PLAYERS TO WATCH

Fr. G Alex Goodman, Pine Tree (19 ppg, 7 rpg), Sr. C Kim Emerson (11 ppg, 7rpg); Sr. F Taylor Esty, Rangeley (17 ppg, 6 rpg), Sr. G Seve Deery-DeRaps, Rangeley (16 ppg, 6 rpg), Jr. F Blayke Morin, Rangeley (12 ppg, 3 rpg); Sr. G Keely Taylor, Forest Hills, Sr. G Haley Cuddy, Forest Hills; Jr. F Kelsea Anair, Richmond, Fr. F Sydney Tilton, Richmond; Jr. F Diamond Brown, Hyde; Sr. G Brittany Ward, Searsport, Jr. G Melinda Ogden, Searsport; Soph G Hallie Miller, Valley; Fr. F Gilleyanne Davis-Oakes, Sr. G Taylor Littlefield.

FAVORITE

Rangeley has cruised through its regular season, winning by an average of 45 points. The closest win was by 17. Deery-DeRaps has been deadly from the outside while Esty is strong in all facets of the game. Morin is another presence in the paint while players like Maddie Egan and Natasha Haley have stepped into stronger roles. The Lakers scored at a 65 points-per-game clip and allowed just 20 per game. That’s after sitting the starters for long stretches in the second half. After losing the regional final at the buzzer last year, the Lakers are playing like they’re on a mission.

DARK HORSE

Pine Tree

It isn’t often that the top-ranked team can be considered a dark horse. Pine Tree has one of Western D’s top players in Goodman, who also averages 5.6 assists and 5.3 steals. She’s their go-to player as a freshman. Most non-East-West Conference teams have not fared well in the Western D tourney but the Breakers have played their share of EWC teams and had success, going 8-1 against the Western D field. They’ve won by an average of 24 points and allowed just 27 points per game.

FUN FACTS

This is Pine Tree’s highest ranking ever after being fourth last year. The Breakers have won 13 straight regular season games but have just two tourney wins. … The Lakers have been to the regional final seven times in the last nine years and lost them all. Rangeley’s last title came in 2004. The Lakers have won 24 straight regular season games. … Forest Hills has the second-best offense in the field, averaging 50.5 points. …Hyde lost four of its last nine games and three of its final six. The Phoenix are the lowest scoring team in the field, averaging just 38 points per game. … Searsport’s quarterfinal last year was the team’s only win since the open tourney years. … Valley went 3-11 against the Western D tourney teams and lost eight of its last 11 games before winning a prelim. … Vinalhaven went 0-8 against the Western D field. After starting the year 0-4 and being 3-10 after 13 games, the Vikings have six wins in their last nine games, including a prelim victory over Buckfield.

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