In 1998, Tracy Guerrette led the Wisdom High School girls basketball team from St. Agatha to the state Class D championship, scoring 30 points with 10 rebounds and eight assists in a win over Monmouth Academy.
She is now an assistant coach for her school, helping the Pioneers capture the Class S North championship and earn a date against Valley of Bingham in Saturday’s 11:05 a.m. state title game at the Augusta Civic Center. There is a different feeling between winning a title as a player and capturing one as a coach, she said.
“When you’re a player, it’s euphoric. It’s such a wonderful experience. But there is a deeper appreciation as a coach,” said Guerrette, who went on to play at the University of Maine, where she was a two-year captain. “There is such a sense of gratitude because I’ve been there, done that. “But I really want them to experience what I experienced.”
The Pioneers will take a 20-1 record into the state game against a Valley team with the same record. Wisdom’s only loss was a 52-44 home loss to defending Class D North champ Central Aroostook of Mars Hill on Jan. 23.
The catalyst for the Pioneers is senior guard Ava Lerman, who was chosen the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after averaging 26.3 points, 4.3 steals, 3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the three tourney victories. She went 16-for-19 from the free throw line.
Junior guard Madi Cyr was the other Pioneer to earn a berth on the all-tourney team as she averaged 7.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. Cyr also had four assists and four steals in the three contests.
Freshman forward Peyton Roy averaged 6.7 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Forward Kelsie Daigle, the only other senior, and junior guard Emma Soucy were also productive contributors in complementary roles. Daigle had 10 points and seven rebounds in the three games and Soucy had nine points, six rebounds, five steals and five assists.
Providing depth were freshman guards Ellie Cyr and Hanna Martin and sophomore forward Brooke Senecal. The team played outstanding defense as it has all year.
Head coach Kayla Dionne’s Pioneers outscored their three tournament opponents 153-56 and held all three under 30 points. They will enter the state game having allowed 31 points or less in 19 of their 21 games.
Their defense will be tested by a Valley team that outscored its tourney opponents 221-64 and has scored at least 70 points in 18 of its 21 games. Valley’s only loss was to Class D North power Bangor Christian, 76-73.
Bangor Christian was the top seed in D North but got upset by Penobscot Valley of Howland in the semifinals.
