Cliff Urquhart, who coaches at Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook, said Bangor Christian and Penobscot Valley are in “their own tier” above everybody else in Class D North girls basketball.
Bangor Christian went 18-0 during the regular season, including three victories over PVHS, thanks to transfer sisters Mary and Annie Allen from Central of Corinth and Reese Starbird from Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford.
The Howlers’ Rylee Moulton, Lila Cummings and Brooklynn Raymond are among a group of PVHS players that have won three state Class D soccer titles and the Class C basketball championship. And that championship-game experience is valuable.
Bangor Christian was upset in the D semifinals by Schenck of East Millinocket a year ago, although several of the Bangor Christian players were on the eight-person state championship soccer team this past fall.
Moulton, Raymond and Cummings entered the final few games of the regular season among the top 10 scorers in PVC Class D behind All-Maine honorable mention Mary Allen, who is the leading scorer averaging 22.6 ppg. Moulton was averaging 19.3 points, Raymond was at 13.8 and Cummings was contributing 13.7 ppg.
Cummings was also corralling 10.1 rebounds and a PVC-leading six steals. Moulton was contributing 4.6 steals and 3.7 assists and Raymond had 5.1 assists and 4 steals.
Mary Allen was also averaging 5.6 assists and 5.2 steals and younger sister Annie was chipping in with 13.5 ppg. Rivers Bradford was at 9.6 ppg along with 3.6 apg and 3 spg. Starbird was contributing at 7.5 points and 7.5 rebounds.
“Penobscot Valley has a really strong team. Central Aroostook has a good team and Machias has a good young team,” said first-year Bangor Christian coach Brock Bradford. “We’re just going to take it one game at a time.”
Defending D North champ Central Aroostook of Mars Hill features reigning Class D North tournament Most Valuable Player Lilly Burtt along with Harleigh Allen while Machias was paced by Aubrey Wood (19 ppg, 5.1 apg) and Loretta Richardson (15.75 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.6 spg).