BANGOR- The Shead Tigerettes overcame an eight point halftime deficit on Saturday morning and earned their second consecutive regional championship.
Holly Preston and Cassidy Wilder scored eight points each in the second half to lead Shead to a 32-29 victory over Southern Aroostook in the Maine Principals’ Association class D girls Northern Maine title game.
Preston said, “It is almost better (than last year) it is so fun. I love it.”
Wilder added, “it feels awesome.”
Shead only held one lead in the first half (5-4). Southern Aroostook went on a 7-0 run to build the lead as high as nin (18-9) in the second quarter. The Warriors led 18-10 at the half.
“We needed to work on moving the ball more, because our offense wasn’t very good at the end of the half, “Wilder said. “Coach (Dean) Preston told us that it was only eight points and four baskets.”
That eight point deficit was take care of quickly. Shead went on an 11-1 run to start the second half to take a 21-19 lead. The score was tied at 23 heading into the final quarter.
“The biggest conversation was, it is one possession at a time,”Shead coach Dean Preston said, “Once we got into that mode, I think we were fine.”
The Tigerettes took the advice of their coach and Holly Preston’s dad.
“He came in and said it is only eight points, it is four baskets,”Holly Preston said. “We can come back from this.”
The Warriors took a 27-24 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Shead scored the next four points to take a 28-27 lead.
Kassidy Mathers gave Southern Aroostook a 29-28 lead with 1:50 remaining. Preston gave the Tigerettes a 30-29 advantage with 1:39 left. Preston sealed the victory with a steal and a layup in the final seconds.
“It is so weird because I almost blacked out that last minute,”Holly Preston said. “I can’t really remember it.”
While the Tigerettes were winning a regional championship last year, coach Dean Preston was away from the team, and away from Eastport for over a year. Preston was deployed with the Army.
“It is extremely emotionally for me to come back and fall right in and defend. For these two seniors (Holly Preston and Katelyn Mitchell) to lead this group and do this job is so exciting,”coach Preston said. “For me, I am so excited after having to leave for a year but supporting them. To come back and do it again, I have a lot of thanks, because I am blessed.”
Shead (19-2) will play in the class D state championship game at the Cross Insurance Center at 1:05 PM on Saturday, March 4th.
Preston led the Tigerettes with 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Wilder added 10 points, four rebounds, and three blocks. Madison Greenlaw chipped in with eight points and four rebounds.
Mathers led the Warriors with 10 points and four rebounds. Sydney Brewer added seven points and five rebounds, while Kylie Vining chipped in with five points and six rebounds. Southern Aroostook finished the season with a 19-2 record.
Thank you to the following businesses for sponsoring Eastern Maine Sports coverage of Tourney 2017.
