Washburn High School girls basketball coach Diana Trams had just two starters back off last year’s 21-2 Class D state championship team as stalwarts Carmen Bragg, Carsyn Koch and Nicole Olson graduated, and Tori Koch, Carsyn Koch’s younger sister, transferred to Presque Isle High School.
That meant several returnees would have to take on more prominent roles this season.
So far, so good.
The defending four-time state champions are 17-0 and sitting comfortably atop the Eastern Maine Heal point standings with the Class D tourney set to open on Feb. 14.
Washburn is 101-5 over the past five campaigns, including this season.
With the exception of three-point and five-point wins over Fort Fairfield, the Beavers have won every other game by at least 18 points.
Washburn’s trademark full-court press is still harassing opponents into turnovers, which lead to easy points in transition.
The team forced 31 turnovers in the first win over Fort Fairfield.
“We aren’t as quick as last year, but we’re still pretty quick,” said Trams. “And the girls work very hard.”
That has compensated for the fact Washburn doesn’t have a player taller than 5-foot-8.
The team has scored 60 or more points 14 times and have held opponents to 40 points or less 13 times.
Trams noted that expectations are high, but the players are eager to live up to them.
Standout senior guard Mackenzie Worcester is having an outstanding season.
She was a third team Bangor Daily News All-Maine selection a year ago after averaging 19 points, six assists, four rebounds and four steals.
“I told her we needed her to score more this season, and she has more than responded to the challenge,” said Trams, who pointed out that Worcester is averaging 25 points per game.
The 5-5 Worcester also is averaging 7.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds and is about 1,900 points for her career, according to Trams.
The other returning starter is senior guard Joan Overman, who is the team’s “defensive catalyst,” according to Trams, and is averaging 12 points.
Overman covers the opponents’ best offensive player and is also a key contributor on the press and the fast break.
Junior guard Emelia Churchill is a good ball-handler who chips in eight points per game, while Laina Mette, who sat out last season with a knee injury, has returned and provided the Beavers with a “defensive pest” and someone who can run the fast break.
Juniors Natalie Doody and Grace Braley are both capable point-producers, and senior Mikayla Churchill, who had been a cheerleader for her first three years, has given Washburn a valuable worker who does a lot of little things well.
Overman and Worcester are the top rebounders.
Trams said there is no shortage of formidable challengers seeking to dethrone them in Eastern Maine Class D.
Washburn’s schedule isn’t as competitive as it has been in the past, “but there are a lot of good teams we don’t face [during the regular season],” Trams added.
She included Machias and Schenck of East Millinocket among the list of teams they don’t play during the regular season that will be threats in the tournament.
The Heal point standings aren’t a good indicator of [how good the teams are], Trams said.
For example, Fort Fairfield is fifth in the standings with its only two losses coming at the hands of Washburn (47-44, 49-44).
“We may not be the best team [in Class D], but we want to be the best at what we do,” said Trams.
Trams has a dedicated group of players who love to play the game.
She said during one snowy day in which school was going to let out early, Worcester came to her and asked her if they could have a shootaround before school closed.