The Southern Aroostook girls basketball team looked every bit like defending state champions and Class D North regional favorites Monday morning.
The top-ranked Warriors used a balanced offensive attack and suffocating defense to cruise to a 62-12 quarterfinal victory over eighth-ranked Ashland at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Coach Cliff Urquhart’s club (16-3) will take on fourth-ranked Deer Isle-Stonington in a Wednesday semifinal while Ashland wraps up its season 9-11.
After missing nine of their first 10 shots early, the Warriors were able to quickly find their shooting legs and race out to a 17-5 first-quarter lead behind Cami Shields’ seven points.
Southern Aroostook’s full-court trap never allowed the Hornets to get into any flow offensively, with the Warriors forcing 23 first-half turnovers in forging a 38-8 advantage at intermission.
Shields was a force on both ends for the Warriors, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and four steals, and was one of three Southern Aroostook players to score in double figures.
Madison Shields went on to post 11 points and Madison Russell 10 for Southern Aroostook.
For Ashland, Abby Doughty posted five points and Kayla MacLean added four.