PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle girls varsity basketball team is looking ahead to develop its offensive capabilities to compliment their defense.
The Wildcats look to improve their regular Class B 2022-2023 season, with last year’s 2021-2022 season ending in a loss to Old Town in the semifinals to close with a record of 12-6.
“Coming into the season, I see us as a team that has a lot of potential. We have a mix of players who have experience at the varsity level and other players who are new to the team and getting acclimated to their individual roles as we go,” said new head coach Krystal (Kingsbury) Flewelling.
The 2022-2023 season will be her first year coaching at Presque Isle, after taking over from long-time coach Jeff Hudson. She is a former Wildcat having played for Hudson.
The first part of the Class B season for Presque Isle will require growth for the Wildcats and their team as the year progresses. Flewelling hopes her team will be a strong competitor this year as Wildcats have a strong perimeter presence and a full roster that will be persistent on defense.
As the 2022-2023 season progresses, the Wildcats have a lot of athletes coming into new roles on offense that creates new avenues for scoring.
Members of the 2022-2023 Wildcats include returning senior players Rossalyn Buck, Mia Casavant, and starter Anna Jandreau enters into her fourth year on varsity. Last year’s junior starter Jorja Maynard returns with Karlyn Gilmour, Lexi Morningstar, and Grace O’Connell.
Sophomores Addison Clairmont, Oliva Locke, and Molly McCluskey, along with freshmen Georganna Curtis, Keira Tompkins, and Marion Young round out the Wildcats lineup.
Flewelling said it was still early in the season for a set five for the starting line-up. The Wildcats must find a way to replace several talented players from last year’s squad, including Faith Sjoberg, Courtney Kane, and Sadie LaPointe.
However, Jandreau will lead the team not only as a quality defender but an ability to go inside and outside on offense and was the second leading scorer, behind Sjoberg.
Jorja is looking to be a knockdown shooter on both offense and defense, with returning players Gilmour and Buck being tenacious guards on the court with valuable ability to land the ball in the net.
Newcomers Addison and Locke will have a tough defense and offense to break through this year. Another newcomer, Curtis is set to develop her skills in perimeter shots and drive to the basket and will have many opportunities to be on the court.
“I anticipate that several teams have the potential to find themselves at the top of the region,” Flewelling said.
The Wildcat girls anticipate a tough Class B North division with match ups against Ellsworth, Old Town, Hermon, and their rivals at Caribou.
“As I said, we have a lot of players coming into new roles on the team that may have to step up offensively. Creating different avenues for scoring will be a key to success for the [Wildcat] team,” Flewelling said.
