WELLS — The Wells basketball team is gearing up to compete in its first state title game since 1984 as it heads up north to Augusta to take on No. 2 Mount Desert Island on Friday.

MDI (18-3) enters the game as the favorite, however the Warriors bring a seasoned group, with many players that have already won a state title in football last fall.

Wells is experienced, confident, and is also hungry to bring a title back home for the first time in over three decades.

“I think we’re in a good state of mind — about three, four of our players have already played in a big game like this on the football field and the other players are veterans,” said Wells coach Troy Brown.

The Warriors also respect their opponent, and expect a tough matchup on the state’s biggest stage.

 “We’re definitely not underestimating MDI, we feel like we’re the underdog since they had the better record and season so we’re just looking to go up there and compete,” said Brown.

The Warriors most recently beat No. 1 Yarmouth in the Class B South finals, a team that beat Wells twice during the regular season. The Clippers also did not lose to a Class B opponent in 2016-17, making it perhaps the biggest upset of the tournament.

After the upset, the Warriors are confident taking on the northern powerhouse.

“It does give you a lot of confidence — to beat the best team in the conference who you lost to twice in the season. We know Yarmouth is a great team and that was a bad day for them and a good day for us,” said Brown.

Wells brings one of the state’s most well-rounded lineups to floor, a lineup that includes five seniors as well as a junior off the bench. 

Forwards Deandre Woods and Cam Cousins have proved to be a force, while point guard Riley Dempsey has an elite ability to distribute the ball around the floor. Other veteran contributors include Owen Berry, Tyler Bridge and sharp-shooter Tyler Dewey.

Although the Warriors are a handful, they are expecting quite the challenge in MDI, which also boasts a very athletic group.

“MDI is very good — their ball movement is excellent, their defense is phenomenal. We play very good defense too, I think it is going to be a very good basketball game,” said Brown.

The Warriors haven’t won a championship since they won back to back titles in 1983 and 1984. Wells has recently grown into a football community, but these Warriors hope that basketball rises to the top of the food chain once again at WHS.

“Win or lose these kids have brought the program back to where it was. Three years ago these guys were (3-15) but now they had a great regular season, won three tournament games, and to have the chance to bring back a gold ball is phenomenal,” said Brown. “It can only mean good things for this program going forward, and more kids in the town will want to play basketball because of its success.”

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at asponseller@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 323. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

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