Players to watch
Sr. G Sarah Caron, Boothbay (10.8 ppg), Sr. F Alex Clarke (9.5 ppg, 7.1 rpg); Sr. G Samantha Bruce, Madison (15.6 ppg), Soph G Bronte Elias (11 ppg, 7.8 rpg); Sr. F Christina Colman, Old Orchard Beach (12.1 ppg), Soph F Abby Dubois (12.1 ppg); Sr. G Martha Veroneau, Waynflete (19.8 ppg, 3.7 3’s), Sr. F Rhiannan Jackson, Waynflete (7.8 ppg, 7 rpg); Soph F Kelsey Hutchins, Dirigo (10.8 ppg), Soph F Jessica Conant, Dirigo (10.4 ppg); Jr. G Kylie Kemp, Monmouth (13.9 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Sr. G Sierra Spencer, Monmouth (10.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg); Sr. G Miranda Smith, Mt. Abram (14.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg), Sr. G Mikayla Luce, Mt. Abram (12.2 ppg); Jr. G Kelly Pomerleau, St. Dom’s (20.2 ppg, 4.7 apg, 4.9 spg), Jr. G Faith Grady, St. Dom’s (14.7 ppg, 4.9 spg).
Favorites
Boothbay and Madison have been the top two C teams in the MVC all year. Clarke is a standout post player while Bruce and Elias lead a balanced and experienced Madison team. Boothbay’s only loss to a C team was to Monmouth. Madison’s lone loss to a C team was to Boothbay, by six. Boothbay has won 14 straight while Madison has won 11 of its last 12 games.
Dark horse
It’s hard to call Waynflete a darkhorse. They’re more like favorites in the four-seed. They’ve been knocking on the door of the Western C title for a few years now. They’ve lost in the regional final three times in the last four years. Veroneau is likely the top player in the tourney while the Flyers also have some balance with Jackson, Julianna Harwood and Leigh Fernandez. Being in bracket with the Flyers might not be such a good thing.
Fun facts
This is Boothbay’s highest ranking since being first in 2002 in the open tourney and being the top seed in 1980. .. Madison lost its three games by an average of just 3.3 points. … Old Orchard Beach has not won a quarterfinal since 2001. … Waynflete’s Veroneau not only scored 1,300 points in her career but also hit 168 3’s. … Five of Dirigo’s wins were by five points or less. … This is Monmouth’s first trip to the quarterfinals since 2008, which was the only quarterfinal win in Western C for the Mustangs since returning from Class D. … St. Dom’s started the year 6-2 but went 1-6 after Grady broke her hand and Callie Greco injured her hip. The Saints have won four straight since.
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