McAuley High came into the season regarded as the team to beat, not only in Western Class A, but in the state.

But first-year coach Amy Vachon said the Lions never felt the pressure.

“Other people said that, but I don’t think our team felt it,’’ she said. “We didn’t feel that we were, we had never won it before. I know we have talented players, but there are a lot of talented teams out there that don’t win.

“It’s about a lot of hard work off the court. The team is really close. That’s why I wanted it so badly for them. We became a family.’’

DEEEING'S 6-FOOT-3 sophomore center, Marissa MacMillan, displayed her potential with her best game of the season in the Western Class A final. She scored 11 points, including a couple of nice cuts to the basket on passes from Kayla Burchill, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

“She’s had some nice games, but to do it on this stage,’’ said Deering Coach Mike Murphy. “She did a great job.’’

MCAULEY'S REBECCA Knight scored only 10 points, but she said that was all right.

“I have my wing man, Alexa,’’ she said, of junior center Alexa Coulombe. “She really stepped up."

Coulombe scored 17 points for the Lions and earned the Edward “Red’’ McMann Award as the tournament’s outstanding player/sportperson.

“It’s a great honor,’’ said Coulombe. “I played well, I guess. But I think we have a lot of deserving players on this team. I didn’t do it alone.’’

MONDAY'S STORM dropped rain in southern Maine but snow and sleet elsewhere, prompting the Maine Principals’ Association to once again postpone championship games in Eastern Class A (Augusta) and Eastern Class C (Bangor).

The Eastern Class A championships will be played Tuesday at the Augusta Civic Center. The girls’ game between Messalonskee and Hampden Academy starts at 6 p.m.; followed by the boys' game between Edward Little and Bangor.

The Eastern Class C championships have been moved from the Bangor Auditorium to Alfond Arena at the University of Maine. The girls' game between Orono and Washington Academy starts at 5 p.m. Lee Academy plays Sumner in the boys' final at 6:45 p.m.

About this Blog

VarsityMaine The Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram put a priority on high school sports coverage, and this blog is a place for all our reporters to put news and notes from around the state.

From football to field hockey, from cross country to volleyball, our goal is to keep you informed of the happenings in all high school sports.

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About the Author

Maine High School Sports Bloggers

Paul Betit is an Augusta native and graduate of the University of Maine. He has covered Maine high school sports for more than 30 years and is entering his seventh season as a beat writer covering the Portland Pirates. In his spare time, Betit writes mystery-suspense novels. Occasionally, he tries to sink his second career hole-in-one.

Glenn Jordan came to Maine in 1994 to cover the nascent Portland Sea Dogs. After eight baseball seasons and three children – the last two within 18 minutes of each other – he became a part-time writer. Among the sports he covers are now are tennis, skiing, swimming and running. He has a degree in philosophy from Dartmouth, a decent forehand and a penchant for checkers.

Mike Lowe is a Massachusetts native who feels he's lived long enough in Maine (since 1982) to have roots here. He graduated from Boston University and has worked in New Hampshire and Maine, covering everything from the Little League World Series to the Summer Olympics. When he has free time – Ha! – he likes to read, collect comic books and watch the grass grow from his hammock.

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