Tourney wide open

WRITTEN BY LARRY MAHONEY

The Class D North girls basketball tournament has been more like the Southern Aroostook Invitational in recent years.

Cliff Urquhart’s Warriors from Dyer Brook have won the last six regional championships and added five state titles to their trophy case.

But for the first time in seven years, the D North tourney is expected to be wide open with a number of teams capable of dethroning the youthful Warriors, who were hit hard by graduation last year and then lost junior guard Ally Shields to a season-ending knee injury during the first practice.

They lost more regular season games than they had in the previous six seasons combined.   

“Ally probably would have been the best player in Class D, at least in the north,” said Urquhart. “I would have liked our chances if we had her.”

The Warriors’ other returning starter besides Shields, junior Hannah McGary, missed over two months with a broken foot and didn’t come back until the end of January.

The list of primary contenders includes Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, Bangor Christian, Wisdom of St. Agatha, Schenck of East Millinocket and Shead of Eastport, all of which racked up a double digit amount of wins.

“I really like Bangor Christian’s athleticism,” said Urquhart. “I’ve been impressed with them all year long.

“And I like Shead. I like their balance. They seem to have four or five kids who can score in double figures at any time on any night,” said Urquhart.

“I really think it’s going to be a competitive tournament this year,” said Central Aroostook coach Cody Tompkins, who explained that he has scouted teams ranked one through 10 in the Class D North heal points standings and sees the potential for some upsets.

“And don’t count Southern Aroostook out. They’ve had some injuries but the McGary girl is back,” said Tompkins.

“I think anybody can win it,” said Wisdom coach Kayla Dionne.

Kevin Reed’s Bangor Christian girls have played exceptional defense, holding opponents to fewer than 30 points per game.

“I tell our girls that offense comes and goes. You might not shoot well but you can always bring effort and energy on defense and the girls have bought into that,” said Reed, whose Patriots put a lot of pressure on the ball. “Our defense drives us.” 

Patriots Junior guard Lyndsie Durost, a three-year starter and reigning Penobscot Valley Conference (PVC) Class D Player of the Year, is a prolific scorer who is equally adept at hitting a three or taking the ball to the rim.

Bangor Christian Junior guard Carley Andrews is a transfer from Class AA Bangor High and is an outstanding ballhandler and defender.

Another newcomer on the Patriots squad is Rivers Bradford, the eight-grade daughter of Husson University Sports Hall of Famers Brock Bradford (basketball) and Shelby Pickering Bradford (basketball and soccer).

Reed said Bradford does a lot of things well and is also capable of scoring in double figures.

Senior Corina Walden is “one of the hardest working players I’ve coached in a long time,” said Reed, who was the Coach of the Year in PVC D a year ago.

“We’re a well-rounded team. We’re very balanced,” said Reed.

Tompkins’ Central Aroostook Panthers have a pair of big-time point producers in guards Lilly Burtt and Harleigh Allen, who both average around 17 points per game.

“They can hit the three and get to the rim. I really like those two,” said Southern Aroostook’s Urquhart.

Panthers Junior forward Maggie Mahan and sophomore center Charlie Pierce are averaging 10 points per game apiece and the 5-foot-10 Pierce is the top rebounder with over 10 per game.

Burtt leads the team in assists and steals with over five apiece.

Stevie Pierce is a dependable rebounder who can run the floor.

“We have a pretty balanced attack and we pride ourselves on defense.  We like to press and that really helps us get easy points in transition,” said Tompkins.

Shead coach Dana Bowen has an All-PVC D first teamer in guard Jenna Suddy, who averages 17 points per game and is a good 3-point shooter.

“She hit five threes in a quarter. She’s tough. When she’s not on the floor, we struggle a little offensively,” said Bowen. “Teams focus on her and that opens things up for our other players.” 

Sisters Adriana and Shaylynn Fenderson also average in double figures and Danika Howze is a promising sophomore forward for Shead. 

Sophomore guard Mackenzie Johnson, freshman Kearah Barnes and eighth graders Tanisha Bulmer and Calli Gray also log some playing time for the tigers.

“Our strength is our defense. We’ve been working on it for three years and it wins games for us,” said Bowen, whose team was surrendering just 36 points per game.

Wisdom has a “very young team” according to Dionne.

“I have four eighth graders including one who starts,” said Dionne.

Guard Ava Lerman and forward Kelsee Daigle are junior veterans who lead the Pioneers.

Lerman averages 20 points per game and also leads the team in assists and steals while Daigle is among the top rebounders and is also a point producer. 

Sophomore guard Madison Cyr averages in double figures in points and is also an effective rebounder. The starting center is 5-foot-9 eighth grader Peyton Roy, who can score in double figures.

Kirsten Hutchins’ Schenck Wolverines have a 2023-24 PVC Class D first teamer in junior forward Harlee Sprague and a second teamer in Addyson Freeman.

Senior center Mallory Brown and senior forward Brooklyn McAvoy help supply the Wolverines with a formidable front court and they have a pair of quality guards in Lydia Matarazzo and Abby Hutchins.

Matarazzo and McAvoy had some injury issues but returned at the end of the regular season.

“When Schenck is healthy, they’re huge. They have three centers out there who can give a lot of teams trouble,” said Urquhart.

The one lower seeded team that could pull off an upset or two is Jonesport-Beals, according to Urquhart.

“They play a tough schedule and, on a good night, they can beat anybody,” said Urquhart.

Guard Mia Mills was a first team All-PVC choice last year and she is complemented by Riley Balicki.