Rangeley coach Heidi Deery says a player like Blayke Morin, a 6-foot-2 post who led the Lakers to last season’s Class D State championship, can’t be replaced.
That doesn’t mean the team isn’t intent on finding a way to reclaim the glory of last winter.
“It’s just different,” Deery, in her 23rd season as Rangeley’s head coach, said. “They’re more focused on everybody contributing.
“They understand … that it’s going to take all of them to really dial in on what they can do offensively and defensively.”
This is, remember, still a battle-tested team full of state champions. For instance, Deery said junior Sydney Royce led the team in scoring in last year’s Class D South tournament. And then there’s Tasha Haley, who played point guard in 2015-16, but will also spend time at the wing and in the post this year.
“We’ll definitely be looking for her to, whether she’s on the point or not, run our offense,” Deery said.
Royce and Haley likely will be joined in the starting lineup by senior Celia Philbrick, sophomore Brooke Egan, and freshman Lauren Eastlack, who played a lot of minutes as an eighth-grader.
Deery said everyone knows their roles, it will just be a matter getting comfortable with the new roles.
One thing that won’t change is the Lakers’ defense. They’ll still play aggressive, full-court man-to-man.
“We’ve been doing that for 23 years,” Deery said. “I’m sure people aren’t expecting anything different.”
Coach: Heidi Deery (23rd year)
Conference: EWC; Class: D South
Last year’s results: 21-1 (Class D state champion)
Returning athletes: Senior — Celia Philbrick; Juniors — Sydney Royce, Tasha Haley; Sophomores — Vanessa Bisson, Brooke Egan, Kylie Collins, Mary Page Swiney; Freshmen — Olivia Pye, Lauren Eastlack
Key losses: Blayke Morin, Maddison Egan.
Promising newcomers: Ellah Smith, Ashley Collins, Gabby White.
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