Now that the high school basketball regional tournaments are over, let’s look back, by the numbers.
• 1: The number of undefeated boys basketball teams in the state. It’s Western Class D winner Forest Hills, which takes a 21-0 record into the state championship game Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The Tigers are in the state game for the third time in four years, and won the Gold Ball in 2013, but will have their hands full with a strong Fort Fairfield team. Fort Fairfield knocked off the top two seeds, Washburn and Southern Aroostook, in the Eastern D tournament. Speaking of Fort Fairfield…
• 27: Years since Fort Fairfield last played in a state championship game. Back then, the Tigers were in Class C, and lost the state championship game to a strong Old Orchard Beach team led by future University of Maine standout Francois Bouchard. Still speaking of Fort Fairfield…
• 21: The age of Fort Fairfield head coach Logan McLaughlin. A first-year coach, McLaughlin won a pair of state championships as a player for Central Aroostook in 2008 and 2011.
• 4: Consecutive Eastern Class A titles won by the Hampden Academy boys basketball team. One of the smallest schools in Class A, Hampden’s run is impressive. The Broncos are playing in their sixth Class A championship game since 2005, and last won the title in 2013.
• 5: The number of consecutive state championships the Washburn girls will have if they win the Class D title game over Rangeley on Saturday at the Cross Insurance Center. With a win, Washburn sets a state record for consecutive girls basketball titles. Right now, Washburn is in a five-way tie at four consecutive titles with McAuley (2011-14), Lawrence (1991-94), Westbrook (1978-81) and Gorham (1978-81). And while we’re talking about Washburn…
• 27: Washburn’s average margin of victory in three Eastern D girls tournament wins. Along those lines…
• 27.3: Forest Hills’ average margin of victory in three Western D boys tournament wins.
• 21, again: The number of years since the Lawrence girls were last in the state championship game. The Bulldogs will face Thornton Academy of Saco in the Class A state game on Saturday.
• 37.5: The percentage of No. 1 seeds that advanced from the regional tournaments to the state championship games. Only six of the 16 number ones are still playing. On the boys side, it’s Portland, Medomak Valley, Calais and Forest Hills. In the girls tournament, just Maranacook and Washburn made it out of regionals. None of the eight state championship games features a one vs. one matchup.
• 10: Years since the Rangeley girls last played in the Class D state championship game, which is almost hard to believe, since the Lakers are contenders in Western D every year.
• 2: Teams making their state championship game debut next weekend. The Thornton girls snapped McAuley’s four-year hold on the Western A and state titles and will play Lawrence in the state game. The Maranacook girls won the Western C crown and will face Houlton in the state game.
• 1,304: Approximate number of miles driven by the Fort Fairfield Tigers for four round trips to Bangor, three for the regional tournament and one more next Saturday for the state game.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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