Last year, the Hampden Academy girls basketball team fell to Mt. Ararat in the Class A state championship game.
But it’s already been a different story this year. The Broncos have another chance at the state title this weekend in Portland, and they got there by getting some revenge.
Hampden had to get through Mt. Ararat in the regional title game, and the Broncos got the better of the Eagles from Topsham this time around. Hampden coach Nick Winchester explained how his team was able to get past the defending champs in last week’s North regional final.
“The game was physical, and a year ago, three of our starters were sophomores. And it just was probably more than they were ready for a year ago as sophomores,” Winchester explained. “Fast forward one year, they’re now juniors. They’re a little bit more grown up. They match the physicality.”
That physicality translated into a strong defensive effort that held Mt. Ararat to just 26 points.
“So I think the difference was our ability to handle their physical style of play,” Winchester continued. “And then match that back on defense the way we did all game long.”
The No. 1 Broncos will now take on the No. 1 Cheverus Stags from the South region in Saturday’s Class A final. That game will take place at 6:05 p.m. at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
And if the Broncos are going to bring home the state title with a win against Miss Maine Basketball finalist Kylie Lamson and an imposing Cheverus team, it’s going to take another defensive masterclass and solid night from Hampden’s offense-by-committee.
“That’s our offense all year long. We’re sort of an equal-opportunity offense,” Winchester said after the regional final. “One night it could be one player, another night it could be somebody else. I think that’s what makes us hard to defend, because you really can’t concentrate on one player.”
In the regional final, it was Junior guard Aubrey Shaw and freshman guard Naia Studley who each scored 10 points, accounting for 20 of the team’s 33 points on the night.
“The diversity of our offense, with respect to where it can come from, I think it’s something that’s hard to defend,” Winchester added. “Because you really can’t centrate on one player.”
It doesn’t hurt that the Hampden program is familiar with the state championship game, either. Winchester said he thought this is the Broncos’ fifth trip in nine years.
But Cheverus has plenty of championship experience as well, losing in the Class AA finals last season. So no matter what happens Saturday night, at least one of the runner-up teams from a year ago will be going home with a state title.