High school girls’ basketball: Morin shines for Rangeley

Blayke Morin knew it might be a challenging year.

Little did the Rangeley senior know it would be the most rewarding year of her career.

Morin had to fill the void as the Lakers’ leader and go-to player this season. She not only led a young team, but also reached the 1,000-point milestone. She was a force in Class D tourney, winning MVP honors and leading Rangeley to a state championship win over Shead.

“I always dreamed about all of this but never imaged that it would happen,” Morin said. “I was okay with that. To actually have all that happen, I couldn’t imagine it being any better.”

When Rangeley needed Morin to step up, she did, and the Lakers reaped the rewards because of it.

“She’s an extraordinary young lady,” Rangeley coach Heidi Deery said. “She just wanted to be a good teammate and a leader. She didn’t want all the hype. She just focused on getting things done.”

Morin was only one of two seniors returning this season for the defending Western D champs, who lost to Washburn in the state final last year. The Lakers had some returning players, but most of the team was still relatively young and unproven. Morin was a double-digit scorer and strong post presence in past seasons, but she needed to take on a larger role herself, which meant stepping out of her comfort zone.

“It’s not like I didn’t expect it,” Morin said. “I always knew that I’d be by myself. I only have Maddie (Egan), but I knew Taylor (Esty) and Seve (Deery-DeRaps) wouldn’t be here. It’s not like it was a shocker. I knew it was coming.”

With the team being mostly underclassmen, Morin played a critical role in her team’s development. She helped them along with her passing skills, setting up other players for success. Then she took things on her shoulders when needed.

“Blayke is the most unselfish players there is,” Deery said. “She doesn’t care who scores. If she can distribute the ball, she’s an excellent passer.”

She led the team in scoring with 18 points per game during the season, and averaged eight rebounds, five steals and five assists.

There were some growing pains, but as the season progressed, Morin and the players around her became more comfortable and confident.

“Summer helped out a lot,” Morin said. “You really know what you have to work on from the start.”

By tourney time, a number of Lakers were producing and helping the Lakers win. It forced opponents to pick and choose who and what to defend.

“I told Blayke after the (semifinals) that if I could have written a script for the week and have somebody else score for us, I would have done it. They had to pay attention to other people. I don’t think they were able to think about running a triangle-and-two or a box-and-one. We were multi-dimensional. I hoped it would allow Blayke to do what she did.”

In the regional final, after two strong tourney games, she dominated. She not only shut down Vinalhaven’s top threat inside, but also scored a career-high 34 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had three blocks. She finished two field goals shy of the tourney record (18) for most in a game and was named the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player.

A week later, she was immense in the state title game. She had 10 points and 20 rebounds. It was her basket that proved to be the game-winner, and her leadership that was crucial as Shead made a late run at the Lakers.

“As we started to grow as a group, she just flourished,” Deery said of Morin. “When she saw the other players stepping up and believing in our program, it gave her the momentum to really shine.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

F Blayke Morin Rangeley Sr.
G Emily Jacques Edward Little Sr.
F Tianna Sugars Oxford Hills Sr.
G Caitlin Kane Mt. Blue Sr.
F Jordyn Reynolds Edward Little Jr.
F Chantel Eells Leavitt Sr.

Second Team

F Sydney Petrie Mountain Valley Sr.
G Erin Morton Oxford Hills Jr.
F Emma Lueders Dirigo Sr.
G Tia Day Monmouth Soph.
G Kristina Blais Lewiston Sr.
F Skye Conley Gray-New Gloucester Jr.

Third Team

G Alex Bessey Spruce Mountain Jr.
G Nathalie Theriault Poland Soph.
G Maddison Egan Rangeley Sr.
C Victoria Harris Lewiston Soph.
F Grace Sabine Oak Hill Sr.
F Tasha Haley Rangeley Soph.

Honorable Mention

Alexis Bennett, Buckfield Sr. G; Sabrina Daoud, Dirigo Sr. G; Lauren Henderson, Dirigo Sr. F; Karli Stubbs, Edward Little, Sr F; Grace Kariotis, Gray-New Gloucester Jr. G; Morgan Eliasen, Lewiston Jr. F; Bree Sautter, Lisbon, Sr. G; Sidney Wilson, Monmouth Sr. G; Ashley Russell, Mountain Valley Jr. F; Eryn Doiron, Mt. Blue Sr. G; Sydney Royce, Rangeley, Soph. F; Emily Hogan, Spruce Mountain Sr. G; Chloe Dwinell, St. Dom’s Jr. F.