Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Bill Van Tassel
AUGUSTA — The Lady Lakers of Rangeley High School had another stellar season, with 18 wins and three losses.
They once again made their way into the post-season tournament under coach Heidi Deery. All three losses came to the Lakers at the hands of the Vinalhaven Vikings.
This 2018 Maine Principals’ Association tourney saw the Lakers with a first round bye, followed by wins over Pine Tree and Temple. Their 18 wins at that point were achieved with a very young team made up of one just senior, Natasha Haley; four juniors — Brooke Egan, Vanessa Bisson, Kylie Collins, Amber Morrell; three sophomores — Lauren Eastlock, Olivia Pye, Gabrielle White; one freshman, Eliah Smith; and two eighth-graders — Emily Eastlock and Winnie LaRochelle. (Middle school students are allowed on high school teams in small Class D schools.)
In this years Class D South final against the more experienced defending champion Vinalhaven, it was the two eighth-graders who helped keep the Lady Lakers in the running for part of the contest with the Vikings. Rangeley won the first period, but it was the physical size, the experience, and the outstanding performance of Vinalhaven star Gilleyanne Davis-Oakes that made the difference. Davis-Oakes was unstoppable after the first period, going on to score 28 points and double figure rebounds. For the second consecutive year, Davis-Oakes was named Outstanding Player of the Tournament.
Eighth-graders Eastlock and LaRochelle netted 14 and 16 points respectively. Sophomore Lauren Eastlock had four points, while Egan had six and senior Haley contributed seven points. Attempted steals and scrambling for loose balls are not stats counted, though there was plenty of that action by the young Lady Lakers.
TOP PHOTO: The Lady Lakers bench reacts during a brief comeback in the fourth period against the Vinalhaven Vikings. The young Rangeley team did what it could to stop the more experienced Vikings, even taking the first period. (Bill Van Tassel photo)
