For a small school, Boothbay overcame some big obstacles in winning the 2019 Class C South Girls basketball championship. Boothbay defeated North Yarmouth Academy, 49-31, on Feb. 23. NYA's roster included three players from the Boothbay region and five from Maine Girls’ Academy which closed last year. MGA or its original name, McCauley, had won six Class A state basketball championships since 2002.

But when it was time to play, Boothbay's athletes handled the challenge as they had all season: with composure and belief in one another.

Seahawk senior captain Faith Blethen finished as the game’s leading scorer with 13. She received the Robin Colcord Award as the Class C South tournament's outstanding player and sportsman. She played a significant role in 2017 when Boothbay last won a regional title.

“This feels so good,” she said. “It’s different when you’re a senior. It means the world to me winning with this group of girls. We are committed to one another and believe so much in one another.”

And that belief was tested early in the game. Boothbay won the opening tip, but missed three shots in the first 45 seconds. NYA countered with a 5-0 run as guard Maggie Larson scored a fast break layup and a 3–pointer giving the Panthers a 5-0 lead.

But Boothbay countered with a run of its own. Blethen scored on consecutive possessions of put backs on offensive rebounds. As each minute passed, Boothbay’s half court defense tightened and perimeter shooting ignited. Blethen hit a seven-foot baseline jumper giving Boothbay its first lead, 7-6. Seahawk guards Ashley Abbott hit a 3-pointer and Chloe Arsenault made a 17-footer. Despite a slow start, Boothbay led after one quarter, 14-12.

It was in the second quarter where the Seahawks took control. Abbott hit another 3-pointer. Blethen scored off another offensive rebound put back which extended the lead to 19-12. Boothbay’s lead grew to eight at halftime as Arsenault hit a 17-footer followed by a long 3-pointer buzzer beater.

Boothbay’s scoring may have been the most balanced of all season. Arsenault and Glory Blethen finished with 11. Abbott scored nine. Haley Abbott had three and Kylie Brown scored two. Midway in the third quarter, Brown’s 14-foot jumper extended Boothbay’s lead to 33-23, which prompted Coach Brian Blethen to stomp his right foot in delight.

“You saw that. I loved it,” he said. “It means everything to me seeing our girls rise up and meet a challenge. And when Kylie hit the shot, it showed all our players had the confidence to step up and deliver in a big moment.”

Boothbay struggled in the quarterfinal and semifinal games shooting from the perimeter, but in the final, it was right on target.  “We met up before the game which kept everyone loose,” said senior guard Ashley Abbott. “Coach gives us the green light to shoot. They gave us space, and nobody had any hesitation shooting.”

In each of Bootbay’s three tournament games, the defense was outstanding. Arsenault described the team’s defensive performance as each player's total commitment to one another. “We work together and are committed to the team concept. We knew our defensive assignments and stayed with them. We are a very disciplined team.”

Despite an 18-point lead, Abbott didn’t realize her team earned a trip to the State Championship game next week in Bangor until the final horn. “It’s unbelievable. I didn’t really think about it until the buzzer sounded and I thought oh my God! We’re going to states,” she said.

No. 4 NYA finishes 16-5. This was the Panthers’ first loss to a Class C team this season. Prior to the season, NYA petitioned to play in Class AA, but the Maine Principals’ Association denied the request. NYA was led in scoring by Serena Mower and Catherine Reid who each had 10 points. Other Panther scorers were Maggie Larson with 5, Katie Larson with three and Helen Hamblett with one.

Boothbay (21-0) advances to the state championship game March 2 at 7:05 p.m. in Bangor against North champion Penobscot Valley High School of Howland. The No. 4 Howlers (18-4) defeated No. 2 Dexter, 24-20.