It appeared as though there might be a third consecutive state Class A girls championship game between two-time champ Greely of Cumberland Center and Hampden Academy.
But Marshwood of South Berwick stunned Greely 47-44 in the Class A South final and that is who the Broncos play in Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. championship game at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
Hampden seeks its first Class A state title since 1976 while Marshwood is playing in its first Class A championship game. The Hawks captured the 1995 Class B state title.
The new-look Broncos have won with stifling team defense, an aggressive uptempo style of play and balanced scoring.
Hampden Academy (20-1) has held 16 opponents under 40 points and limited its three tourney victims to 33 points per game. Six different players scored at least nine points in a tourney game for Nick Winchester’s Broncos and five reached double figures.
A veteran Hampden team starts four seniors and a junior. Forward Alydia Brillant was the tourney’s Most Valuable Player and fellow senior Amelia McLaughlin, a guard, was also chosen to the all tourney team.
Brillant scored 15 points in the A championship game win over Gardiner.
Coach Steve Freeman’s 18-3 Marshwood Hawks feature 5-11 senior forward and Class A South Most Valuable Player Casey Perry. She posted 15 points, 13 rebounds, four steals and four assists against Greely.
Marshwood, which plays an effective triangle zone defense, also has 5-9 senior forward Kayla Goodwin.