After starting the year 0-4, Rangeley’s play down the stretch enabled the Lakers to reach the regional final. It ultimately ended in another loss in the regional final for Rangeley, which lost to Valley last year. Yet, with no seniors and a promising young squad making great strides, the Lakers’ future looks quite prosperous.

Hammond is already a four-year starter as a junior while sophomores like Chantal Carrier, Emily Carrier and Alanna Lauter have developed their roles nicely.

“We do have next year,” said Rangeley coach Heidi Deery. “We’re young. We do have everybody back. We’re going to go to work We’ve got to get over the hump of coming here and not dancing.”

Tough road ahead

Greenville will be up against a long and challenging history when it advances to the Class D girls’ championship game after Saturday’s 46-29 victory over Rangeley.

There have been 35 state finals in the division since the Maine Principals’ Association began its sanction of girls’ hoop in 1975. Eastern Maine has won 28 of those.

Rangeley (2004) was the last Western school to win the Gold Ball. Waynflete, now a Western C finalist two straight years, took the title in 2003. They’re the only West representatives to hoist the hardware since 1997.

“I wish them all the best, and I hope they bring it back,” said Rangeley coach Heidi Deery.

Double duty

Class D basketball is all about multi-tasking. It’s a place where coaches have been known to lead both the boys’ and girls’ program, or where competition cheerleaders double as girls’ basketball players.

Richmond might have one of the most unique arrangements of all.

The gentleman directing the Bobcats’ pep band prior to Saturday’s Western Class D boys’ championship game against Vinalhaven is named Jonathan Spear.

When pre-game warm-ups were complete, Spear walked over to the bench and took his place next to Richmond coach Phil Houdlette. Spear is his assistant.

Foul Play

The Greenville girls battled foul trouble numerous times during the Western D tournament last week. In the quarterfinal win over Hebron, Saige Weeks was hampered by fouls. Saturday, Greta Breton played most of the half with three or four fouls. It was a challenge for the Lakers but not once they haven’t dealt with before. In Class D, when rosters are small, playing with foul trouble can be the norm.

“We’ve done that all year,” said Greenville coach John Jardine. “We’ve done that with certain player with four fouls and we’ve done real well.”

Breton never did foul out and had a game-high 18 points.

Rangeley wasn’t so lucky. Chantal Carrier fouled out late in the game with a team-high 10 points. Emily Carrier, Jenney Abbott, Alanna Lauter and Allie Hammond all had three or four fouls in the second half.

 Warm Up The Ferry

With the 2:45 p.m. start time of the Western D final, that made the return trip home for Vinalhaven players and fans a challenge. The last ferry leaving Rockland is typically at 4:30 this time of year. The school was able to charter a ferry at 6 p.m. for the community to return to the island Saturday evening. The special one-hour-15-minute trip cost the school $700. The price is likely still cheaper than the team and fans staying over on the mainland. The community also intended to welcome the team home with a reception Saturday evening.

 Re-Peat

Carli and McKenna Peat had a lot to live up to Saturday. Their mother, Karen (Carpenter) Peat played on Greenville’s last state championship team in 1985.

“She’s been on our backs ever since,” said senior guard McKenna Peat, who finished with eight points for the Lakers. “She can’t do anything anymore. We’re going now.”

Karen (Carpenter) Peat was a senior in 1985 and had a younger sister that was a sophomore on the team – just like McKenna has a younger sister Carli that’s a sophomore.

“It’s going to be fun,” said McKenna Peat. “It’s going to be exciting.”