Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook served notice on Monday that they it is primed to defend its state Class D schoolgirl basketball state title.
Cliff Urquhat’s Warriors rang up 29 first-quarter points en route to an 84-31 victory over Washburn and face Schenck of East Millinocket in Thursday night’s 7:05 semifinal at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Southern Aroostook is 17-2 with both losses coming to Class C teams, Madawaska and Central Aroostook of Mars Hill.
The top-seeded Warriors play a Schenck team that is 13-6 including a 56-38 quarterfinal victory over Shead of Eastport.
The other semifinal is a rematch from 2018 with 17-0 Deer Isle-Stonington, the No. 2 seed, taking on No. 3 Woodland (14-5) at 8:35.
Woodland won last year’s semifinal 54-45.
Woodland ousted Katahdin of Stacyville 57-28 while Deer Isle-Stonington eliminated Ashland 59-33.
Southern Aroostook received 20 points and eight rebounds from Sydney Brewer, who led a group of four players in double figures. Makaelyn Porter and Kylie Vining had 14 and 13 points, respectively, and Kassidy Mathers had 10 points.
Samantha Malone’s 13 points and 12 apiece from Julia Stanley and Cassie Russell paced Schenck, which has held opponents to 26.7 points per game this season.
Lily Gray’s 15 points and five rebounds, Taylor Hardy’s 14 points and eight rebounds, Kaylee Morey’s nine points, six rebounds and five assists and Katie Hutchinson’s four points and 11 rebounds led Deer Isle-Stonington. Leading scorer Rylee Eaton didn’t play due to a minor abdominal procedure according to coach Randy Shepard and her status for Thursday’s game is unknown.
Emily Curtis had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Katie Erskine had 15 points, three rebounds and three steals and Sadie Smith had 13 points, three rebounds and three steals to lead Woodland to it victory.
