A repeat almost didn’t seem possible for the Penobscot Valley girls of Howland earlier in the season.
The Howlers won a Class C state title last year, but after dropping down to Class D, they somehow became a bit of an underdog. After losing three games during the regular season to top-seeded Bangor Christian, there was a question whether the Howlers would even make it out of the regional tournament.
But they put those questions to rest again and again.
The Howlers upset Bangor Christian during the regional semifinals, and they put an exclamation point on another magical season by beating Mt. Abram 42-35 in the Class D state championship game.
The usual suspects were there once again for the Howlers as they secured their second-straight title.
Clockwise, from upper left: PVHS head coach Nate Case congratulates his team members on the sidelines as his girls basketball team won the Class D State Championship game against Mt. Abram at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday afternoon; Jenna Osgood of Mt. Abram attempts to shoot over Charlotte Brochu of Penobscot Valley High during the Class D State Championship game at the Augusta Civic Center; Penobscot Valley’s pep band provided plenty of music to keep the PVHS fans and players motivated throughout the Class D State Championship game against Mt. Abram on Saturday afternoon; Autumn Emery of Penobscot Valley converts for two in the first quarter of the Class D State Championship game against Mt. Abram High at the Augusta Civic Center. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
Junior guard Brooklynn Raymond, who was named Class D North girls MVP earlier in the week, was big once again with the Howlers. Her flurry of 3-pointers kept Penobscot Valley in the game after a strong Mt. Abram start. Another three to start the second quarter put the Howlers up 24-22 and helped them take control in the final half.
Senior forward Lila Cummings patrolled the paint for Penobscot Valley and provided a critical string of offensive rebounds and buckets down low for the Howlers.
Cummings added what may have been the two most important plays of the game with a pair of late blocks on the defensive end. The first preserved a three-point lead for her team as Mt. Abram seemed to be building momentum, and the second did the same to maintain a four-point lead.
“We knew it was going to be a very defensive game,” Cummings said after the victory. “And turning our defense into our offense this game really pushed us through to get the win.”
The senior forward added a free-throw at the other end to stretch her team’s favorable margin to five, and that provided just enough breathing room for the Howlers.
Cummings led the team in both scoring and rebounding, earning a 15-point, 16-rebound double-double. Raymond had 13 points for the Howlers.
Junior forward Abby Farley added two consequential 3-pointers in the second half to help the Howlers take control of the game and bring home a second-straight state championship.
Penobscot Valley head coach Nate Case said the key to the team’s victory started about four weeks ago after a loss to Class C team Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln.
Clockwise, from upper left: Stella Peterson of Mt. Abram squares up against Lila Cummings of Penobscot Valley during the Class D State Championship game at the Augusta Civic Center; Nate Case, head coach of Penobscot Valley gets his team huddled together in between the first and second quarter of the Class D State Championship game against Mt. Abram on Saturday afternoon; Stella Peterson lofts a three-pointer in the second quarter of the Class D State Championship game against Penobscot Valley High at the Augusta Civic Center. Credit: Josh O’Donnell / BDN
“We sat in the locker room and said things have to change if we’re gonna do this again,” Case said. “And so I knew we were prepared.”
The Howlers had to work hard and match Mt. Abram’s physicality on Saturday, their coach said. That extended up and down the bench to everyone on the Penobscot Valley team.
“Everybody has worked so hard to get here,” Case added.