They have been through the rigors of the regular season and play-in games and are ready to take their performance to the next level in pursuit of gold basketballs.
This is a quick guide to the teams and players who caught our attention and are likely to catch yours over the next couple of weeks and how we see things playing out.
CLASS AA
Players to watch: Sr. G Maddie Fitzpatrick, Cheverus; Jr. G-F Ella Pelletier, Oxford Hills; Sr. F Mimi Quinn, Bangor; Sr. F Natalie Beaudoin, Lewiston; Sr. F Ruth Boles, Cheverus
Favorites: Cheverus is the prohibitive favorite thanks to University of Maine-bound Fitzpatrick, who leads AA North in points per game (25.5), rebounds (11.2) and steals (4.9) and is third in assists (4.4). The Stags have a solid supporting cast including seniors Boles and Megan Dearborn and freshmen Addison Jordan and Abby Kelly. They have won all but two games by double digits. Defending state champ Oxford Hills is the biggest threat to the Stags. Oxford Hills has won 11 in a row and possesses one of the state’s premier players in junior forward-guard Pelletier (19.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 4.5 apg). The Vikings were without 3-point specialist Tristen Derenburger at the start of the season due to injury but she is back and has given them a big lift.
Dark horse: Bangor returned just one starter off last year’s team but has one of the state’s top post players in senior Quinn (12.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.1 apg) and two impressive sophomores in Avery Clark (12.3 ppg) and Dalaney Horr (8 ppg). Junior Emily Adams can be a double-digit scorer.
Prediction: Cheverus 64, Oxford Hills 57. Cheverus will be anxious to avenge last year’s 68-63 double-overtime loss to Oxford Hills in the AA North final in which it squandered a 12-point fourth-quarter lead. Cheverus won the state title two years ago. Fitzpatrick had 30 points in last year’s regional final and will be the deciding factor. Not only can she score, rebound and distribute the ball, she makes all of her teammates better. Pelletier and Derenburger will keep it close. Cheverus’ closest game was a 58-55 win over Oxford Hills.
CLASS A
Players to watch: So. G Maddie Provost, Lawrence; Sr. G Lucy Wiles, Hampden Academy; Sr. G Morgan Cunningham, Cony; Jr. F Lilly Gray, Lawrence; Jr. G Abby Morrill, Cony
Favorites: Lawrence is the defending state champ and is poised to make another title run despite losing All-State guard Hope Bouchard to graduation. Lawrence went 17-1 during the regular season. Provost was an impressive and impactful freshman last season and has evolved into a dynamic high-scoring sophomore. The Bulldogs have two talented bigs in 6-footers in Gray and Nadia Morrison and a pair of productive guards in sophomore Ashley Shores and the only senior, Kaylee Elkins. Hampden Academy is the only team to beat Lawrence and has a top-notch senior guard in Wiles, who can score from anywhere, a dependable post player in senior Lauren Voteur and a group of capable role players including three freshmen. One of those freshmen is 3-point specialist Katelyn Adams.
Dark horse: Cony High School has two premier guards in Cunningham and Morrill who can light up the scoreboard. Five-foot-nine junior Morgan Fichthorn complements them and the Rams are battle-tested with a grueling schedule that included one-point losses to defending AA state champ Oxford Hills and A South top seed Mt. Ararat of Topsham. The Rams beat Hampden Academy twice.
Prediction: Lawrence 53, Hampden Academy 46. The Broncos held opponents to 43 points or less 11 times and head coach Nick Winchester guided them to three consecutive A North titles from 2018-20 before spending the last two seasons in AA. But Provost is tough to guard; there is a good supporting crew and there is something to be said for the confidence that is gained by winning a state title.
CLASS B
Players to watch: Sr. F Saige Evans, Old Town; Jr. F Grace Jaffray, Ellsworth; Jr. G Abby Radel, Ellsworth, Jr. G Madelynn Deprey, Caribou, Soph. G Taylor Loring, Old Town
Favorites: Defending state champ Ellsworth is the favorite after completing an 18-0 regular season schedule with 14 of the wins coming by at least 20 points. But the Eagles had a pair of good battles with Old Town, the team they beat in last year’s B North title game 59-52. Jaffray is averaging 22.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game and Radel has produced 12.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.2 steals. Boles is also having a solid season averaging 11.3 points and 4.2 assists. Old Town again poses the biggest threat behind 1,000-point scorer Evans, who is averaging a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, along with Loring (12-13 ppg).
Dark horses: Caribou has one of the state’s best all-around players in Deprey (22.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 3.4 apg) and she has been complemented by Liv Adams (9.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Madelynn Morrow (8.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg). Amelia Godin has hit 43.7 percent of her 3-pointers. Maranacook of Readfield is an unknown but has put together a 13-5 season behind its only senior, talented Natalie Mohlar.
Prediction: Ellsworth 61, Old Town 55. The Eagles have more depth than the Coyotes and the players who come off the bench are more experienced. Plus, winning a state title gives you an edge. The Eagles are a little more seasoned. And several of their players are coming off a Class B North soccer title. This should be a gem like last year’s final.
CLASS C
Players to watch: Sr. C Mazie Peach, Dexter; Jr. G-F Ellie Austin, Penobscot Valley; Jr. F Lily Oliver, Fort Kent; Soph. F-C Addison Cyr, Mattanawcook Academy; Jr. G Anna Oliver, Hodgdon
Favorites: This is wide open with any of the top four seeds capable of winning it: defending champ Dexter (17-1), Fort Kent (14-4), Penobscot Valley of Howland (16-2) and Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln (15-3). Dexter dealt PVHS its only two losses and split with Mattanawcook Academy. PVHS swept Mattanawcook Academy. Just two of the games between the three were decided by more than five points. Those three teams held opponents to 40 points or less 49 times in 54 games. Dexter has a dominant post player in Peach and two good experienced guards in Abi Corson and Cally Gudroe; point guard Rylee Moulton and 5-11 Ellie Austin and Lila Cummings have been PVHS’ catalysts and formidable center-forward Addison Cyr and fellow sophomore Megan House, a guard, have been the leading scorers for Mattanawcook Academy. Lily Oliver is an exceptional scorer who has paced the athletic Warriors from Fort Kent.
Dark horse: Hodgdon had a 14-4 season and has a terrific guard in high-scoring Anna Oliver, who has already eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau. However, she hasn’t played in their last five games, including a preliminary round win over George Stevens Academy from Blue Hill due to a lingering illness. Hodgdon registered a pair of impressive wins over Fort Kent. Machias was 17-1 but played a weak schedule.
Prediction: Penobscot Valley 47, Dexter 41. Defense puts you in position to win championships but offense propels you over the finish line. Dexter has always been a first-rate defensive team under head coach Jody Grant and Peach is tough to shut down inside. But the athletic Howlers have four players capable of scoring in double figures on a consistent basis in Austin, Cummings, Moulton and freshman Brooklynn Raymond and several of their players are coming off a state Class D championship in soccer.
CLASS D
Players to watch: Sr. G Cami Shields, Southern Arooostook; Sr. G Lilly Roy, Wisdom; Sr. G Hunter Hartsgrove, Katahdin; Sr. G Abby Haines, Central Aroostook; Soph. G Ava Lerman
Favorite: Southern Aroostook is the defending two-time state champion and has won five D North titles in a row and captured four state titles during that span. Southern Aroostook hasn’t lost to a Class D North opponent in over five years. SA’s average winning margin has been 33.7 points. They have been led by 1,000-point scorer Cami Shields, her sophomore sister Ally and their cousin, Maddie, the point guard. Emmalee Landry has been a productive inside scorer and rebounder and they have good depth.
Dark horse: Wisdom lost by four to Southern Aroostook in a memorable D North final last year but 1,000-point post standout Olivia Ouellette graduated as did standout guard Abbie Lerman. Southern Aroostook both regular season meetings by 29 and 28 points this season. Lilly Roy is a talented 1,000-point scorer and sophomore Ava Lerman, Abbie’s sister, is a good scoring guard.
Prediction: Southern Aroostook 58, Wisdom 42. Roy had an exceptional tournament a year ago, averaging 26.7 points per game, and she could keep the Pioneers within striking distance. But the Warriors are too deep and too balanced and they also play exceptional team defense.