The youthful Gardiner Tigers won 13 of their first 14 games with the only loss coming to Class B South powerhouse Oceanside of Rockland. The Tigers allowed a league-low 37.7 points per game through 14 contests.
Gardiner finished the regular season in first place in Class B North with a record of 17-1.
The Tigers boast one of the state’s most well-rounded guards in sophomore Molly Takatsu (11.4. ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.9 steals, 3.9 assists through 14 games). Six-foot-three freshman center Alexa Quintana was averaging almost 10 rebounds per game through late January, junior guard Zoey Sullivan-Brennan was among the top 15 three-point shooters in the league and sophomore guard-forward Maddie McMahon was pulling down more than 7 rebounds.
Gardiner swept Lawrence, which is another contender along with Old Town.
Lawrence All-Maine first-teamer Maddie Provost was averaging over 28 points, nearly eight rebounds and over three assists. Bulldogs senior forward Ashley Shores was averaging nearly 16 points per game.
Old Town veteran guard Taylor Loring and the inside trio of Karina Dumond along with six-footers Emma Ketch and Sophie Morgan have been the catalysts for the Coyotes. Their aggressive and well-refined man-to-man defense had allowed more than 42 points just four times in their first 16 games.
Hermon, Ellsworth, Mount Desert Island and Erskine Academy of South China could also make some noise in the tourney.
