BIDDEFORD — A year ago, the Biddeford girls basketball team had one of its best seasons in school history, finishing the year with a 16-5 record and a trip to the Maine Western Class A Final.
One year later, the Tigers hope to get back into the playoffs, but the road back will not be so easy.
The returning Biddeford squad features a mixture of veteran players, along with a strong infusion of sophomores, five altogether, that hope to be successful.
“We had seven seniors, and they all played big supporting roles, either that or they were key players for us,” junior captain Keila Grigware said. “I think losing them this year is going to be one of our biggest challenges, filling in those spots. Players who are inexperienced have the talent, they just need to get used to game situations.”
Senior captain Lauren Rousseau said the veterans have tried to help adjust younger players to varsity basketball.
“Sometimes in practices they kind of lay off, but we kind of get on them to work hard so they can make us better and make themselves better,” Rousseau said.
Included among the seven seniors graduating from a year ago includes Aimee Mortensen, who scored over 1,000 points during her career with the Tigers.
Rousseau said it will be different playing without Mortensen.
“Last year, on every made shot I had her running up the court,” Rousseau said, “and I’d say three to four times a game she would be wide open down the court. The new kids off the bench don’t quite understand that, so we’re missing eight to 10 points a game right there of pushing the ball up the court.”
Grigware said it will take a team effort to make up for Mortensen’s scoring.
“She was our key shooter last year,” Grigware said. “As a team, not one person needs to fill that role, all of us need to step up and stick shots.”
Rousseau said the strength of the Tigers will be their “Orange Press” defense, while the team will also move down the court with their fast break offense.
“Our Orange Press is our specialty, that’s probably the best thing we do,” she said.
Both Rousseau and Grigware agreed that the toughest teams to beat on the road back to the playoffs will be McAuley, Scarborough and Deering. Deering beat the Tigers in the Western Maine Final last year before winning the Maine Class A title.
The Tigers will tip off the regular season Friday night, as they hit the road for a game against South Portland.
— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535 Ext. 315.
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