DANFORTH, Maine — After not fielding a team last year, the East Grand girls are back and ready to surprise many on the hardwood this season.
And with a bundle of younger players on this year’s roster, the future also looks promising for the Vikings.
East Grand will share its head coach with the boys team as Matt Day has been hired to coach both the varsity boys and girls programs. Day will have assistance from two people well familiar with the East Grand program with Steve Gray and Angela Cowger serving as assistant coaches.
“I think we can really run the ball,” coach Day said of his girls squad. “We have very good shooters and a lot of height. We also have three point guards, so ball control should be excellent.”
Members of the Viking girls squad are juniors Phoebe Foss, Emma Davis and Madeline Cowger; sophomores Jayden Williams, Victoria Gilman, Jenna Boyd, Kayla McClellan; freshmen Norey Caron, Mariyah Castigliego and Isabella Cowger; and eighth-graders Nadia Merrill, Karagan Fleming and Rosemary Boyce.
Davis, Williams and Foss will serve as the team’s point guard and primary ball handlers, which is a luxury East Grand squads have not had in years past. Foss is an aggressive defender and strong shooter, while Davis has exceptional ball handling skills and Madeline Cowger has a strong jump shot.
“This is a very talented group of juniors,” coach Day said.
Isabella Cowger and Jenna Boyd, though only freshmen, are the Vikings tallest players and will serve as centers for the team. Both are capable of hauling in multiple rebounds a game. Isabella Cowger is a strong, physical player who also has a good touch on her shots, the coach said.
Gilman, a forward, is another starter for the Vikings and is one of the squad’s best shooters, but is also capable of slashing to the basket.
“I am looking to be a top team in Class D North,” coach Day said. “We have very good shooters, are very athletic and we also have speed. We are looking to go back to the basics and let our talent do the rest.”
Southern Aroostook, Wisdom and Katahdin will be among the Vikings tougher foes on the schedule. East Grand also plays games with Van Buren, Lee Academy, Shead, Hodgdon Washburn and Ashland.
