By Larry Mahoney, BDN Staff
Sisters Cami and Ally Shields are two of the major reasons behind the success of the Southern Aroostook High School girls basketball team from Dyer Brook.
Senior Cami is a career 1,000-point scorer who has averaged 17 points, five rebounds and four assists per game this season in leading the Warriors to their sixth straight Class D North title.
The 20-1 Warriors will seek their third consecutive state championship and fifth in six years when they face 21-0 South champion Valley High of Bingham in Saturday’s 1:05 p.m. state final at the Augusta Civic Center.
Sophomore Ally has averaged 12 points, five rebounds and four steals.
Cami Shields was chosen the Most Valuable Player of the Class D North tournament and her sister joined her on the all-tourney team.
Cami Shields averaged 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.3 seals and 3.3 assists in their three tournament wins while Ally produced 18.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists per game while also holding high-scoring Katahdin of Stacyville standout and all-tourney selection Hunter Hartsgrove to four points in the title game.
Southern Aroostook coach Cliff Urquhart said they are very similar on the court and very different off the court.
“On the floor, they both play great defense, they can both shoot the ball and they both work very hard,” said Urquhart. “They’re outstanding. Off the court, they have different personalities.
“Ally is a little more outgoing. They are both terrific kids and they get along great,” said Urquhart.
Senior forward Emmalee Landry said when it comes to personalities, they are “exact opposites.
“Cami is a little more shy. Ally is very outgoing, very crazy,” said Landry.
The sisters agreed.
“Cami is more kind, more nice and soft-spoken and I’m just kind of out there,” quipped Ally.
“I’m more calm and collected. Ally is more ‘I am who I am and you either accept it or you don’t,’ said Cami. “She’s a free spirit. But she also has some soft spots. She’s a very nice person.”
Landry said they are a positive influence on the team.
“They’re amazing. They’re the best teammates. They’re always cheering everyone on,” said Landry.
The daughters of Jordan and Olivia Shields earned playing time off the bench as eighth graders and freshmen before becoming starters their sophomore seasons.
Their cousin, Madison Shields, is a senior teammate.
Cami Shields said she and her sister used to “butt heads” when they were younger “but now we’re real close. We’re best friends.”
Cami said she is “so proud” of her sister.
“She is a great player. She is an amazing defensive player. She is so fast, so tall and long,” said Cami.
She knows first-hand how good of a defender her kid sister is because they are often matched up against each other in practice.
“Ally will frustrate Cami a little bit in practice because she guards her. It’s fun to watch,” said Urquhart.
“One practice she was really frustrating me and Coach (Urquhart) loved it,” said Cami.
“It’s always good to see those sister battles,” smiled Urquhart.
Ally said she is fortunate to have Cami as a big sister.
“She is the best big sister you could ask for,” said Ally, who agreed with her sister that they are best friends.
They definitely have on-court chemistry which was best illustrated in last season’s Class D North championship game against Wisdom of St. Agatha.
With the score tied 49-49, Landry stole an inbounds pass and the ball went to Cami Shields. Ally Shields sprinted up the floor and got behind her defender and her big sister hit her with a perfect pass for what proved to be the game-winning layup in their 53-49 triumph.
“We know each other. We know each other’s style of game,” said Ally.
Cami said she loves being able to share the team’s success with her sister.
“I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’m so proud of her,” said Cami.
