EASTON, Maine — Last year was memorable and full of milestones for the Easton girls’ basketball program.
Not only did the team reach the regional tournament for the first time in 26 years, the Bears were able to win a Class D North quarterfinal game and gave Southern Aroostook all it wanted in the semifinals before falling just short.
“We all really enjoyed our time in the tournament and are looking forward to making it back down there this year,” said fifth-year coach Bryan Shaw.
A return trip will be a challenge given that the Bears lost six seniors from last year’s team and only five players are back. The Easton roster includes just 10 players total and there is no junior varsity team.
“We have started the work and discussion of key role filling in practice and with so few girls with experience, there are several players taking on two or more key roles to promote our team success,” Shaw said. “Our size and the experience that came from our size will be missed most of all I think.”
Shaw has high expectations for the three returning seniors, who need to help the two players who are new to the sport and the three eighth-graders who must make the leap to varsity competition catch on to the program.
Senior point guard Isabelle Morin made the Class D North all-tournament team last winter and brings raw talent and energy to the Bears. Shaw said Morin, who averaged 12 points per game last season, will be asked to rebound more and to “attack the rim” on offense.
Delaney Leach, another senior, came off the bench last season but received plenty of playing time and had some big offensive outings while averaging 6 ppg. She is one of Shaw’s taller players along with classmate Paige Flewelling, who will need to be a post presence and control the boards.
The other starting positions will be filled by sophomores Cecilia Morin, an aggressive and skilled player, and Lydia Ferris, a tough defender who Shaw is looking to contribute on the offensive end.
Freshman Rachel Wipperman and sophomore Angel Benner have little experience but will be reserve players along with the three eighth-graders: Eva Callioras, Emma Lamoreau and Kaylee Boyce.
Summer Guess and Grace McCrum are the Bears’ managers.
“Our keys to success will be using our speed to our advantage, jelling as a young team and staying healthy and uninjured,” Shaw said.
The coach expects Central Aroostook and Southern Aroostook to be the toughest matchups on the regular season schedule. The Panthers now compete in Class C and with Hodgdon, Fort Fairfield and Madawaska also on the schedule and in Class C, Shaw said the opportunity is there to get a few higher heal-point yielding wins from that division.
Easton also has added Katahdin, a fellow Class D team, to its schedule.
“I do feel the table is set for us to have the opportunity to make a reappearance in the tournament even after a huge small-school hit of six seniors leaving,” Shaw said. “We plan to be competitive and work hard with all our matchups and are looking forward to getting started.”
