Nokomis pulled out a one-point win in its opener at Mt.Blue on Friday night and learned a little about itself in the process. Coach Michelle Paradis expected full-court pressure from the Gavin Kane-coached Cougars, and the Warriors got it.
“In the past they might have folded,” Paradis said of her team. “They showed me they can work together. It was really a full-team effort.”
honor roll
• Winslow junior Heather Kervin scored 23 points in a win against Mt. View.
• Erskine senior Mallory Chamberlain and junior Taylor McLaggan scored 15 points apiece in a win against Oceanside.
• Lawrence senior Nia Irving scored 28 points to lead the Bulldogs past Messalonskee.
• Forest Hills senior Linda Riley scored 32 points in a loss to Vinalhaven.
• Messalonskee junior Sophie Holmes scored 18 points in a loss to Lawrence.
The Warriors were up by three points with 15 seconds left and did a nice job defending against a tying 3-pointer. Paradis instructed them to allow a layup if anything. The Cougars did score a layup, which gave Nokomis a 46-45 win.
“They just stood there kind of stunned,” Paradis said of her team. “I don’t think they realized we had won.”
Nokomis returned four starters from last year’s team and added a key player in 5-foot-11 freshman Gabby Lord.
“It’s crazy how athletic she is,” Paradis said.
The team has moved into Class A this year after several years in Class B so Paradis is cautiously optimistic, and will see what her team does over the first part of the season before re-assessing any goals. A former player at Nokomis a dozen years ago, Paradis, however, embraces the tougher schedule.
“I love being back,” she said, “because that’s where I played.”
• • •
Winslow has added three freshmen, including two starters, to a solid group of returning players. The Black Raiders coasted to an opening night win against Mount View in which the freshmen accounted for 25 points. One of them, Paige Trask, connected on four 3-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 14 points. Weslee Littlefield also starts while the third freshman, Maeghan Bernard, comes off the bench.
With no players taller than 5-8, coach Lindsey Withee is looking to press and run.
“We’re playing 10 people,” Withee said. “Five in and five out.”
The Black Raiders have a number of solid returning players, including juniors Heather Kervin and Clara LeClair and sophomores Maddy Roy and Sarah Guimond. Jenna Petrovic and Delaney Wood are the lone seniors on the team.
“We have great leadership,” Withee said.
• • •
Richmond hadn’t beaten Rangeley since Jamie Plummer played three years ago. That changed on opening night in Rangeley when the Bobcats pulled out a 42-40 overtime victory.
“It was a very big win for us,” Richmond coach Mike Ladner said. “They beat us three times last year (including the tournament).”
Sophomore Sydney Tilton led Richmond with 18 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in overtime. Ladner plays the 5-foot-10 Tilton inside as well as the backcourt.
“I’m going to have her do a little bit of everything,” he said.
She’s also expanding her shooting range, exemplified by what Ladner says was her first varsity 3-pointer Friday.
The Bobcats have the luxury of depth this season and used 10 players against Rangeley. The situation was helped by the arrival of three transfer students, Ashley and Mackenzie Abbott and Kyla Johansen. The Abbott sisters — Ashley is a freshman and Mackenzie a junior — came from Boothbay and are very quick, Ladner said. The 6-foot Johansen came from Washington state and gives the Bobcats some needed size.
Ladner wants his team to press and run and expects to see a lot of zone defenses.
“We’ve been spending a lot of time on outside shots,” he said.
• • •
Fans at Gardiner’s first home game last Friday were greeted with a bright new floor and a lighted scorer’s table.
The floor isn’t totally new, just refinished, but it certainly spruces up the gym.
“It’s been many years since they have broken down the floor,” Gardiner athletic director Steve Ouellette said. “It was sanded down and they repainted the lines.”
A new Tigers logo at center court and lettering on each end line were also part of the facelift. The floor appears much lighter, which in turn brightens up the gym.
The scorer’s table is lighted in front and includes lettering and a logo, as well as a focal point near center court. It was paid for by donations from Gosline-Murchie Insurance and the Gardiner Boosters Club.
“We had talked about having a better presentation,” Ouellette said. “It really looks good.”
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