Dexter’s Peach has overcome a lot to lead Tigers to consecutive regional basketball titles

By Larry Mahoney, Bangor Daily News Staff

Six-foot-two senior center Mazie Peach has helped lead her Dexter Regional High School girls basketball team to two consecutive Class C North championships.

But there was a time when Peach faced an uncertain future due to issues with her knees.

“For a while, I didn’t know how much basketball I was actually going to get to play. My legs were kind of curved in and the problem got worse. So they had to be realigned. They had to fix some tendons and ligaments,” said Peach, who has undergone three surgeries, two on her left knee and one on her right knee.

Dexter coach Jody Grant knows how difficult Peach’s struggle has been.

“The ligaments were so bad because she grew so fast. They were so stretched out, her kneecaps wouldn’t stay in place,” said Grant, who added that Peach would be in considerable pain.

Peach was on the team her freshman year but saw limited playing time because she wasn’t good enough to be in the rotation, according to Grant.

She was having knee issues her sophomore year but did receive some valuable playing time thanks to COVID.

“She was supposed to have surgery but she came down with COVID so they postponed the surgery,” said Grant.

She eventually had the surgery but wasn’t cleared to resume full-contact activities until November of her junior year.

She had been the field hockey goalie but couldn’t participate that fall so she became the manager of the girls soccer team.

That set her back conditioning-wise and she admitted that “I was still really anxious” that the knee issues would recur.

“It was a little scary. I had to get back into things slowly,” she said.

She became more comfortable with every game and wound up being named the recipient of the 2023 Owen Osborne Award given to the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. She averaged 13 points and 15.3 rebounds in the tourney to power the Tigers to their first C North title since 2017.

Sporting a clean bill of health, Peach was able to resume playing AAU basketball this past summer and wound up playing soccer in the fall as a fullback.

“She played all 80 minutes in our preliminary round playoff game against Orono,” said Grant, who is also the girls soccer coach.

The fact she was able to play a fall sport meant she came into basketball season “a little stronger and in better physical condition” according to Grant.

“Soccer got me in shape and ready for basketball but I also wanted to play so I could bond with my teammates who I also play basketball with,” Peach said. “We had a great connection already but I wanted to get even closer to them. That was important.”

“She has been able to play better and for longer (periods of time),” said Grant. “She also dedicated herself (conditioning-wise) in the offseason because she knows this is her senior year and it will be the last time she wears a Dexter jersey.”

She averaged 12 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots during the season and earned another Owen Osborne Award when she averaged nine points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots in their three tourney wins.

She had 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in the 28-23 win over Penobscot Valley of Howland in the C North final after blocking nine shots in a quarterfinal round triumph over Mount View of Thorndike.

 “I feel that I have a stronger base this year,” said Peach. “Last year, I was a bit of a pushover when it came to one-on-one post-up moves. I worked a lot on getting my legs strong so I can hold my ground and make strong post moves and not just have to rely on getting lob passes.”

“You can’t let her catch the ball two feet from the rim,” said Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln coach Pat House. “She understands how to use her shoulders to protect the ball and get to the rim. She has improved (that aspect of her game).”

“She is better playing with her back to the basket this year,” said Grant.

Her defending and shot-blocking ability has been crucial to Dexter’s stifling defense that allowed just 23 points per game in the tournament. Her post presence alters several shots.

“She is the anchor of a defense-minded team,” said House. “She has great instincts and she knows how to use her body. She changes drive angles. “

He also called her a “great kid.“

Peach said shot-blocking isn’t something she works on.

“It just kind of happens,” said Peach.

“She has figured out how she can impact the game on the defensive end of the floor as well as the offensive end,” said Grant. “The improvement in her conditioning has allowed her to become a better defender.

“Her basketball IQ has improved. She understands the game and has become more of a student of the game. And it means more to her,” said Grant.

Peach’s older sister Megan was a major influence on her. Megan Peach was also an outstanding post player who went on to have an impressive career at Husson University in Bangor.

“She is the main reason I like basketball as much as I do. I was exposed to it when I was younger because our family vacations consisted of going to AAU Tournaments. She had a big impact on me,” said Mazie.

She feels she could have played better, especially in the tournament, but said “I am thankful to have my teammates around me who can pick up the slack.”

And her teammates are very special to her.

“We began playing rec basketball in third grade and we’ve played together the whole time,” said Peach. “There is nobody else I would want to go into this state game with. They are a very big part of why I enjoy basketball so much.”