Although the Maine Principals’ Association Heal Points Standings have yet to be officially finalized, a number of preliminary playoff matchups have been determined in Classes B, C and D.
Several Aroostook County teams will play games Feb. 11-13 with a berth in the tournament in Bangor on the line.
On Monday, Feb. 11, one girls’ game is planned and it is in the Class D ranks as No. 7 Ashland (7-11) will host No. 10 Jonesport-Beals (7-10) at 4 p.m. The winner will play No. 2 Deer Isle-Stonington (16-0) in the quarterfinals at 11:05 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Several girls’ games are set for Tuesday, Feb. 12. In Class B, No. 7 Presque Isle (10-8) entertains No. 10 Orono (5-13) in a 5 p.m. start. The Red Riots won both regular season matchups by scores of 46-42 (Dec. 22 at Presque Isle) and 45-33 (Jan. 12 at Orono). The winner will play No. 2 Hermon (16-2) in the quarterfinal round at 9:05 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.
In Class C, No. 9 Stearns (14-4) makes the trip north to take on No. 8 Houlton (9-9) at 7 p.m. The Minutemen own a pair of regular season victories over the Shiretowners, by scores of 48-33 on Jan. 4 in Houlton and 53-35 on Jan. 12 in Millinocket. No. 1 Central Aroostook (15-3) awaits the Stearns-Houlton winner at the Cross Insurance Center at 3:35 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 in the quarterfinals.
Other familiar foes square off Tuesday in the St. John Valley as No. 14 Fort Kent (8-10) plays No. 3 Madawaska (14-4) on the Owls’ home floor at 6:30 p.m. They met twice, with Madawaska prevailing at home Jan. 17, 53-24, and then winning at Fort Kent Feb. 4, 38-22. Whichever team prevails plays the winner of the No. 6 Calais-No. 11 Central prelim in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 9:35 a.m. in Bangor.
Patrick Saucier of the Beavers takes the ball strong to the basket during a December game against Wisdom. The Beavers will travel to take on Van Buren in a Class D North preliminary playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. (Kevin Sjoberg)
Hodgdon, 10-8 and ranked 13th, will travel to Howland to meet up with No. 4 Penobscot Valley (14-4) in a 6:30 p.m. prelim. The two did not meet during the regular season. The Hodgdon-PVHS winner plays either No. 5 Narraguagus or No. 12 Searsport in the quarterfinals at 2:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
No. 7 Fort Fairfield (14-4) has a home game against No. 10 Penquis (10-8). That game has a 6 p.m. tipoff time. The FF-Penquis winner faces a quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 Dexter at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20.
The only Class D girls’ prelim on Tuesday involving Aroostook County squads will be played in Washburn at 6 p.m. The No. 9 Wisdom Pioneers (6-12) play the eighth-ranked Washburn Beavers (8-10). The teams are not on each others’ regular season schedule. The winner faces No. 1 Southern Aroostook in the quarterfinals to be played at 8:35 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18.
For the boys, Calais (6-12) is ranked 11th and makes the lengthy trip north to play No. 6 Fort Kent (14-4) at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. The teams are not regular season opponents. The winner has a date against either No. 3 George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill or No. 14 Central of East Corinth in the quarterfinals. That matchup is set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19.
All the other boys’ prelims are set for Wednesday, Feb. 13. In Class B, No. 8 Presque Isle (8-10) will host No. 9 Foxcroft Academy (7-11) at PIHS at 5:30 p.m., in a rematch of their Jan. 19 regular season meeting in Dover-Foxcroft. The Wildcats came out on top in that one, 66-44. Undefeated and top-ranked Hermon will play the winner in the quarterfinals at 3:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.
In Class C, No. 4 Houlton (14-4) hosts No. 13 Lee Academy (8-10) at 6 p.m. in the Shires’ home gym. The two did not meet in the regular season. The victor plays the winner of the prelim between No. 5 Penobscot Valley and No. 12 Piscataquis in the quarterfinals at 7:05 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19.
Two teams with the Tiger mascot, Fort Fairfield (12-6) and Sumner (11-7), will battle in the No. 9 vs. No. 8 Class C matchup on Sumner’s home floor in East Sullivan at 6 p.m. The winner plays top-ranked Central Aroostook (15-3) in the quarterfinals at 8:35 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19.
The lone Class D boys’ prelim sees No. 9 Washburn (6-12) at No. 8 Van Buren (9-8) at 6 p.m. The Crusaders swept the season series, winning 38-33 on Jan. 14 in Washburn after taking a 42-30 decision way back on Dec. 7 in Van Buren. No. 1 Woodland (16-1) will play the winner in a 3:35 p.m. quarterfinals Monday, Feb. 18.
