BANGOR, Maine- The Southern Aroostook Warriors put four players in double figures led by a team high 15 points from Madison Russell, and also put four others in the scoring column on Thursday afternoon to cruise past the Shead Tigerettes 68-39 in a Maine Principals’ Association Class D girls semifinal at the Cross Insurance Center.
Shead stayed with the top seed in the early moments taking a 4-2 lead on two baskets from Ryleigh Andrews, but Southern Aroostook used a 10-0 run to take the lead for good 12-4. The Warriors led 18-9 after the opening eight minutes helped by an early six points from Russell. Two baskets from Cami Shields, one by Russell, a three-pointer from Paige Vose, and a 1-2 effort from the line by Makaelyn Porter was part of a 10-0 run to start the second quarter to make it 28-9. Shead never got closer than 13 the rest of the half or game, and Southern Aroostook was on top 36-19 at the intermission.
Shields would add six more in the third quarter as the lead continued to grow as the Warriors outscored the Tigerettes 20-8 to take the biggest lead to that point 56-27 at the end of three. Southern Aroostook led by as many as 33 in the fourth quarter as the two teams used much of their bench in the final eight minutes.
Shields finished with 12 points in the Southern Aroostook win. Vose had 11 points and five steals. Kacy Daggett added 10 points and 11 rebounds. Also contributing in the win was Porter with nine points and four assists, Emma Nadeau with seven, and Lexi Racliff along with Callie Russell had two points a piece. The Warriors outrebounded the Tigerettes 27-16 and shot 7-16 from the foul line.
Andrews led Shead in the loss with a game high 17 points. Halle Sullivan had nine points. Also chipping in was Kiesha Scott with six points, Cassidee Lawrence with three, and Ashlee Morang along with Teryn Smith-Oravec each had two points. The Tigerettes shot 4-8 from the line and finish their season with a record of 13-7.
Southern Aroostook (20-0) advances to the Class D North championship game for the fourth straight season when they meet Deer Isle-Stonington Saturday morning at 9 a.m. The Warriors look for their third straight regional title win and are the two time defending regional and state champion.
