PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle sixth- and seventh-grade girls’ basketball team combined a strong work ethic, self confidence, team speed and a stingy defense to go undefeated and capture the Aroostook League championship this season.
The team, coached by Emma Kinney, rolled to an 11-0 overall record and 6-0 mark in league play.
“We set a goal at the very first practice to be league champions and I’m so proud of the hard work the girls put in to complete an undefeated season,” Kinney said. “They learned that trusting each other and working as a team will get them success.”
Kinney praised the team’s willingness to work hard from the beginning of practices in October to the end of the season in mid-December.
“They showed up every day ready for practice, willing to listen and learn,” she said.
The Wildcats used pressure defense effectively and it translated into a 44.1 points per game scoring average, while the team allowed an average of just 17.5 ppg.
“The girls were fast, so they definitely learned how to use that speed to their advantage,” Kinney said.
The coach added that playing with confidence was another key ingredient in the team’s success.
“At this age level, a little bit of confidence goes a long way,” she said. “I wanted them to be confident in themselves and their abilities, and it was amazing to see the girls grow so much in such a short season.”
Isabel Berry led a balanced offense by averaging 8.4 ppg, while Jorja Maynard averaged 7.1 ppg. Other leading scorers were Reagan Deschene with 60 points, Karlyn Gilmour with 58, Grace O’Connell with 44 and Lexi Mondello with 43. Reese McPherson chipped in with 33 points and Sydney Lavigne contributed 26.
The remainder of the roster consisted of Addison Clairmont (16 points), Olivia Locke (15), Ella Hall-Michaud (10) and Neve Guerrette (8).
Derrick Kinney was the assistant coach and Samantha Edgecomb was the manager.
“It was a joy to watch the girls develop and gain more knowledge and a love for basketball,” Emma Kinney said. “I thoroughly enjoyed coaching and watching them play each day and I can’t wait to see their future in Wildcat basketball.”
