After suffering a broken wrist that sidelined her for several games and limited her production last season, a healthy Cait Tracy put on a show during Hermon’s 67-32 Class B North quarterfinal basketball victory over Presque Isle on Saturday.
The senior center, the only returning starter off last year’s team, which lost to Presque Isle in the semifinals, poured in 32 points.
[Check out the latest B North girls bracket standings here]
Next up for the No. 2 Hawks (17-2) is third-seeded Waterville, the only undefeated team in Class B North at 19-0.
Hermon and Waterville meet in Wednesday’s 7:05 p.m. semifinal at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. That will be followed by the semi between defending state champ Winslow (13-6) and top seed Mount Desert Island of Bar Harbor (17-2). Game time is 8:35.
Winslow ousted MDI 55-34 in last year’s quarterfinals.
Waterville overcame a poor shooting night to rally past 11th seed John Bapst of Bangor 44-35 after trailing by four after three periods. Sadie Garling’s 19 points paced the Purple Panthers.
MDI’s Trojans are coming off their first quarterfinal win since 2014, a 42-27 decision over Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield. Hannah Chamberlain and Julia Watras combined for 23 points in the victory.
It was MDI’s eighth straight win since a 47-33 loss at Hermon on Jan. 17.
Winslow, under first-year head coach Brenda Beckwith, survived a stiff challenge from youthful Old Town to triumph 36-29.
Silver Clukey’s 15 points, including a 3-for-4 showing from beyond the 3-point arc, led the veteran Black Raiders, who have now won five straight games at the Cross Insurance Center.
The Hawks are looking for their first regional championship since 1994 and their first state championship since 1989.
Hermon reached the Class B North final in 2016 but Kolleen Bouchard and the Houlton Shiretowners beat the Hawks 51-35. Hermon lost to Houlton in the 2017 semifinals before last year’s semifinal setback to Presque Isle.
MDI has not hoisted a gold ball since 1997 although the Trojans did win the Class B North title in 2014 before losing to Lake Region of Naples 56-47 in the state final.
Waterville hasn’t won a regional title since 2009 when the Purple Panthers capped a string of three consecutive state championships.
[Check out the latest B South girls tourney bracket here]
The Class B South quarterfinals will be played on Tuesday with Gray-New Gloucester being the top seed.
Gray-New Gloucester won the state title in 2017 after losing to Houlton in the 2016 state championship game.
Defending Class B North titlist Lake Region went 6-12 this season and missed the playoffs.