Deep bench an asset for Warrior girls
FORT KENT, Maine – The Fort Kent Community High School Warrior girls varsity basketball team has no shortage of talented players this year.
The team features 18 athletes, giving Coach Kelly O’Leary plenty of choices to draw from when formulating game plans.
Last season, Fort Kent finished 9-7 during the regular season, earning the Warriors the sixth seed in Class C North. Fort Kent beat No. 11 Mattanawcook Academy, 51-42, earning a chance to play at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Fort Kent lost to No. 3 Penobscot Valley, 38-24, in the quarterfinals.
O’Leary, who is in his eighth year coaching the Fort Kent girls, said this year’s team has “a lot of talent.”
“Team depth and defense will be keys moving forward,” O’Leary said.
The Fort Kent Warrior girls are: Seniors Larissa Daigle and Genevieve Naranja. Juniors Julia Cyr, Hannah Lovley, Madeline Philbrook, Emila Voisine and Emma Caron. Sophomores Lily Oliver, Lily Werntgen, Maddie Morneault, Amari Weaver, Anna Durost, Ellie Roy and Isabelle Sterris. Freshman Emlyn Nadeau, Brooke Kelly, Katherine Michaud and Gracie Landry.
As far as team improvement goes, O’Leary said individual skill development is key.
“We will play a 12 man rotation and develop the team as the season goes along,” he said.
Last year the Warriors saw a postseason trip to Bangor where they fell to Penobscot Valley in the Class C North quarterfinals.
Caribou, Hodgdon, Southern Aroostook and Wisdom are going to be competitive programs who will provide the Warriors with some stiff competition on the road to the playoffs this year, O’Leary said.
The team lost senior captains Kassidy O’Leary and Allie Morgan to graduation last year.
Fort Kent recreation and parks director Jason Nadeau has stepped in to take on the role of assistant coach. Nadeau coached the Valley Rivers Middle School team, including all of the freshmen and sophomores on this year’s varsity team.
In keeping with his coaching style, O’Leary has not identified a starting lineup and will be determined on a game by game basis depending on the Warriors opponents.