It’s been evident since at least midway through the season that nobody in the western region of Class B that can lay a glove on Lake Region’s girls basketball team.

The Lady Lakers were 17-0 and ranked first in the Heal points at press time and will almost certainly enter the post-season unbeaten. They topped the teams ranked second through fifth by an average of more than 20 points per game, and won other contests by scores like 60-17 and 80-23.

Samantha Allen is the player that everyone talks about and deservedly so. She can handle the ball, rebound, pass and shoot. The senior will often take over games for short bursts, scoring a half-dozen points in a two-minute span that puts the game out of reach, though she won’t finish as her team’s top scorer.

But the real key to this team is their smothering defense. A trio of guards – Kim Rivet, Renee Nicholas and ZZ Leighton – pressure the ball and patrol the passing lanes, keeping their opponents from establishing any kind of rhythm.

The state tournament begins next week, and Lake Region will be in action Feb. 18 at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Coach Paul True will say that he and his team are just taking things one game at a time, but it’s difficult to envision any trouble for the Lakers in the west.

Last year Yarmouth came back in the regional final to edge True’s crew, but this season should be much different. The afternoon of Feb. 25 should find the Lake Region girls cutting down the nets at the CCCC and preparing for a Mar. 3 trip to Bangor for the state final.

Right now, Presque Isle sits atop the eastern Class B rankings with an equally impressive 17-0 record.

Bonny Eagle’s girls team looks like they will squeeze into the post-season in Class A west’s 10th spot. The Lady Scots (9-8) improved over last year’s 6-12 mark under new coach Marc Sawyer, and they won five in a row to close out the regular season.

Junior Lyndie Libby has returned from the knee injury that cut her season short last year. She and classmate Laura Bell have led the team on offense.

Sawyer’s squad will probably be on the road on Wednesday for a preliminary round game, possibly against Gorham (12-6), a team they lost to by nine three weeks ago.

The Scots boys basketball team (10-7) has been up and down all season, winning a few, then losing a couple. They came into the week tied with Windham for the sixth spot in the Heal points. This week they beat Westbrook (5-12) and close out the season today (Feb. 10) hosting Gorham.

Juniors Anthony Atkins, Scott Proudman and James Hanley, and sophomore guard Mike Harmon, provide most of the offense for Bonny Eagle. The Scots will likely host a preliminary game Tuesday against the 11th seeded team.

Windham’s boys team might slide down to the eighth spot if they drop tonight’s regular season finale against Westbrook Either way, they would host a preliminary game Tuesday. If they drop to ninth, then they hit the road for that game.

Big man Will Clemmer will have to play well for the Eagles in order for the team to win more than one game in the post-season. TJ Tandberg is among the top scorers in the SMAA and has averaged 18 points per game in his last three contests.

Bonny Eagle’s hockey team (9-6) is currently ranked 11th, and they should be able to hold onto that last playoff spot in the final week of the season. It’s even possible that they could move up one or two spots.

Either way, they’ll still be in action as the away team in a preliminary round game on Feb. 24 or 25.

Nate Jewell is the big offensive gun for the Scots’ skaters, while Travis Dunn is an offensive-minded defenseman. Cody Bradway is between the pipes for Bonny Eagle.

Both the Windham girls (3-14) and Lake Region boys (5-12) hoop teams close out their seasons this week.