Two of the three undefeated teams in Class A girls basketball will square off on Saturday night in Fairfield when the Bangor Rams will take on the Lawrence Bulldogs in a battle of 7-0 teams. Game time is 7 p.m.
The only other unbeaten team in Class A is Western Maine Heal Points leader Thornton Academy of Saco, which also is 7-0.
Bangor is atop the Eastern Heal Points standings by a slim margin over Lawrence.
“We’re excited about Saturday. We’ve been waiting for it all season,” said Bangor junior guard Emily Gilmore.
“It will be a good challenge,” said Rams senior forward Mary Butler.
Bangor first-year coach Joe Johnson said it should be an exciting matchup.
“It will be a pretty hard-fought, fast-paced game,” said Johnson. “Lawrence is very athletic. They like to trap and run a little bit. They’ll press full court and three-quarter court. And they’ll play some man-to-man.
“[Nia] Irving and [Paige] Belanger are really good around the basket, and their point guard, Dominique Lewis, pushes the ball, shoots well and plays with confidence. They have another tall girl [6-foot-2 Abby Weigang] who comes off the bench,” said Johnson.
Both Johnson and Lawrence coach John Donato expect there to be a tournament atmosphere.
“I think the gym will be packed,” said Donato.
“It’ll be a tough environment. It’s going to be crazy in there. The fans will be loud,” said Johnson.
“Hopefully, the home crowd will give us an advantage,” said Donato.
One of the most intriguing matchups will be in the frontcourt where Bangor has three 6-footers in Butler, her sophomore sister Katie Butler, and senior Cordelia Stewart. Lawrence has the dynamic tandem of Irving, a junior, and senior Belanger.
Irving was a second-team Bangor Daily News All-Maine selection a year ago when she averaged 19.6 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. Donato said Irving is playing at about 80 percent after having knee surgery last May.
Mary Butler was an All-Maine honorable mention last season and was a third-team choice as a sophomore when she led Bangor to its first Eastern Maine title in 31 years by averaging 13.2 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Butler, Gilmore and Stewart are Bangor’s leading scorers and rebounders this season and Mary Butler tops the team in assists.
Butler is coming off a 13-point, 11-assist, seven-rebounds performance in a 50-39 triumph over Mt. Blue of Farmington.
Katie Butler and Bangor’s other starter, junior Sarah Bragg, also are averaging close to double figures as the Rams have been balanced.
“Bangor is not only tall, they are very athletic,” said Donato. “Their athleticism could give us a problem.”
Belanger is averaging 13 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs, and Lewis is contributing 12 points and five assists. Sophomore guard Morgan Boudreau is averaging eight points per game, according to Donato, and senior guard Jordyn Towers is their defensive catalyst.
“We’re going to have to defend real well and handle their pressure. I’d love to get into a half-court game with them,” said Johnson.
Bangor has limited its opponents to 36.1 points per game, and Lawrence has held their opponents to 35.3 ppg. Lawrence has scored 62.1 ppg, and Bangor is averaging 49.3 ppg.
Key hockey matchups Saturday
The defending state high school boys hockey champions will invade the greater Bangor area for highly-anticipated games at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Messalonskee of Oakland (5-1) beat Gorham to win its first Class B state title a year ago, and the Eagles visit Penobscot Ice Arena for a contest with 5-0-1 Brewer. The teams are 1-2 in the Heal Points standings, respectively, and each has a first-year coach in Messalonskee’s Joseph Hague and Brewer’s Lance Ingerson.
Messalonskee’s only loss came at the hands of Class A Bangor, which will host A titlist Falmouth at the Sawyer Ice Arena in Bangor.
The Rams (5-1) lead Eastern A, while Falmouth (6-0) is second in Western A.
Falmouth beat St. Dominic of Auburn in overtime in last year’s A championship game for its second straight title.