Raychel Alley comes from strong basketball roots.
Her father, Ray Alley, and her mother, Kristi (Wildman) Tapley, both were high school standouts who starred at Husson University in Bangor. Both are in the Husson Sports Hall of Fame.
Now, Raychel is following in their footsteps. The 2014 graduate of Stearns High School in Millinocket is among six players who have committed to play for coach Kissy Walker at Husson starting next fall.
Alley will be joined at Husson by University of New England transfer Anna MacKenzie, Maegan True of John Bapst and Shelby Caron of Hermon, along with Mackenzie Worcester and Joan Overman of Washburn High School.
“This incoming class has outstanding individuals who have all come from winning programs,” Walker said in a news release. “The staff is excited to blend this young group with the players we have returning.”
The 5-foot-7 Alley, who started her career at Hermon, scored more than 1,000 points in high school. She averaged 15 points, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots. She was a Miss Maine Basketball nominee.
MacKenzie, a 2014 graduate of Nokomis Regional School in Newport, appeared in three games last season at Division III UNE in Biddeford. As a senior at Nokomis the 6-foot-1 post player averaged 10.6 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1 block and was a Bangor Daily News All-Maine honorable mention.
True, a two-time PVC/Big East second-team all-star, averaged 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals as a senior at John Bapst. The forward shot 48 percent from the floor and 41 percent from the 3-point arc.
Caron averaged 12 points and 10 rebounds per game last winter for Hermon under former Husson guard Amanda (Gifford) Cummings. The 5-11 forward started every game each of the last two seasons.
Husson was 17-9 last season, falling to New England College in the North Atlantic Conference semifinals.
UMaine softball players honored
Alexis Bogdanovich of South Portland was named the America East Pitcher of the Year and University of Maine coach Lynn Coutts was honored as the Coach of the Year during the league’s awards banquet Wednesday night.
Bogdanovich was an all-conference, first-team selection, while teammates Nikki Byron, Kristen Koslosky, EmJ Fogel and Felicia Lennon were second-team picks. Freshman outfielder Erica Leonard of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, was named to the America East All-Rookie team.
Bogdanovich posted a 14-7 regular-season record with and a 1.54 earned run average with 175 strikeouts against only 12 walks in 132 innings.
Fogel, a senior outfielder, earned her fourth America East second-team nod after batting .323 with a team-leading 27 RBIs and 11 doubles. Byron, a senior first baseman, hit .316 with 14 RBIs and three home runs.
Koslosky, a senior second baseman, hit .278 with three RBIs and led the team with 24 walks and a .458 on-base percentage. Lennon, a sophomore shortstop, ranked second on the team at .320. She led the team with 41 hits and 26 runs scored with 21 RBIs, six doubles, four home runs and 15 stolen bases.
Leonard batted .289 with 35 hits, four home runs, 19 RBIs and 21 runs scored. She ranked fifth in the league with 17 stolen bases.