The Penobscot Valley High School girls basketball team is one of the few programs in the state that can claim that it has played in three consecutive regional championship games.
But the Howlers lost all three Class C North title games, two to Dexter and one to Stearns High of Millinocket. The Howlers are ready to take that next step this season as evidenced by their current 9-0 record and an average victory margin of 46 points per game.
Head coach Nate Case said of 24 points per game that his team has allowed is lower than any girls team in any class in the state. “The sky is the limit” for Howlers, said Case, who is in his eighth year at the Howland-based school.
“We want to be known as one of the best teams in the state, not just in Class C,” he said.
The Howlers went 18-3 a year ago and all three losses were to eventual state champion Dexter including a 28-23 loss in the C North final. They have already earned a measure of revenge with a 65-21 victory over Dexter in Howland. Their opponents were impressed.
“They’re a good team. They are very athletic. They are long. They take up a lot of space, and they have kids who can shoot,” veteran Dexter coach Jody Grant said.
Then there is their 1-3-1 fullcourt trap. Grant said the Howlers will capitalize on poor ballhandling. Case said the goal is to make opponents play fast.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on our defense,” senior guard Ellie Austin said. “We work so hard on it.”
Austin, a Bangor Daily News All-Schoolgirl team honorable mention last year, said the difference between this team and her three previous Howler teams is more scoring depth and diversity.
Junior guard Rylee Moulton and sophomore guard Brooklyn Raymond are PVHS’ leading scorers, averaging 21.2 and 19 points per game, respectively. Raymond has hit 38 3-pointers, and Moulton has nailed 32 from long range. Austin pointed out that both can also score inside.
Austin and junior Lila Cummings are their primary scorers inside, with Austin averaging 11.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game and Cummings at 8.2 points and 8.7 rebounds. Both stand around 5-foot-11. Cummings also provides outstanding defense, Case said.
Moulton has also provided 5.6 assists and 5.2 steals per game, while Raymond has produced 7.1 assists and 6.8 rebounds, giving Case two different types of games.
“Rylee has more of an open-court game, while Brooklyn runs our half-court game,” he said.
Senior Shay Ireland is the other starter and does a lot of the little things you need to win games like set screens and defend. She has averaged four rebounds per game.
The Howlers have a strong bench with sophomore forward Abby Farley providing an inside presence; freshman forward Charlotte Brochu being able to hit mid-range jumpers and lefthanded senior guard Jessica Kondrup being a 3-point threat. Promising freshman guards Nicole Solomon and Kaylee Woodman provide depth.
Austin said coming so close to winning a regional championship her first three seasons has served as extra motivation for her and her teammates this season.
Another plus for the Howlers is the fact several of their players are on the soccer team which has won back-to-back state Class D championships.
“They know how to win,” Case said.
He said it is “a lot harder” to win a C basketball title than a D soccer championship. But so far, so good for the Howlers, who host Calais on Saturday at 2 p.m.
