PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sr. F Emily Keene, Spruce Mountain (11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Sr. F Samantha Richard, Spruce Mountain (11.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg); Sr. G Maria Valente, Gray-New Gloucester (14.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), Soph C Skye Conley, Gray-New Gloucester (9.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg); Sr. C Ashley Storey, Greely (19.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg), Sr. G Haley Felkel, Greely (8 ppg, 7 rpg); Jr. G Shannon Todd (13.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg), Jr. F Chloe Smedley, York (19.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg); Sr. Danielle Pinkham, Lincoln, Sr. G Taylor Oliver, Lincoln; Jr. G CeCe Hancock, Lake Region, Jr. G Sarah Hancock, Lake Region; Jr. G Montana Braxton, Cape Elizabeth, Jr. G Maddie Bowe, Cape Elizabeth; Sr. G Michaella Arsenault, Poland (12 ppg); Fr. G Nathalie Theriault, Poland (8 ppg).

FAVORITE

Greely

Storey is a dominant force in the post. In addition to her scoring and rebounding numbers, she’s also averaging four blocks, 3.5 steals and 3.5 assists. The future UNH player will be a tough guard for every team in the tourney. The Rangers also have a solid cast around her, led by Felkel and her sister, Haley, a junior guard. Greely averaged 52 points per game and allowed only 30. The Rangers finished the regular season with nine straight and have been to the regional final three times in the last six years.

Darkhorses

Spruce Mountain, Gray-New Gloucester, York

The question is which team can challenge a surging Greely team next week. York has five starters back from last year but lost to the Rangers  65-30 late in the season. Gray-NG won seven straight to end the regular season and beat the Rangers early in the season. Injuries in the post may hurt the Patriots in a semifinal rematch. Spruce Mountain averaged 57.8 points per game and allowed just 41. The Phoenix return most of the team that reached the semifinals but are a year older and seasoned by a KVAC schedule.

FUN FACTS

Spruce Mountain scored three more points per game this year but allowed 14 more points  than last year after switching conferences. The Phoenix have won 63 straight regular season games. … This is the highest ranking for Gray-NG since going 17-1 and seeded No. 1 in 2002. The Patriots won the regional final that year. … Greely’s two losses were by an average of 8.5 points. … Rick Clark’s York team has missed the tourney just twice in 33 years. … Lincoln Academy hasn’t won a quarterfinal since 1996. The Eagles lost its five games by an average of six points and had five wins decided by 10 or less. … The sixth seed in Western B is just 9-28 in the quarterfinals. Lake Region lost three games by one point and all seven by an average of just seven. … Cape Elizabeth lost five of its last six games prior to winning a prelim. … This is Poland’s first appearance in a quarterfinal game. The Knights lost five of their last six games before winning a prelim. Poland went 0-7 against teams in the Western B field.

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