AUGUSTA — The Skowhegan girls basketball team wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Class A North playoffs after it sank Cony on Tuesday night.
But River Hawks coach Mike LeBlanc was far from satisfied.
“We need to clean things up (before the tournament),” said LeBlanc, whose team improved to 17-0. “We’ll work on it. We’ve got a game on Thursday and then a week to prep. We’ll be working on things we need to work on, get after it and hopefully we’ll do well in the tournament.”
One player who’s helped keep the River Hawks on point is forward Callaway LePage. A 5-foot-10 junior, LePage was a force in the paint for the River Hawks, leading the team with 25 points while pulling down 14 rebounds in the victory over the Rams.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” LePage said. “We’re coming in, it’s (Cony’s) senior night, no away fans. They had a good, rowdy crowd and we had to adapt to that.”
It’s not the first time this season LePage has stepped up while the team faced a little adversity. In a 50-35 win over Lawrence on Jan. 20, LePage scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Up eight at halftime, LePage and senior guard Jaycie Christopher led the River Hawks on a 16-0 run in the third quarter that helped put the game away. LePage also showed a knack for free throw shooting, going 11 of 14 at the foul line.
“She plays with what we call a chip on her shoulder, just like the Cony girls did (Tuesday)” LeBlanc said. “We need more players like that.”
Lawrence’s Brianna Poulin, grabs a rebound away from Skowhegan’s Callaway LePage during a Jan. 20 girls basketball game in Skowhegan. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel
LePage understands some of her offensive success has come from the attention paid to Christopher. Rightly so, as Christopher is one of the top players in the state and will play for Division I Boston University after graduation. Christopher did her part again Tuesday night, scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds while dishing out six assists. But LePage is more than happy to take advantage of the open look when called upon.
“I’m not going to be the biggest (in the post), so I just need to rebound or do my job,” LePage said. “As soon as the shot goes up, I need to be on the boards, that’s how I’m going to get my points. I know having (Christopher) here is good. She can shoot it and I’ll just grab a rebound and put it back in. (Christopher’s) good at throwing the ball ahead and getting me the pass ahead. That’s what helps me too, just getting down the floor and know when the ball’s coming to me.”
It’s an option that’s worked for the River Hawks as they try to tighten their game heading into the tournament.
“I feel some games, some people are ready to play and some aren’t,” LePage said. “We just need to be (ready) together, and that’ll really bring us together. We are good running the floor, and our transition, beating (the opposition) down the court, that’s what our strong suit is. But just making sure everyone is ready to play would be the best thing (going forward).”
Dave Dyer — 621-5640
ddyer@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @Dave_Dyer
Copy the Story LinkComments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
