AUGUSTA — All year long Mark Simpson has been trying to make believers out of his basketball team.

He’s told them how good they are. He’s emphasized their talent. He’s nurtured their confidence. He’s called them one of the top teams in Western C.

And now, his Andies are truly paying attention.

Livermore Falls will be playing in the Western Class C firls’ championship game Saturday night at the Augusta Civic Center for the first time since 1989. The Andies lost to Winthrop that year and have had up and down seasons since. The program’s lone regional title came in 1987 after a triple overtime classic against Winthrop.

After reaching the quarterfinals in Simpson’s return last year, the Andies are in the final to play top-ranked Hall-Dale. To get there, Livermore Falls knocked off Dirigo and Waynflete, two recent staples of the Western C tourney.

“We’re feeling good,” said Simpson. “We’re enjoying it. It’s a lot of fun. Every game we go beyond is gravy to us. We’re really having a good year. The kids are really getting some supreme confidence now. I’ve been telling them all year that they’re one of the elite teams, but they wouldn’t listen to me.”

The Andies have played like one of those teams in the tournament thus far. They came out strong against Dirigo and built an early lead. When the Cougars made a run in the second half, Livermore maintained its composure and got the job done.

Against the Flyers, the Andies got a sensational team effort. Kathryn Ventrella was superb in the backcourt. Megan Therrien was the designated defensive stopper. Marissa Welch was a force inside. Micaela Baron helped out in the post. Annika Durrell helped Therrien defensively when she needed a breather and was solid on both ends of the court. Sam Greenwood and LaDesta Tracy helped off the bench.

“It’s a whole different team,” said Simpson. “They’ve really matured throughout the summer and through this season. I thought they’d be nervous in the MVC game. They weren’t. They just came in and used it as an extra game.”

Now the Andies (17-3) take on the top-ranked Bulldogs (19-1). The teams didn’t meet in the regular season. Hall-Dale won a preseason game by about 20 and took the MVC game by eight after the Andies gave the Bulldogs a battle well into the fourth.

Hall-Dale boasts one of the MVC’s top post players in Taylor Massey (15.2 ppg, 7.4 ppg) and the MVC South Player of the Year in Carylanne Wolfington (13.2 ppg). The Bulldogs have also gotten some solid performances from their guards and their defense. Hall-Dale was the top offensive club in the MVC, averaging 48.9 points.

“Our matchup is good,” said Simpson. “Welch can matchup with Massey. She can go out and guard her and she can take her inside. The X-factor is Wolfington. She just plays like an animal.”

While the Andies shutdown Waynflete’s guard Martha Veroneau, holding her to just five points after she scored 37 with seven 3-pointers against St. Dom’s. She was primarily a shooting guard. Wolfington can hit from the outside, drive to the basket, be a force on the boards while being a defensive menace. She’s the player that drives the Bulldogs.

Hall-Dale will also bring pressure. The Bulldogs were the second-best defensive team in the MVC, allowing just 31.9 points. The Andies struggled against that at times against Dirigo but handled it well against the Flyers with the game on the line Thursday.

“I thought that we handled the pressure,” said Simpson. “We got it to the people we needed to. They’re going to press us, and they’re going to try to get us going.”

Welch averaged 13.7 points and led the MVC in rebounding with 12.3. She had 15 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Waynflete. Durrell (7.9 rpg) and Baron are also strong on the boards. Ventrella averaged 9.3 points and gives the Andies an outside shooting presense with Durrell and Therrien. Ventrella had 14 against the Flyers, including eight and a clutch 3 in the final quarter.

Though Livermore Falls boasts the best defense (28.9) in the MVC, the Bulldogs were the best team overall and claimed the conference title for the second straight year. They’ve been one of the favorites in Western C all year.

“We don’t have any pressure,” said Simpson. “I keep telling the kids that no one expects us to win. (Hall-Dale) is going to be home tonight. They’re going to have the white jerseys. We’re going to just come out and play our game, which is man-to-man defense.”

Simpson was told by another coach earlier this season that his club is built to win a championship. It is strong inside. It has a great defense, and it doesn’t rely on the 3-pointer. If the Andies can make all that work for them Saturday and dictate the pace of the game, Livermore Falls will be right where they want to be.

“We’re just enjoying it,” said Simpson. “I told them to drink it in. They’re one of the few teams that get to come back. Now we get to come back one more time. We’re having a lot of fun.”

kmills@sunjournal.com