Three locals teams will be participating in the new AA Classification this winter. Edward Little, Oxford Hills and Lewiston will be part of the Class AA North and be competing against some of the largest schools in the state.
Class AA North also features Bangor, Windham Deering, Portland and Cheverus. Class AA South includes Thornton, Bonny Eagle, Sanford, Scarborough, Massabesic, South Portland, Noble, Gorham, McAuley.
Bangor reached the Northern A final last year before losing in the final minutes to Lawrence. The Rams (19-2) graduated eight seniors, including Mary Butler and Cordelia Stewart. Bangor still has a solid club led by veterans Emily Gilmore, Sarah Bragg and Katie Butler.
Edward Little finished 15-5 last year and lost to the Rams in the semifinals. EL graduated a wealth of talent as well, but still returns a group that could make the Red Eddies a tourney team. Emily Jacques is the lone returning starter and one of the top talents in the conference. Jordyn Reynolds, Francesca Beth-Haines and Karli Stubbs have shown promise in the post while Piper Norcross, Grace Beaudet and Kaylee Jipson step into larger roles in the backcourt.
“If we are to hope to contend for a playoff spot, Emily Jacques will need to play like one of the top players in Maine,”EL coach Craig Jipson said. “The Eddies will also need Jordyn Reynolds, Karli Stubbs and Piper Norcross to take their game to another level while key players gain valuable varsity minutes for the first time.”
Oxford Hills went 15-3 before losing in the quarterfinals last year. The Vikings graduated three veterans in Anna Winslow, Mikayla Morin and Shannon Kriger. Oxford Hills still has a seasoned group back that should make the Vikings competitive and in the hunt in AA North.
“We will be very quick and athletic and hope to use this to our advantage,” Oxford Hills coach Nate Pelletier said. “We want to have an uptempo approach this year and have worked hard this summer to install the new system.”
Tianna Sugars and Jayden Colby return to the post for the Vkiings while Oxford Hills has a season group of guards in Allyssa Hanely, Erin Morton, Erin Eastman and Anna Piirainen.
Lewiston finished 3-15 and is still young. The Blue Devils have some seasoned players that could help the team progress in Lynn Girouard’s second year. Lewiston has just two seniors back in Kristina Blais and Alasia Branche, both guards. Junior Morgan Eliasen is back in the post along with classmates Skylar Gaudette, Kasey Talarico and Dacia Bail in the backcourt. Sophomore Victoria Harris returns in the post.
“We are a fairly young team this year but we have a lot of girls who have seen varsity minutes,”Girouard said. “Our goal is to keep improving each year. The girls have put in the work during the off season and we can’t wait to get started.”
Deering and Portland both finished in the top 10 in Southern A last year while Windham went 8-10. The Rams were fourth at 15-3. All three should be competitive clubs.
In AA South, McAuley, Thornton and Gorham were the top three teams last year, and should be the teams to watch once again.
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