High School Girls Basketball

Fri, 03/02/2018 - 12:45pm

George Harvey

The Vinalhaven girls basketball during the 2017 Class D state championship game. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

AUGUSTA — Scores of people will gather at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday, March 3 at 1:05 p.m. to enjoy a varsity girls basketball showdown between the Vinalhaven Vikings (21-0) and the Southern Aroostook Warriors (19-2).

The Vikings, the Class D South regional champion, will be entering the contest riding a 33-game winning streak that dates back to last season, a season that saw the Vikings secure a state championship.

Members of the Vikings squad include Hope Cluff, Hannah Newton, Ashlyn Littefield, Paige Dennison, Amber Shane, Shyanne Warren, Corey Lazaro, Deja Doughty, Gilleyanne Davis-Oakes, Justice Grant and Cheyenne Bickford. The team’s head coach is Sandy Nelson, who is assisted by Sam Bickford.

The Warriors, this year’s Class D North regional champion, will be looking to stun the islanders.

Members of the Warriors squad include Victoria Belyea, Kylie Vining, Makaelyn Porter, Kacy Daggett, Paige Vose, Gracie Brewer, Hannah Landry, Sydney Brewer, Katelyn Slauenwhite, Emma Nadeau, Kassidy Mathers, Brianna Daggett, Emily Skinner, Madison Cummings and Selean Botting. The team’s head coach is Cliff Urquhart, who is assisted by Jessica Walker.

QUOTES

Cliff Urquhart, Southern Aroostook head coach: “Vinalhaven is a great team. I think they play a very similar brand of basketball that we do. Not to indulge too deep into the game plan but I think [Gilleyanne] Davis-Oakes is a tremendous player. The other [four] around her are equally as tough and shoot the ball really well. They are a tough team to defend as proven by some of their scores during the regular season and the tournament. Looking forward to a great game.”

Vinalhaven head coach Sandy Nelson did not respond to a request for her thoughts on the upcoming game.

SEASONAL RECAPS

Below is a look at how both Vinalhaven and Southern Aroostook have performed this season.

Vinalhaven Vikings (21-0)

Friday, Dec. 8	at Forest Hills	Won 77-24
Saturday, Dec. 9	at Forest Hills	Won 60-21
Friday, Dec. 15	vs. Valley	Won 57-19
Saturday, Dec. 16	at Valley	Won 69-29
Saturday, Dec. 30	at Temple Academy	Won 57-39
Friday, Jan. 5	vs. Rangeley Lakes	Won 53-39
Saturday, Jan. 6	vs. Rangeley Lakes	Won 51-32
Friday, Jan. 12	at Jonesport-Beals	Won 65-46
Saturday, Jan. 13	at Jonesport-Beals	Won 68-37
Monday, Jan. 15	vs. Temple Academy	Won 57-36
Friday, Jan. 19	at Highview Christian	Won 57-27
Saturday, Jan. 20	at Highview Christian	Won 54-27
Wednesday, Jan. 24	at Pine Tree Academy	Won 64-34
Thursday, Jan. 25	at Pine Tree Academy	Won 54-26
Friday, Jan. 26	at Buckfield	Won 72-30
Saturday, Jan. 27	at Buckfield	Won 52-18
Friday, Feb. 2	vs. Searsport	Won 55-37
Saturday, Feb. 3	vs. Searsport	Won 56-55
Tuesday, Feb. 20	vs. #8 Valley (Regional Quarterfinal)	Won 62-26
Thursday, Feb. 22	vs. #4 Greenville (Regional Semifinal)	Won 54-34
Saturday, Feb. 24	vs. #2 Rangeley Lakes (Regional Final)	Won 59-49

Southern Aroostook Warriors (19-2)

Friday, Dec. 8	vs. East Grand	Won 82-16
Friday, Dec. 15	vs. Shead	Won 60-18
Saturday, Dec. 16	vs. Central Aroostook	Won 69-51
Tuesday, Dec. 19	at Katahdin	Won 70-26
Friday, Dec. 22	at Houlton	Lost 51-37
Thursday, Dec. 28	vs. Wisdom	Won 69-14
Friday, Dec. 29	vs. Madawaska	Won 71-44
Friday, Jan. 5	at Shead	Won 61-26
Tuesday, Jan. 9	at Easton	Won 68-13
Thursday, Jan. 11	vs. Hodgdon	Won 61-27
Monday, Jan. 15	at Central Aroostook	Won 61-48
Thursday, Jan. 18	vs. Easton	Won 69-30
Monday, Jan. 22	vs. Houlton	Lost 50-45
Wednesday, Jan. 24	at Hodgdon	Won 60-32
Saturday, Jan. 27	at Madawaska	Won 56-45
Friday, Feb. 2	at Wisdom	Won 59-25
Tuesday, Feb. 6	at East Grand	Won 74-32
Thursday, Feb. 8	vs. Katahdin	Won 57-25
Monday, Feb. 19	vs. #9 Jonesport-Beals (Regional Quarterfinal)	Won 71-39
Wednesday, Feb. 22	vs. #5 Katahdin (Regional Semifinal)	Won 73-41
Saturday, Feb. 24	vs. #2 Woodland (Regional Final)	Won 55-41