The regular season for boys and girls high school basketball is complete, but there is still plenty of basketball to be played.
The Maine Principals Association released its final Heal Point standings Friday evening, bringing good news to many squads who were hoping to host a preliminary playoff. Because this year’s tournament format is open, every team qualifies for the postseason.
However, that does not mean all teams get to play at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Most teams will first have to win a preliminary playoff game in order to whittle the number of teams down to 16.
Preliminary playoff games were scheduled for Monday, Feb. 14, Tuesday, Feb. 15, and Wednesday, Feb. 16. Tourney games in Bangor begin Friday, Feb. 18.
The following is a look at the final standings and preliminary playoff pairings for local teams. The full Heal Point standings and playoff brackets can be found online.
Boys Basketball
In Class B North, Houlton (10-6) is ranked sixth, followed by Presque Isle (9-8) at eighth; and Caribou (5-13) is the 12th seed. Ellsworth is the top-ranked team with a perfect 18-0 record.
No. 6 Houlton hosts No. 11 John Bapst (8-10) Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6:30 p.m. in a prelim game. No. 8 Presque Isle hosts No. 9 Hermon Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 5:30 p.m.; No. 12 Caribou travels to No. 5 Mount View, Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 5 p.m.
In Class C North, Fort Kent (17-1) is the top-ranked team, followed by Fort Fairfield (10-7) in seventh place; Hodgdon (12-6) in ninth; Madawaska (8-9) in 13th; and Central Aroostook (6-11) in 16th.
No. 1 Fort Kent will play No. 16 Central Aroostook Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. CAHS defeated No. 17 Sumner in a play-in game (results unavailable).
No. 7 Fort Fairfield hosts No. 10 Penobscot Valley, Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.; No. 9 Hodgdon travels to No. 8 Calais, Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 6 p.m.; and No. 13 Madawaska travels to No. 4 Dexter, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m.
In Class D North, Southern Aroostook (16-1) is ranked second; Van Buren (10-6) is third; Wisdom (11-5) is fourth; Katahdin (9-9) is seventh; Easton (6-11) is ninth; Washburn (3-14) is 10th; Ashland (2-15) is 13th; and East Grand (0-16) is 14th. Machias is the top-ranked team with a 15-0 record.
No. 7 Katahdin hosts No. 10 Washburn, Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 5 p.m.; No. 3 Van Buren hosts No. 14 East Grand, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m.; No. 4 Wisdom hosts No. 13 Ashland, Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m.; and No. 9 Easton travels to No. 8 Jonesport Beals, Wednesday, Feb. 16, at 3 p.m.
No. 2 Southern Aroostook has a bye directly to Bangor for the quarterfinals. The Warriors first game will be played Monday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. against the winner of No. 7 Katahdin/No. 10 Washburn.
Girls Basketball
In Class B North, Presque Isle (12-6) is ranked fourth, while Caribou (9-9) is ranked eighth; and Houlton (8-7) is ranked ninth. Old Town (17-1) is the top-ranked squad in this division.
No. 9 Houlton travels to No. 8 Caribou 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, for a 7 p.m. prelim; and No. 4 Presque Isle hosts No. 13 Belfast, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5:30 p.m.
In Class C North, Hodgdon (14-3) is ranked fifth; Fort Kent (9-7) is sixth; Central Aroostook (10-8) is ninth; Fort Fairfield (7-9) is 13th; and Madawaska (3-11) is ranked 18th. Stearns (12-3) is the top seed in this region.
No. 9 Central Aroostook travels to No. 8 Sumner, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m.; No. 13 Fort Fairfield travels to No. 4 Central, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m.; No. 5 Hodgdon hosts No. 12 Woodland, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5:30 p.m.; and No. 6 Fort Kent hosts No. 11 Mattanawcook Academy, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 6 p.m.
Madawaska has opted not to participate in the open tournament.
In Class D North, Southern Aroostook (18-0) is the top-ranked team, while Wisdom (15-1) is second; East Grand (10-7) is sixth; Katahdin (8-9) is seventh; Ashland (6-9) is eighth; Van Buren (2-12) is 11th; Washburn (3-13) is 12th; and Easton (1-15) is 13th.
No. 8 Ashland hosts No. 9 Shead, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m.; No. 13 Easton travels to No. 4 Deer Isle-Stonington, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 3:30 p.m.; No. 12 Washburn travels to No. 5 Schenck, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m.; No. 11 Van Buren travels to No. 6 East Grand, Monday, Feb. 14, at 5 p.m.; and No. 7 Katahdin hosts No. 10 Jonesport-Beals, Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 5:30 p.m.
Southern Aroostook and Wisdom both receive a bye directly to Bangor for the quarterfinals. No. 1 Southern Aroostook will play the winner No. 8 Ashland-No. 9 Shead on Monday, Feb. 21, at 3:30 p.m. No. 2 Wisdom faces the winner of No. 7 Katahdin-No. 10 Jonesport-Beals, Saturday, Feb. 19, at 8:30 p.m.
