Northern Lights shine on hardwood floor

    The Northern Lights are shining.
    It starts with Presque Isle passing to Houlton then to Medway, funneling its way to Mars Hill, accelerating to Fort Kent as a curtain of energy is released.
    That is a description of the Youth Basketball of America (YBOA) sophomore girls’ team, which is made up of a unique group of ballplayers.
Contributed photograph
NORTHERN LIGHTS – Playing for the Northern Lights YBOA team are, from left, front, Front Row:  Kayla Richards and Vicki McIntyre; back, Laura Nicholson, Cassie Bonville, Amanda Fogarty, Chelsea Nickerson and Samantha Carapellucci.
    A Presque Isle player starts the break, passing the ball to a Houlton player, who dribbles the ball up the court and passes to a Medway player, who views the court and finds an open Mars Hill player, who drives toward the hoop, drops a bounce pass off to a Fort Kent player to finish the layup.
    “This remarkable group has started the YBOA basketball circuit with a bang,” said coach Mike Fogarty of Houlton.
    The last two weekends have been spent in Waterville, at USM Gorham, and at St. Joseph’s College, and at the end of each day The Northern Lights have walked of the out of the gym undefeated.
    From rivals, to teammates, to friends these seven girls have found something special both on and off the court. Five of the seven have been playing postseason ball together since seventh grade.  Three of the girls are Presque Isle Wildcats, Kayla Richards, Chelsea Nickerson and Casey Bonville;  Vicki McIntyre plays for Mars Hill and Amanda Fogarty is usually in black and white with the Lady Shires of Houlton. This year, rounding out the team both talent-wise and geographically, they are joined by Sam Carapellucci from Fort Kent and Laura Nicholson, who starts for the Schenck Lady Wolverines.
    “This team is so much fun to watch,” said Fogarty. “They are unselfish with the ball and celebrate each other’s success with enthusiasm and energy. They have a shared passion for the game, and they push each other to be better and stronger players. At the end of the day, that is the objective we are trying to obtain.”  
    By definition the Northern Lights are unique phenomena that illuminate the northern horizon. Seeing this group of girls on the basketball court, it is easily understood that they have every intention of living up to their name, said Fogarty.