AUGUSTA — When the subject of Seve Deery-DeRaps birthday came up, the Rangeley senior guard didn’t have to say a word about her wishes.

Coach Heidi Deery, Seve’s mother, had already made gift plans for her daughter’s  birthday, which was Saturday — the day of Rangeley’s Western D championship game.

“We did talk about her 18th birthday,” Deery said. “When I told her what I got her for her birthday, she was like, ‘OK.’ Then she just kind of looked at me. I said, ‘I know what you want. We’re going to do everything we can.'”

The birthday gift Deery had planned was a trip to South Carolina in April with Seve’s grandmother. But Saturday’s regional championship win proved to be just the kind of gift Deery-DeRaps was hoping for.

The Lakers beat Richmond for their first regional title since 2004. After numerous losses in the Western D final, Saturday’s victory was a special one.

“It’s definitely such a great birthday,” Deery-DeRaps said. “I don’t think I’ll ever beat this one. I don’t think I’ll ever beat this day in general.”

She says she actually forgot it was her birthday Saturday morning. Focused on the game, when Richmond fans began signing “Happy Birthday,” she wondered why. It wasn’t until after the game when fellow senior Taylor Esty reminded her.

With a net draped around her neck and a trip to South Carolina still in her future, turning 18 proved pretty memorable.

“Two weeks (in South Carolina),” Deery-DeRaps said. “I’m so excited.”

Crazy special

When the Western C championship game ended Saturday night, the Dirigo Cougars weren’t just mourning the loss of a title game. The team was actually more emotional about the end of a wonderful season, the first under coach Karen Magnusson.

“We were out there talking and everyone is crying and it had nothing to do with the game of basketball,” Magnusson said. “It had to do with the fact that they love playing together.”

Magnusson says her Cougars are a special group. “Crazy special,” she says. They play with an energy and passion for the game and for each other, something Magnusson relishes.

“There was three or four minutes left and I think we were down 12,” Magnusson said of Saturday’s loss to Maranacook. “We’d get a big foul and they were going nuts like it was a four-point game. That’s how they play.”

The Cougars went 16-2 in the regular season and reached the Western C final for the first time since 2006. There were great expectation for this club and the Cougars delivered. Though they fell short against a talented Black Bears team, the Cougars still enjoyed a special season and a great tourney run.

“When we showed the plaque, my senior Kelsey Hutchins grabbed everyone and gave them this great speech about how she loved everybody,” Magnusson said. “She was like, ‘I’m so proud of this and I’m so proud of this plaque. It means something to us.’

“To see that moment is just amazing because they get it. They’re not mad about a loss. They understand family. They understand what we needed to so and they tried everything, and they were truly proud. That is remarkable to me.”

Milestone win

Maranacook’s win over Dirigo in Western C was the first regional title for the Black Bears. It was also the first for coach Jeannine Paradis, who had also been the varsity coach at Mt. Blue and an assistant with the Madison boys’ program.

“It’s great,” Paradis said. “I’d like to think that I work hard, but these girls definitely work hard. They come in every day getting ready to battle. When the game is on the line, this group is very unique and will be able to get it done.”

The Black Bears moved to Western C last year but lost in the regional semifinals. Paradis was a key factor in helping this team take that next step. In her career, Paradis has coached in three of the four classes, A, B and C.

“Last year we didn’t play together as a team,” guard Sarah Clough said. “A lot of us didn’t really like each other that much. This year we all love each other. We’re a family. “

Clough credits Paradis for forming that bond for this team to rally around.

“She just believed in us,” Clough said. “When we’re down, she’s there for us. When we have issues, she’s always there for us and will talk to us. She’s an amazing coach. I don’t know what I’d do without her. I probably would not be here without her.”

Playing big

Championships are rarely won without the help of some players taking on bigger roles.

While Rangeley got great efforts from veterans like seniors Taylor Esty, Seve Deery-DeRaps and junior Blayke Morin, the Lakers also got some crucial play from newer players. Junior Maddison Egan and sophomore Natasha Haley played integral roles in Rangeley’s championship run.

“Our team and coaches were encouraging us so much that we wanted to step up for not only them but for us,” Egan said.

In the win over Searsport, Haley played superb defense against Melinda Ogden, who torched the Lakers with four 3’s in the first half. She was held to just one field goal by Haley in the second half. Meanwhile, Egan chipped in six points, three in the first quarter when the Lakers started slow.

In the regional final against Richmond Saturday, both played excellent defense and chipped in offensively. Haley had a pair of baskets while Egan had two free throws.

“They’re great kids,” Rangeley coach Heidi Deery said. “They just work and work. They don’t want any accolades. Maddie is one of the most intense people that I’ve ever met. Tasha wanted this so badly for these seniors. Every day this week, she sent me a text at 5:30 saying, ‘I’m ready. You can count on me. I’ll do my part. I’ll play my role.’ She’s just the consummate team player.”

Proud program

When the Lakers claimed a seventh Western D title Saturday, there was no shortage of former players in attendance cheering them on. Laker alumni like Rosie LaPointe, Alicia Frost-Kolva and Sarah Schrader were at the Augusta Civic Center. All were part of Rangeley’s championship past.

So was Ashley Quimby, an assistant coach with the Lakers. She was on the 2004 Rangeley team that won the regional crown and won the state championship. 

“It’s way more nerve-wracking as a coach, just trying to get them pumped up and ready to go” said Quimby, who coached Rangeley softball to a regional final a few years ago “It’s an amazing experience to be able to be a player for Heid (Deery) and now get to be a coach with her. She’s an amazing person and leader. It’s just an amazing program to be part of. I’m so happy for these girls. We’ve been here so many times.”

In 2004, the Lakers were the top-seeds in Western D. After beating Vinalhaven and Valley in the tourney, Rangeley won the regional title by beating Waynflete. The state title came with a victory over Lee. Though Rangeley has had great teams since, the regional final has been a stumbling block, with losses in seven of the previous nine regional finals, including last year.

“I’ve told them to just work hard and play one game at a time,” Quimby said. “That’s been our motto all year. That’s something that I’ve tried to carry on with these girls — that we have to play every game — and they did.”

kmills@sunjournal.com