BANGOR- The dynasty continues for the Southern Aroostook Warriors as they claimed their second state championship in a row, and fourth in the last five years with a 68-30 victory over the Seacoast Christian Guardians in the Class D girls Final on Monday night at the Cross Insurance Center. In what was a rematch of last years state championship, it was the Warriors who would come out victorious on the back of balanced scoring and smothering defense.
Seacoast Christian scored the first basket for their only lead of the night. Leading 11-9 halfway through the first quarter, Southern Aroostook scored the final eight points for a 19-9 advantage. They extended that and got some good breathing room by scoring the first 22 points of the second (30-0 run overall), as they would build a 43-13 halftime lead. Senior guard Madison Russell and Cami Shields both had 15 points in the first 16 minutes, and combined for 15 of the teams 24 in the second period. The third quarter was a balanced scoring attack from the Warriors. Five players got involved with Ally Shields and Madison Russell leading the way with four points each. Breckyn Winship added five points for the Guardians in the quarter. Ally Shields scored seven in the fourth for 11 total points in the game, all in the second half. Winship added six points, and Ellie Leech added four points for Seacoast Christian in the final eight minutes of action.
Madison Russell had a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Cami Shields added 17 points and seven rebounds. Ally Shields had 11, Emmalee Landry added seven, while Callie Russell, Libby Anderson, and Jazmyn Ellingwood each had four points. Southern Aroostook finishes the season at 19-3 with yet another gold ball for the trophy case. For Seacoast Christian, it was the senior Winship who led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. Leech would add 10 points and nine rebounds on the night. The South champion Guardians end their season with a record of 12-10.
Recap by Zach White/Edited and posted by Chris Lessner/Photo by Marc Calnan/Videos by Chris Lessner, Marc Calnan, and Gabe Nason
