead are talented teams from Nokomis of Newport and Skowhegan.

Nokomis, which is seeking the school’s first regional or state championship in boys basketball, is armed with three notable freshmen led by rangy twins Cooper and Ace Flagg to go with a veteran returning cast that includes junior forward Madden White and senior forward Hunter Flagg, the twins’ older brother.

Skowhegan features a formidable front line with 6-foot-6 junior Adam Savage flanked by another set of twins, 6-5 juniors Kyle and Colin LePage.

By Ernie Clark, BDN Staff

So while Brewer still boasts four key players from its recent run of contention, the Witches were relegated to third place in the recent Class A North preseason coaches poll behind first-place Nokomis and Skowhegan.

“We do have some tough teams in our league with Nokomis and Skowhegan but I don’t think you can count us out,” said Goodwin, whose program is seeking its first regional title since 1988. “They’ve put in a lot of time and work to put themselves in a good position, and I’m excited to see what they can do.”

Brewer is led by the fourth-year starting backcourt of Aaron Newcomb and Colby Smith, who team with junior forwards Brady Saunders and Ryder Goodwin. Those veterans are likely to be joined in the lineup by junior forward Brock Flagg.

“What makes them good is they really enjoy playing with each other,” coach Goodwin said. “They play with a lot of passion and they play for each other. You don’t always get that with teams, but this team has that so it should be exciting.”

Skowhegan, which last won a state crown in 1997, also has been on a steady ascent in the last two years, including a 12-3 record last winter as the River Hawks’ three big men teamed with senior guards Levi Obert and Payson Washburn.

Coach Tom Nadeau’s club returns all but one player from a year ago.

Other teams to watch in the 10-school Class A North ranks are Cony of Augusta, Camden Hills of Rockport and Gardiner. All three have players to watch: Cony with senior forward Luke Bridges and junior guard Kam Douin, Camden Hills with 6-4 senior forward Ryan Clifford and Gardiner with 6-8 junior center Kalvin Catchings.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

ELITE PL AYERS FROM SKOWHEGAN & GARDINER DOMINATE LOADED GIRLS A NORTH BASKETBALL Skowhegan’s Jaycie Christopher was the only sophomore on the 2019-20 Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl basketball team in 2019-20. She was a first team selection.

Gardiner’s Lizzy Gruber was the only freshman. She was chosen to the second team.

So it should come as no surprise when Skowhegan coach Mike LeBlanc said the coaches at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference meeting said Class A North has “more talent than we’ve had in a long time.”

Christopher and Gruber are the primary reasons their respective teams are among the favorites in Class B North, along with Lawrence of Fairfield and Erskine Academy of South China.

Three-time Class A North champ Hampden Academy has moved up to AA this season.

Christopher, a gifted 6-foot-1 point guard who is going to Boston University in the fall, has already scored 1,000 career points.

“I think she has scored in double figures in every game but two during her career and that includes her freshman season when we had all those seniors,” LeBlanc said.

Christopher does it all for the River Hawks.

She has averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals during her career according to LeBlanc.

In addition, she is a top-notch defender who usually covers the opponents’ best scorer.

Callaway LePage is a 5-foot-9 senior with a lot of experience who is capable of producing consistent double-digit point nights and seven to eight rebounds per game.

LeBlanc will also be relying on junior Aryana Lewis and an athletic but inexperienced sophomore class including twins Madalynne and Annabelle Morris and his daughter, Laney.

“We have some kids who can shoot and we’re going to need them to make shots,” LeBlanc said.

By Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff

The talented Gruber, a 6-3 junior, may be the state’s best post player. She has already received four Division I scholarship offers, and is capable of scoring 20 or more points and grabbing 10 or more rebounds every night.

Lawrence and Erskine Academy are led by their dynamic guards Hope Bouchard and Mackenzie Roderick, respectively. Each also has a talented and veteran supporting cast with Lawrence’s Makenzie Nadeau and Erskine Academy’s Sarah Praul headlining those lists.

Brewer coach Chris Horr will again have an undersized team.

In fact, he said “we’re even smaller than we’ve been.”

His Witches will press and run and try to force turnovers that lead to transition baskets.

“The more chaos the better,” said Horr, whose team has good speed.

He will be looking for good seasons from the likes of Mariah Roberts, Trea Broussard, Jordan Doak and Riley Umel along with Kelly DiCarlo, Jenna McQuarrie, Lindsey Pine and the Dores, Kaylee and Makayla.

Doak and Umel, two of the Brewer High soccer team’s best players, didn’t play during the COVID-19-abbreviated basketball season last winter.

Cony High School of Augusta, 4-14 two years ago, is expected to improve and Nokomis High of Newport has a new coach in 2018 Nokomis High graduate and standout athlete Chelsea Crockett, who played basketball at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Messalonskee High of Oakland will be competitive, as will Mt. Blue of Farmington.

Camden Hills, like Brewer, was 3-15 two years ago.

Medomak Valley of Waldoboro has gone from Class A North to Class B South.

BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

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VETERAN ELLSWORTH BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM IS ‘HUNGRY ’ FOR CL ASS B NORTH CROWN

By Ernie Clark, BDN Staff

The Ellsworth boys basketball team made the most of its 2020-21 season, capturing the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B pod championship as COVID-19 denied teams around the state traditional tournament play.

The 2021-22 season begins with the Eagles hoping to return to postseason normalcy and their pursuit of a more widespread championship goal, such as their first North regional crown since 2016.

There’s good reason for optimism with the entire roster back from last winter led by senior guard Hunter Curtis and sophomore forward Chance Mercier.

Curtis is a fourth-year starter who serves multiple roles for the Eagles, including team leader.

“He works hard every day so the other kids follow him,” said 15th-year Ellsworth head coach Peter Austin. “We use him everywhere. He’s my point on offense and he also can play down low. Defensively he’s going to be guarding a lot of times the other team’s best player, and he’s definitely our best rebounder.”

Mercier was one of the region’s top freshmen a year ago, and scored 26 points during Ellsworth’s preseason opener late last month at Class AA Bangor.

“The expectations are high,” said Austin, who guided Ellsworth to the 2020 B North final. “We know that we have everybody back and they’re hungry. They want to win the last game of the year.”

Among Ellsworth’s top rivals in Class B North could be Presque Isle, the Aroostook County Division I pod champion last year.

The Wildcats feature junior guard Malachi Cummings, a third-year starter who led the team in scoring and assists last winter while ranking second in rebounds. Other veterans are senior big man Xavier McAtee, classmates Noah Yarema and Jackson Maynard and 6-3 junior Jack Hallett.

“When healthy, this could be the deepest team I have ever had at Presque Isle,” 11thyear PI head coach Terry Cummings said. “Look for us to play an uptempo style and let our defense generate our offense. They will be an exciting team to watch this winter.”

Houlton could be another Class B threat from The County with four returning starters in Isaiah Gentle, Colin Moody, Caleb Solomon and Jadon Gentle, while Caribou captured the 2019 and 2020 Class B state championships but graduated 10 seniors last spring, leaving the Vikings with just three returning players.

Hermon, Mount Desert Island, Winslow and Old Town also figure into the contending mix, as does youthful Orono, which features sophomore guards Pierce Walston and Ben Francis, senior Javier Alicea-Santiago and junior Lucas Allen up front and promising freshman Will Francis.

“We’ll be athletic enough, we’ll be skilled enough, but there are going to be some nights when we look like the freshmen and sophomores that we are,” Orono coach Ed Kohtala said. “But if we work hard we can grow into something that has a chance.”

One big change in Class B this winter is the move of Medomak Valley of Waldoboro and Oceanside of Rockland from North to South.

Medomak Valley, the North champ in both 2013 and 2015, returns three-year team scoring leader Trevor Brown along with senior guard Patrick McKenney and 6-2 classmate Jake Bickmore, a third-year starter. Coach Nick DePatsy’s Panthers also could get a boost from much-improved 6-7 senior Jacob Craig.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

HERMON AND OLD TOWN GIRLS BASKETBALL RENEW THEIR RIVALRY IN CL ASS B NORTH

By Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff

Old Town High School’s girls basketball team beat Hermon in the Big East Class B pod championship game during the COVID-19-abbreviated 2020-21 season, 36-32.

The teams could be squaring off again in a title game this season, only with much more at stake.

Old Town and Hermon are two of the favorites to win Class B North as both have virtually all of their players back off last year’s teams.

The Maine Principals Association-sanctioned tournaments are back and Hermon is the defending champion from the 2019-20 season, with a playoff run including a 47-34 Class B North semifinal win over Old Town.

Hermon lost to Wells in the state final, 34-26 in overtime.

Not only do Hermon and Old Town have a host of veterans, but several of their players are coming off appearances in state title games this fall. Hermon played for the Class B soccer championship and Old Town was in the B field hockey final.

“I like our chances. We should be in the mix,” said seventh-year Hermon head coach Chris Cameron. “We have a lot of kids coming back. This is the most veteran team I’ve ever had. We have a solid inside game and outside game.”

The Hawks will be led by 6-foot forward-guard Maddie Lebel, 5-11 forward Meg Tracy and 5-7 guard Sydney Gallop. Lebel can hit threes or take the ball to the rim and Tracy is a productive inside scorer with a mid-range game as well. Gallop is their best perimeter defender.

They have received a boost from 5-11 senior forward Elizabeth Wyman, who has had an injury-filled career but is finally healthy and has “definitely been one of our bright spots,” Cameron said.

His daughter, Allie Cameron, is a dependable point guard and Charlotte Caron is a 3-point specialist.

But they won’t have Jade Leeman, their scoring leader who averaged 20 points per game last season, because she had knee surgery.

“Old Town will be one of the top teams in B and there are a lot of other solid teams.

Presque Isle has [Faith] Sjoberg and [Anna] Jandreau. And you can’t overlook [Mount Desert Island]. They’re very senior-heavy like we are,” Cameron said.

Old Town has to replace point guard and 1,000-point scorer Hannah Richards but she is the only significant loss.

“We have a lot of scorers. It’s just a matter of them learning a new role,” said ninthyear head coach Heather Richards, Hannah’s mother. “We also potentially have 10 floor generals.”

Maddie Emerson is a quick guard who can distribute and shoot; Lexi Thibodeau is a well-rounded small forward and point-producer; 5-11 Saige Evans and 5-10 Sydney Loring are quality rebounders who can also score and Maddie Arsenault and Makayla Emerson are versatile performers.

Kilee Bradeen and Gabby Cote are valuable players off the bench.

“The division is unpredictable. It isn’t going to be a walk in the park for anyone,” Richards predicted.

MDI has four three-year starters in Leah Carroll, Elena Alderman, Elizabeth Jones and Olivia Gray, and Houlton is expected to be improved thanks to returnees Mia and Olivia Henderson and Drew Warman.

Presque Isle’s Sjoberg is an excellent long-range shooter and Jandreau is also a capable scorer.

Caribou is also expected to be better behind Selena Savage, Ashlyn Bouchard and Gabrielle Sutherland, and Waterville and Winslow have been contenders with Winslow having won the state in 2018.

Waterville reached the regional final in 2019 and 2020 and has a new coach in Joy Charles and an exceptional point guard in Kiera Gilman. Gabby Maines and Lawrence High of Fairfield transfers Dakodah Aldrich and Danelle Eldridge will also have key roles.

Bucksport moves up from Class C and John Bapst, Belfast, Ellsworth, Foxcroft Academy, Mt. View of Thorndike, Orono, Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield and Washington Academy of East Machias will look to have competitive seasons.

Oceanside of Rockland/Thomaston moved to Class B South.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

CL ASS C NORTH’S COMPETITION MAY BE ONE OF THE TIGHTEST IN BOYS BASKETBALL

By Ernie Clark, BDN Staff

The last time the Class C North boys basketball tournament was held, it produced some of the closest biggame results in recent history.

Dexter emerged as the 2020 regional champion, winning three games by a combined eight points. The Tigers scored three-point victories over Central of Corinth in the quarterfinals and Fort Kent in the semifinals before outlasting Central Aroostook of Mars Hill by two points on a buzzer-beating shot in the title game.

The other 2020 semifinal also was decided by two points, with Central Aroostook outlasting George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill to advance.

It’s now two years later and two classes of basketball players have graduated, but don’t be surprised to see many of those same teams battling for bragging rights again come mid-February.

Dexter will return a nucleus featuring several key players from a year ago who also are fresh from helping the Tigers win the 8-player football small-school state championship in senior Avery Gagnon and juniors Will

Kusnierz, Bryce Connor and Kayden Kimball.

“I think the Tigers have the potential to be one of the top teams in Class C North this season,” Dexter coach Peter Murray said. “Our style of play should be more of the same -- defensive-minded, patient, team-oriented offense.”

Fort Kent is expected to be the top Aroostook County threat in the region. The Warriors will feature 6-foot-2 senior Austin Delisle, who led the Warriors’ boys soccer team to the Class C North title this fall.

George Stevens, the three-time state champion from 2016 through 2018, is armed with considerable depth and size with junior Azaiah Nanson and seniors Teague Smallidge, Bryce Schneider, and Dexter Brown -- all ranging from 6-4 to 6-7.

“The early season focus is to become a solid, dynamic defensive team that will be able to mix it up and control play. Offensively our focus will be to push the ball when we can but be patient and pull it out when we need to and utilize our size developing an inside-out game,” veteran

Eagles’ coach Dwayne Carter said.

“Our goal is always to be a contender for the championship and with some hard work [and] our balance of size and quickness, I feel we have potential to do that again.”

While that grouping may comprise many of the early favorites, there are plenty of other teams in the 19-school division with their eyes on a deep postseason run.

That includes Lee Academy and senior Ethen Allard and juniors Nick Allard and Andrew Scott, all returning starters just a few weeks removed from helping the Pandas win their first Class D soccer state championship.

Also in the mix should be Central, armed with one of the region’s best backcourts in Simon Allen and Bryce Burns; Penquis Valley of Milo, another school coming off a successful soccer season with returning veteran leadership in seniors Alvin Robshaw and Mikal Sickler; Stearns of Millinocket and its tandem of Eliot and Caleb Shearer; Woodland with one of Down East’s top players in senior captain Wyatt MacArthur, a 6-foot-4 point guard; and Hodgdon and high-scoring junior guard Wyatt Oliver.

TRIO OF GIRLS FROM ICONIC MAINE BASKETBALL FAMILIES LEAD TALENTED CL ASS C NORTH

By Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff

Stearns of Millinocket has another Alley. Central of Corinth has another Allen and Penobscot Valley of Howland has another Ireland.

Alisyn Alley, Izzy Allen and Emilee Ireland are following in the footsteps of their older sisters at their respective schools, which are among the contenders for the Class C North championship this season.

Interestingly, their mothers were all standouts at Husson University in Bangor.

The former Kristi Wildman, Alisyn Alley’s mother, and Sue Ann Allen, Izzy Allen’s mom, are in the Husson Sports Hall of Fame and the former Becky Moholland, Emilee’s mother, was a 1,000-point scorer in her college career at UMaine Machias and Husson and is in the Maine Basketball Hall of Fame.

Alisyn’s older sisters, Raychel, Emma and Katherine; Allen’s sisters Sydney and Abi and Ireland’s sisters Sami and Lexi were all outstanding athletes.

Central Aroostook High School of Mars Hill won the Class C state title in 2019-20 but the two catalysts, Maci Beals and Bre Bradbury, have graduated and the Panthers have a new coach in Krystal Kingsbury Flewelling, who was an assistant at CA under her brother Dillon Kingsbury.

Dillon Kingsbury has replaced Ralph Michaud as the

assistant girls coach at Presque Isle.

Emilee Ireland, a 5-11 center-forward, will be a force in the paint for Nate Case’s Howlers and she will have a good supporting cast including the Loring twins, Kaya and Mia, Mia Neal and freshman Ellie Austin.

PVHS won the C North crown in 2018-19.

Alley was the Penobscot Class C Pod Player of the Year last season when she averaged 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists and five steals, Stearns coach Nick Cullen said.

“She does everything for us. She is a great basketball player.”

Alley was a Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl honorable mention two years ago.

He also has another consistent double-digit scorer in Makayla Anderson and a solid post player in Kasey Kenyon. Kelly Farber was the sixth man last season and is ready for more prominent minutes.

“We have the potential to be good,” Cullen said.

Izzy Allen, a 5-foot-10 point guard, verbally committed to the University of Maine as a 15-year-old freshman after averaging 18.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.1 assists last season.

“She concerns me. She’s the real deal,” Cullen said.

Guard Rylee Speed and 5-10 center Abby Young will headline the supporting cast but coach Jamie Russell

said they will need to develop some depth.

Defense-minded Dexter is always in contention under head coach Jody Grant but he won’t have his high-scoring daughter, Peyton, who scored over 1,000 points and was a third team BDN All-Maine choice two years ago.

She is playing at New Hampton School, a preparatory school in New Hampshire.

But Grant said he is “excited” and “invigorated” by his new challenge.

“We had a real good summer. We have some young players but they’re eager to learn. We won’t be getting 30 points from Peyton but we have a lot of kids capable of giving us eight to 14 points,” Grant said.

Elizabeth Kinney is a two-year starter and he is also looking for good things from Jozlynn Page, Jillian Poliquin and Abilene Corson along with Mazie Peach, sister of former Dexter star and current Husson player Megan Peach.

Diane Rollins, who averaged over 12 wins a season in 16 years at Central before resigning in 2017, is the new coach at Piscatatquis Community High in Guilford and said her team could “surprise some people” with point guard Sydney Hutchins, 6-footer Elizabeth Kendall and forward Abby Ricker leading the way.

Larry Gardner’s Fort Fairfield Tigers are always in the mix.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

Dec. 17 vs. MDI High School — Away Dec. 22 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Away Dec. 28 vs. Washington Academy — Away Dec. 30 vs. Ellsworth — Home Jan. 4 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Jan. 8 vs. Maine Central Institute — Home Jan. 13 vs. Bucksport High School — Home Jan. 15 vs. Hermon — Home Jan. 17 vs. John Bapst Memorial High School — Home Jan. 22 vs. Presque Isle — Home Jan. 26 vs. John Bapst Memorial High School — Away Jan. 29 vs. Old Town — Home Feb. 2 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Home Feb. 3 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Feb. 5 vs. Caribou — Away Feb. 8 vs. Old Town — Away *Be sure to confirm game dates, times and spectator rules with each individual school.

Dec. 18 vs. MDI High School — Away Dec. 21 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Away Dec. 23 vs. Bucksport High School — Home Dec. 28 vs. Washington Academy — Away Dec. 30 vs. Ellsworth — Home Jan. 5 vs. Bucksport High School — Away Jan. 8 vs. Maine Central Institute — Away Jan. 10 vs. Old Town — Home Jan. 14 vs. Hermon — Home Jan. 17 vs. John Bapst Memorial High School — Home Jan. 22 vs. Presque Isle — Home Jan. 25 vs. John Bapst Memorial High School — Away Jan. 27 vs. Foxcroft Academy — Home Feb. 2 vs. Houlton Middle/High School — Home Feb. 5 vs. Caribou — Away Feb. 9 vs. Old Town — Away

15

BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

TIGHT-KNIT MACHIAS BOYS BASKETBALL SQUAD IS GUNNING FOR THE CL ASS D TITLE THIS YEAR The Machias Bulldogs made a precocious run to the 2020 Class D North boys basketball championship.

A roster featuring four sophomores and two freshmen endured some growing pains during a 9-8 regular season, then emerged as a force during tournament play with three straight double-digit victories to earn the regional title before falling to Forest Hills of Jackman 69-53 at states.

Those underclassmen are now seniors and juniors, and while their chance for a second straight D North crown last winter was snuffed out by COVID-19, the Bulldogs are concentrating on a return to championship form this winter.

“They’ve played together since junior high all the way through, and by not going to Bangor last year it’s actually made them quite hungry,” Machias coach Jim Getchell said. “This year they’re determined. They want to win everything, for sure.”

Senior point guard Jayden Rhodes and junior shooting guard Ethan Foss compose a complementary backcourt duo for the Bulldogs, while seniors Kashman Feeney and Kyle Anderson and junior Shane Feeney, all 6-foot-4, provide the Bulldogs impressive height.

Shane Feeney, a guard, has grown 4 inches since he last played at the Cross Insurance Center two years ago.

“He’s probably the best basketball player in Class D this year,” Getchell said. “He’s grown, he can shoot the 3, he can get shots off the dribble. He’s going to have a great season.”

Senior Brady Hatt and 6-5 Caleb Norton will be the top reserves for a Machias team that won its Down East pod championship during last winter’s abbreviated, regionalized season and now is seeking its first state crown since 2017.

“It’s a group that likes to win, that’s one thing I like about them,” Getchell said. “They don’t like to lose.”

The Bulldogs’ main challenger could be another team with considerable experience remaining from two years ago, Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook.

Six players are back from the Warriors’ 2020 tournament roster and 2021 Aroostook League Division II pod championship squad led by senior center Hunter Burpee, a third-year captain for coach Brett Russell’s club who averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds a game last winter.

Graham Siltz, a 6-4 junior, provides versatility both inside and along the perimeter, while junior Buddy Porter and

By Ernie Clark, BDN Staff

sophomore Dylan Burpee are the guards and senior Chris Caswell and junior Drake Weston also will play key roles.

Easton, which reached the 2020 regional final before dropping a 53-42 decision to Machias, graduated eight seniors from last year’s team but figures to remain in the postseason mix.

Junior Ben Wipperman becomes the primary post player for coach Danny Warren’s Bears, while classmate Evan Carver returns from the 2020-21 rotation as a multidimensional offensive threat and defensive stopper.

Another consistent contender is Schenck of East Millinocket, the regional champion in 2019.

The Wolverines will feature fourth-year starter Kaden Hannan, a guard-forward who is one of four players remaining from the team’s 2020 tournament roster. Juniors Kole Giberson, Nick Powers and Ryan Ingalls also are back.

Schenck opens its season at home against Machias on Saturday, Dec. 11.

“That will be a great early season test to see where we stand,” said Aaron Hutchins, the former Schenck girls’ varsity basketball coach who has moved over to the boys side as head coach this winter.

DEFENDING 3-TIME REGIONAL CHAMP

By Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff

SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK INTENDS TO MAINTAIN ITS STRANGLEHOLD ON CL ASS D NORTH Cliff Urquhart has guided his Southern Aroostook High School girls basketball team to three straight Class D North championships, with state titles following the first two before Greenville wrested the crown away from the Warriors 42-38 in the 2019-20 season.

Including the D North tournament and state championship games, Southern Aroostook went 62-4 during those three seasons.

The Warriors followed that success with an Aroostook County COVID-19 pod championship game win over Class B Presque Isle last year, a win Urquhart considers one of the biggest in school history.

“It’s as close to winning a gold ball you can get without winning one. It was huge for the community. It felt like ‘Hoosiers.”

Uruquhart has graduated a lot of the key components but still returns three players with a ton of experience in guards Madison Russell and cousins Cami and Madison Shields.

But he said the team to beat in Class D North is Wisdom High of St. Agatha.

“They have three real good guards and a dominant forward,” said Urquhart, referring to guards Abbie Lerman, Lilly Roy and Massachusetts transfer Alexis Silva along with 5-foot-10 post player Olivia Ouellette.

Wisdom coach Scott Pelletier expects his team to contend for the title but dismissed the favorite’s role.

“Southern Aroostook is still the champion until someone takes it from them,” said Pelletier. “But it should be fun.”

The teams do not meet during the regular season.

“We’re small and very guard-oriented,” Urquhart said. “Our strength is on the defensive end. This might be one of the better defensive teams I’ve ever had.”

Pelletier called Southern Aroostook’s Russell a “great scorer.”

Russell was a Bangor Daily News All-Maine Schoolgirl basketball team honorable mention in 2019-20 as a freshman.

Emily Landry and Cami Shields’ eighth-grade sister Ally are expected to be contributors for the Warriors.

Pelletier has two players who are capable of leaving St. Agatha as 1,000-point scorers in sophomore guard Roy and junior forward-center Ouellette, he said.

Lerman, who has scored more than 100 goals for the soccer team, is a top-notch point guard. And Silva has been a nice addition.

“Our guards are dynamic,” Pelletier said.

Kylie Pelletier, Kamryn Clavette and Colleen Thamsen are expected to be resourceful performers.

Wisdom also has momentum from having several

players who competed for the girls soccer team that won the Class D North crown.

Among the other teams that will contend include Deer Isle-Stonington, which lost in the regional finals to Southern Aroostook in the last two tournaments and has a new head coach in Bob St. Peter.

St. Peter’s daughter, Luna Perry-St. Peter, transferred to Deer Isle-Stonington a year ago after averaging 12.6 points and 12.6 rebounds her sophomore year at George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill.

He considers Luna and guard Macey Brown as two of the top players in Class D North and said all of his players can “shoot and play defense.”

Perry-St. Peter and Brown are expected to be consistent double-digit scorers and should also be forces on the glass.

Taytum Chase and Maya Brown, Macey’s sister, are excellent defensive players who can run the floor and shoot.

Coach St. Peter will also expect contributions from Maddy Eaton, Megan Wendell, Riley Dorr, and Katie Gell since there are only eight players on the roster.

Shead of Eastport is 63-27 in its last 90 regular season games and is always a threat. Katahdin of Staceyville was 13-5 two years ago.

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BASKETBALL PREVIEW • Bangor Daily News Special Advertising Section • December 17, 2021

Dec. 17 vs. Shead — Away Dec. 30 vs. Machias Memorial High School — Home Dec. 31 vs. Shead — Home Jan. 13 vs. Schenck — Away Jan. 17 vs. Searsport High School — Away Jan. 19 vs. Stearns Jr./Sr. — Away Jan. 25 vs. Deer Isle-Stonington Jr./Sr. — Away Jan. 27 vs. Penobscot Valley — Home Jan. 29 vs. Machias Memorial High School — Away

Dec. 17 vs. Shead — Away Dec. 30 vs. Machias Memorial High School — Home Dec. 31 vs. Shead — Home Jan. 8 vs. Stearns Jr./Sr. — Away Jan. 13 vs. Schenck — Away Jan. 17 vs. Searsport High School — Away Jan. 25 vs. Deer Isle-Stonington Jr./Sr. — Away Jan. 27 vs. Penobscot Valley — Home Jan. 29 vs. Machias Memorial High School — Away

*Be sure to confirm game dates, times and spectator rules with each individual school.