Piscataquis girls building for the future with youthful roster

By Larry Mahoney, Bangor Daily News Staff

GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community High School girls basketball coach Brian Gaw is looking for his players to gain a lot of experience this season and continue to improve as they lay the groundwork for the future.

In the meantime, Gaw spent part of this season watching his team from his home because he was in isolation after a family member contracted COVID-19.

Longtime assistant Russell Tracy was coaching the team, although the two were in constant communication.

“He has been involved in coaching for over 30 years. The transition has been as smooth as it could be all things considered,” said Gaw, who is in his 17th season at the helm of the Pirates.

Up until the 2018-19 season, PCHS had won at least one Class C North tournament game over six consecutive seasons. That includes four preliminary contests and two quarterfinal games.

The Pirates failed to qualify in 2019 and were ousted in the preliminary round last season by Narraguagus of Harrington.

This winter, PCHS returned four of its five starters from last year’s 9-10 team. The Pirates split their first six games in a season that won’t have a regional tournament or state championship games due to the coronavirus.

Forward-center Olivia Riitano is the only starter who graduated.

PCHS has only 10 players and doesn’t have a JV team for the first time in Gaw’s tenure, although he noted a lot of teams don’t have JV teams this season.

Four former team members decided not to play this season for a variety of reasons.

“We want to keep getting better and make the tournament in our pod,” Gaw said. “We’d like to get back to Bangor [for the Class C tournament at the Cross Center] next year.” 

The Pirates are led by their only senior, 5-foot-7 guard and captain Meagan Lemieux, along with 5-10 junior forward Elizabeth Kendall.

“Meagan is a three-year starter and does everything for us,” Gaw said. “She can handle the ball, she can shoot, she can rebound, she can defend. She doesn’t have a weakness.”

Kendall was the leading scorer a year ago and has had 20-plus point games. She is better facing the basket and she will also drive the lane. She can rebound and defend and is a really smart player, Gaw said.

Lemieux and Kendall are their top offensive threats. 

Sydney Hutchins, a 5-5 junior, emerged as a take-charge point guard at the end of last season and has continued in that capacity this season while also improving her scoring touch.

Martina Hill, a 5-3 junior guard, is the “defensive sparkplug who always draws the other team’s best perimeter player,” according to Gaw. She has also improved her offense.

Twins Brylee Ricker and Abbey Ricker, sophomore guards, each supply a different skill set.

“Brylee is quicker and more athletic on the perimeter. Abbey is more of a post player who can go left and right underneath the basket. Abbey is more of a scorer. Rylee shines in the open court,” Gaw said.

Hailee Hartford is a 5-6 junior forward who works hard in the paint to compensate for her lack of size. She can also produce some points.

Kendall Kimball is another hardworking player and the guard has shown significant improvement as a shooter. However, she suffered an ankle injury in the sixth game of the season and her availability is up in the air for the rest of the winter.

Sophomore guard Lauren Robinson shows a lot of promise as a shooter and freshman guard Emily Easler is a newcomer who is providing depth.