Players to Watch

Jamie Plummer, Richmond forward (11.4 ppg, 9 rpg), Brooke Lancaster, Richmond guard (9.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg); Chantal Carrier, Rangeley forward; Emily Carrier, Rangeley forward; Cindy Schultz, Valley guard; Jocelyn Laweryson, Valley guard; Gretel Breton, Greenville forward (12.1 ppg, 10.7 rpg); Michaella Gilbert, Greenville forward (9.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg); Ruth Towne, Seacoast forward; Liz Garland, Greater Portland Christian guard; Izza Drury, Vinalhaven guard; Janelle Bradish, Hebron forward.

Favorites

In Western D basketball there are two R’s — Richmond and Rangeley. Those two clubs have held the top two spots most of the season and split against each other. The Bobcats had the highest scoring offense (47.0) and the second-best defense (28.6) in the field. Richmond went 10-1 against teams in the Western D field has won by an average of 17.7 points.

Rangeley scored 45.6 points and allowed 28.5. The Lakers’ three losses were by an average of only 4.6 points. That’s pretty impressive considering Rangeley lost their all-star guard Allie Hammond to injury during soccer season and had other veteran guards relocate or get injured. The Lakers are relatively young, with just one senior, but have a wealth of experience overcoming adversity and playing in the tourney.

Darkhorses

Greenville won the Western D title last year and returned much of that team. Valley missed the tourney last year but has Schultz back from injury. The Cavaliers won the regional crown the last time Schultz was lighting it up at the ACC.

Fun Facts

Richmond has just two wins in Augusta since 2001. … Rangeley has been to four of the past five Western D championship games. … Valley started the year 8-1 but went 3-5 in its last eight games. … Greenville went 3-5 against the Western D field. … Seacoast has never won a quarterfinal and went 1-6 against the Western D tourney teams. … Greater Portland Christian finished the season with seven consecutive wins and averaged only 29.7 points against. … Vinalhaven has only two quarterfinal wins since 1998, and four of those five losses were to Rangeley. … The Vikings went 1-7 against the Western D field. … Hebron returns to the ACC for the third time in four years.  … Hebron lost its games by an average of just 11.6 points, with five losses by nine or less. Four of those nine losses were to WMC Class C clubs.