Class AA North girls’ basketball: Oxford Hills rolls into the tourney

Players to watch: Sr. F Tianna Sugars, Oxford Hills; Jr. G Erin Morton, Oxford Hills; Sr. G Emily Jacques, Edward Little; Sr. F Karli Stubbs, Edward Little; Jr. F Katie Butler, Bangor; Soph. G Abby Cavallero, Cheverus; Jr.G Tasia Titherington, Deering; Jr. F Morgan Eliasen, Lewiston; Sr. G Kristina Blais, Lewiston.

Favorites: Oxford Hills, Edward Little

The Vikings have consistently gotten better all season. Oxford Hills has won 10 straight and averaged 53 points while allowing just 38.7. Sugars (13 ppg, 13 rpg) is a dominant force in the post while Morton (11 ppg), Erin Eastman and Alyssa Hanley are seasoned perimeter players. Jayden Colby and Jadah Adams can play inside as well. Oxford Hills has a balanced offense that is evolving with each game. Colby and Sugars are also proven from the foul line in clutch moments. They’ll be tough to beat late in the game if they have the lead.

Edward Little was the top team in AA North most of the year. The Red Eddies started out winning 12 of its first 13 games but have lost three of its last five, including a loss to Oxford Hills in which EL managed just 28 points. The Red Eddies boasted a defense that allowed just 34 points per game while the offense scored at a 48 point per game clip. Jacques (15.6 ppg 6 rpg) is one of the top players in the field and a tough matchup. Jordyn Reynolds (10.8 ppg 11.6 rpg) is strong in the post while Stubbs (10.7 ppg, 5 rpg) is versatile. Those three are a consistent threat. EL has been one of the top two seeds in the last seven years. Twice EL was seeded first and five times the Red Eddies have been second.

Darkhorses: Bangor, Deering

Both teams have proven capable of beating the top seeds. Bangor beat Oxford Hills while Deering beat Edward Little. The Rams return many seasoned players from a club that lost in the A regional final last year to Lawrence. Butler and guards Emily Gilmore and Sarah Bragg were key parts of that team. The Rams were expected to be contenders this year but started the year 1-4. Bangor has gone 9-4 since and won four of its last six games.

Deering started the year 7-2 but have gone 5-4 since, including a loss to Portland in the regular season finale. The Rams have one of the top shooters in Titherington while Amanda Brett is a force in the post. Abby Ramirez is a dazzling point guard. The Rams played a tough schedule with an abundance of AA South tourney teams and could be a threat.

Fun Facts: Oxford Hills averaged 38.7 points against but allowed only 33 points per game over the last 10 games. … Edward Little had 12 games in which it held opponents under 40 points. … Bangor went 2-6 against teams in the AA North tourney. … Deering and Bangor each averaged 41 points against this season. … In 14 games this season Cheverus’ opponents scored 40 points or more. … Lewiston’s last playoff game was a prelim in 2014. Lewiston’s last quarterfinal was in 2006 and last playoff win was in 2005.

Overview: This first AA North tourney should be an interesting one. It starts with Portland teams Cheverus vs. Deering. Then Lewiston gets another try at Bangor. The Blue Devils had a crucial win against the Rams early in the season but lost at Bangor in the regular season finale. Bangor has experience but Eliasen, Blais and forward Victoria Harris (11.6 ppg, 11 rpg) lead a team that can be a tough matchup for the Rams.

Overall, the tourney could produce a rematch of the 2014 Eastern A final in which Oxford Hills beat the higher-seeded Red Eddies. There are players from both teams that still remain from those squads. Both teams have playoff seasoning and are no strangers to the tourney atmosphere. Both teams are familiar with each other. It’s rare that an Edward Little-Oxford Hills matchup isn’t a competitive, close defensive battle. Unless a team like Deering or Bangor can change things, the Vikings and Red Eddies seem likely to meet again. They split in the regular season. The third try could go either way. Oxford Hills is playing at its best right now and has continued to grow. The Vikings are also coming off an impressive win over EL late in the regular season. That has Oxford Hills on a roll that may be tough to stop.

Prediction: Oxford Hills