Players to watch

Nikoline Ostergaard, Morse forward (21.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg); Tarra Burr, Morse guard (10.4 ppg); Ashlee Arnold, Edward Little guard (18 ppg); Miranda Martin, Edward Little forward (7.3 rpg); Katelyn DeRaps, Hampden guard (8.4 ppg); Michaela Stephenson, Hampden guard (7.8 ppg);  Mia Diplock, Cony guard (10.1 ppg); Crystal Clark, Cony forward (9.7 ppg, 6.5 rpg); Lydia Caputi, Brunswick forward (9.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg); Dakota Foster, Brunswick forward (8.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg); Hillary Throckmorton, Bangor forward; Megan Pelletier, Messalonskee forward.

Favorites

History looks good for Morse. The top-ranked team in Eastern A has never lost a quarterfinal, and is 29-5 in the semfinals. Then, the No. 1 seed is 18-11 in the regional final.  Of course, Morse history isn’t as stellar. The Shipbuilders have been to the regional final three times and their last win was in 1975. Besides those numbers, the Shipbuilders have the KVAC South Player of the Year in Ostergaard, as well as two other double-digit scorers in Burr and guard Emma Block. Morse scored 60.4 points per game and allowed just 36. The Shipbuilders are as deep, balanced and talented as any team in the Eastern A field.

Darkhorse

Edward Little has been one of the top teams all year. That’s been in large part to an outstanding defense that allowed just 37.9 points. EL works hard and seems to find a way to win. The Red Eddies don’t possess the offensive balance that Morse does, but EL has proven (39-38 in the KVAC championship) that its stellar defense and some timely offense can beat the Shipbuilders. Hampden can’t be ruled out either. The Broncos have seven returning seniors and a balanced offense. Hampden could give EL a better battle than it did in the regular season meeting in Auburn, and the Broncos haven’t played Morse.

Fun Facts

Morse won its games by an average of 23.2 … EL had three players in the top 10 in the KVAC South in free throw percentage, Kate Sawyer (74%), Arnold (69%) and Frankie Lally (67%) … Third is the highest ranking for Hampden since going 15-3 in 1996 … Cony missed last year’s tourney after 27 consecutive playoff berths, but the No. 4 seed in Eastern A is 10-24 in the quarterfinals and 0-10 in the semifinals … Brunswick had three players in the top 10 in rebounding in the KVAC South, Caputi (6.7), Foster (8.4) and Emily Bryant (7.5) … Mt. Ararat started the year 4-8 but finished with five wins in its last six games … Bangor ended the regular season with four consecutive wins and seven in its last eight. … Messalonskee started the year 6-1 but lost eight of its last 12 games.