Mackenzie Worcester and Joan Overman know they will be facing a pressure-filled basketball season at Washburn High School.
The two senior standouts have helped the Beavers capture the last three of the school’s four consecutive Class D state girls basketball championships, and they will be leading the team when they open at home against Hodgdon on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
Washburn has lost a number of quality players to graduation such as Bangor Daily News All-Maine team honorable mentions Carmen Bragg and Carsyn Koch.
Nicole Olson also has graduated, and Tori Koch, Carsyn’s younger sister, has transferred to Presque Isle High School.
Worcester and Overman are the only returning starters off a 2013-14 team whose seniors produced an 84-5 record during their four-year reign.
But the 5-foot-4 inch Worcester, a third team BDN All-Maine selection last season, said pressure is nothing new.
”There has always been pressure since the first year we won it,” said Worcester. “There’s also pressure on the other girls to step in and fill the roles handled by the seniors who have left us.”
Washburn is “definitely not the same team we were a year ago,” Overman said. “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible for us to win it again. We definitely have it in us.”
The keys to success will be how hard the team works and comes together, Worcester said.
“It’s going to be much different this year,” added Worcester, who averaged 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals per game in 2013-14.
“We have some big shoes to fill,” said third-year head coach Diana Trams. “But we’ll still have a very quick team. And any coach who has Mackenzie Worcester as their point guard has to like their chances. She is very dynamic.”
And the versatile Overman has impressive skills.
“She can really leap. She can outjump any boy I’ve ever met,” said Trams. “She is quick on her feet and rebounds well.”
Overman has had two surgeries on her right (shooting) shoulder over the past three years, but the shoulder withstood a physical soccer season and she said it is improving all the time although she doesn’t have full range of motion yet.
“It’s holding up pretty well,” said Overman, who is 5-7 ½, and averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per game last season.
“If she can stay healthy, she will have more of an impact this year,” said Trams.
The versatile Overman can play at guard, forward or in the post.
Other contributors will include junior guard Emmy Churchill, who got some significant minutes last season, especially when Worcester was sidelined for a month with a broken hand.
The Beavers also will regain the services of speedy junior guard Laina Mette, who missed last season after suffering a knee injury during soccer season. She saw some varsity time as a freshman.
Junior Grace Braley is one of the taller players at 5-8, and she will supply an inside presence.
Junior Natalie Doody is a 5-6 guard-forward who, like Braley and Churchill, saw some playing time last season.
Trams expects Overman, Braley and Doody to be her primary rebounders.
Senior guard Mikayla Churchill, no relation to Emmy Churchill, hasn’t played basketball in several years, but Trams said she could be an effective defender.
Juniors Brittany Corey (5-8) and Jessica Aube (5-7) have been elevated from the junior varsity and will help out in the frontcourt. Sophomore Kristen Sarmiento is a quick, scrappy 5-5 guard.
“Some of the girls who were in supporting roles are going to really have to step up their games and make plays for us,” said Trams.
“A lot of teams will probably throw junk defenses at us to try to stop Joan and me so somebody else is going to have to step up and hit some big shots,” said Worcester.
The Beavers will continue to press and try to force an up-tempo game, which has resulted in several easy points off turnovers.
The Beavers also have a valuable intangible of knowing how to win and are willing to put in the work necessary to be successful.
“They have the right attitude. They were coming into the gym a few weeks before tryouts began. As a coach, it’s nice to see players invested in the program who want to put the time in,” said Trams.