This is the mission they’ve had their sights on for almost a year.

After last February’s stunning semifinal loss, no team was probably more determined to return to the Augusta Civic Center than the Rangeley girls’ basketball team.

Now the Lakers are just a few final steps from reaching the goal they fell shy of last year. After the loss to Valley, the Lakers have regrouped and roared through this regular season, entering the Western D field as the top seed and a heavy favorite.

After beating all comers handily, the Lakers head for Augusta to finish the job.

Favorite: Rangeley lost 26 points from its lineup last year but have still averaged 62.5 points for and 30.5 against. They had one game that was decided by seven points, but the rest were no less than 18. Guard Sarah Schrader and center Krysteen Romero is a devastating combo for any foe to stop. Players like Sabrina Clark, Rosie LaPointe and Justine Frost-Kolva have all elevated their game. Rangeley has offensive balance, a swarming defense and playoff experience few teams can equal.

Darkhorses: Waynflete or Valley might have earned a spot among the favorites, but Rangeley handled them both already. Still, the Lakers surely know a rematch with either may not go as smoothly. Valley has experience and great talent and balance. The Cavaliers have been playing some of their best ball of late. The Flyers are the defending state champs and the duo of Khalilah Ummah and Noelle Surette is quite formidable.

Players to watch: Romero, Rangeley (17 ppg); Schrader, Rangeley (15.0); Ummah, Waynflete (16.0); Surette, Waynflete (15.0); Emily Johnson, Greater Portland Christian (13.0); Rebecca Bower, Greater Portland Christian (10.0); Kristin Baker, Valley (20.0), Melanie Vicneire, Valley (16.0); Haley Veilleux, Eastgate (12.5); Angie Elvin, Eastgate (10.3); Meredith Hurd, Hyde (10.0); Bobbi Dennison, NYA (12.7); Brianna Osgood, Vinalhaven.

Best quarterfinal: The second meeting of the regular season between Waynflete and NYA was 52-48. That was after a 52-35 loss earlier in the year. The Panthers seem poised to give the Flyers a good test after last week’s close call. Vinalhaven gave Rangeley its closest game all year in a 49-42 loss. That was after losing 56-28 the night before. GPC could get its first win in Augusta since 1988 with a win over Hyde, a team it beat twice, 36-21 and 51-24.

Streaks and stats: Rangeley is 67-4 the last four regular seasons. Last year’s regional championship was Waynflete’s first in five tries. This is GPC’s highest ranking since 1988, and its first outright trip to Augusta since 1989. Five of the last seven regular season losses for Valley were to Rangeley. Eastgate’s five losses were by an average of 9.4 points. Hyde’s only quarterfinal win was in 1996, beating Waynflete. NYA went 2-6 against Augusta tournament teams. Vinalhaven made the tournament 19 straight years through 1993 but have made the tourney just six times since, including two years of open tournament play.

Behind the scenes: Rangeley has five regional titles and Coach Heidi Deery was part of all of them as a coach in 1992, 1993, 2001 and 2002 and as a player in 1984. GPC Coach Jennifer Will was on the Lions when the squad was in Augusta in 1988 and 1989.

Overview: Rangeley has all the tools to win. It’s a veteran team of underclassmen. The Lakers have the most prolific offense and the toughest defense. They’ve won by an average of 30 points this year and beat Waynflete by 19 and Valley twice by an average 18.5. Last season proved that stranger things can happen. The Lakers let down just enough and watched Valley send them home. Both Waynflete and Valley have the talent to compete and give Rangeley a run, but don’t expect the same collapse from the Lakers this year.

Prediction: Rangeley

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