Players to watch: Sr. F Tiana-Jo Carter, Lake Region; Jr. G Emily Keene, Spruce Mountain (10.6 ppg), Jr F Sam Richards, Spruce Mountain (7.8 ppg, 4 rpg); Sr. F Alison Furness, Wells (17.4 ppg, 7.1 rpb), Sr. F Jordan Agger (12.1 ppg, 5.3 rpb); Jr. F Ashley Storey, Greely (16 ppg, 10 rpg); Sr. C Jen Genthner, Lincoln Academy (12.4 ppg, 10.8 rpg); Jr. G Maria Valente, Gray-NG (15 ppg, 8 rpg), Fr. G Alicia Dumont (9.2 ppg); Sr. C Skye Dole, Fryeburg (10 ppg, 11 rpg); Soph. G Shannon Todd, York.
Favorite: Lake Region
The Lakers have already won back-to-back regional titles and have an experienced club. Led by Carter, who has 1,000 points and rebounds in her career, the Lakers averaged nearly 57 points per game while allowing just 37. Lake Region finished the regular season with 14 straight wins and are poised to three-peat in the regional final.
Darkhorses: Spruce Mountain, Wells
The Phoenix has their entire team back and averaged just 27 points against during the regular season. Spruce Mountain lost in the quarterfinals to Wells last year and are poised to better that this year. The Warriors return five starters and nine seniors from a team that reached the semifinal last year. Wells already has one victory over Lake Region this year, beating the Lakers 44-36.
Fun Facts: This is the 16th straight tourney for Lake Region. … Spruce Mountain has won 45 straight regular season games in the MVC but are 1-2 in the Western B tourney. … Last year’s quarterfinal win was the first for Wells since 2003. … Greely has been to the regional final three times in the last five years and lost all three. … This is the highest ranking for Lincoln Academy since being third at 14-4 in 2001. The Eagles have not won a quarterfinal since 1996. … Gray-New Gloucester had six wins by 12 points or less and five losses decided by nine or less. … York coach Rick Clark has only missed the tourney twice in 32 years.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
