Figured I would start a new post…didn’t get to post on the Sweet 16, so I’ll summarize my thoughts on the Southern Maine women’s sectional here.

Southern Maine coach Gary Fifield, when asked on our postgame coverage of the sectional semis what he thought the biggest key would be to the next day’s game. His reply: The game would come down to one or two breaks that could go either way.

Saturday’s Southern Maine-Bowdoin game was fantastic. I drove home four-and-a-half hours, listened to the broadcast again, and was on pins and needles in the final five minutes, even though I already new the outcome. It was another great chapter in a rivalry that is as good as I’ve seen in my limited Division III travels. The gym was filled to capacity 45 minutes before tip-off, and the response from the two communities of Gorham and Brunswick (the majority of the early arrivals appeared to be in the age 50+ demographic) was outstanding.

It was a game very reminiscent of one that took place two years ago between the two schools, one that turned into a game of “Can you top this?” in the final five minutes. Bowdoin won that one by a hair. Southern Maine won this won by a hair fragment. Senior leadership from both teams was terrific. Two-time All-America selection Justine Pouravelis made two huge baskets down the stretch for Bowdoin and that effort was matched and bettered by Southern Maine’s Ashley Marble (game-winning hoop) and Megan Myles (steal and two free throws) in the final minute and change.

The Bowdoin followers are probably going to be upset for the next eight months regarding a non-call on Marble’s basket (Bowdoin’s Katie Cummings got knocked down by Marble, who was going up for the shot). Was it a foul? Depends who you ask. (My job as reporter is to be neutral). The most important thing is that the folks in stripes, who swallowed their whistle and let the players decide the outcome in the last few minutes, decided it was not. Bowdoin’s fans will argue that was was the break that Fifield was talking about, one that allowed the Huskies to become sectional champs. To win a championship requires overcoming perceived wrongs along the way and in this case, Bowdoin got three chances to go ahead or tie after that play and was unsuccessful.

I attended six games over the last two weeks and in each of those contests, the refs let the players play through a lot of contact (yes, I know Mary Washington boosters are going to gripe and say it wasn’t so for their team…I read the message board). I get tired of hearing about complaints about officiating. In the end, that stuff all tends to even out. Some plays get magnified by timing, but if you watch a basketball game, you’ll probably see 20 50-50 calls. Some go the way you want. Some don’t. It’s part of the game and if you want to be a part of the sport, you have to live with it.

Anyway, enough about that…a couple of other thoughts.

On Southern Maine… Marble has gotten to the point where she’s unstoppable if she catches the ball in the low block. That’s going to be a tough matchup defending her for any of the three teams in Springfield. The Huskies played very well in both games. Their performance in the win over Bridgewater in Friday sectional semi reminded me of watching the great Washington University teams (including one that beat Southern Maine in Danbury) a few years ago. USM has two great players in Marble and Myles and a lot of very good complementary players, and bring the experience and bitterness of last year’s national semifinal loss to Springfield.

On Bowdoin…Bowdoin’s senior class finishes up with a record of 109-10 and went to the Elite 8 all four years. I can’t imagine how Bowdoin is even going to try to replace Pouravelis, the best defensive player I’ve seen in covering Division III basketball since 1993. The Polar Bears have been a fun watch in the handful of times I’ve seen them in this four-year span and this time was no exception. Eileen Flaherty had a phenomenal two games and now is not only one of the top players in New England, but legitimately among the best in the country as well.

On Mary Washington…One of the things I was told this week was that the Eagles tend to play best when they’re pissed off. Well, it’s clear that this is an angry group heading into the offseason (I got a pretty good taste of that from my seat on Friday). It’s also a group that returns all but one player from what is a very sound basketball team. Head coach Deena Applebury has a very good base of 10 players returning, including All-American candidate Debbie Bruen. If the anger is channeled properly, UMW should have a chance to go beyond the Sweet 16 next season.

On Bridgewater…Bridgewater played with a lot of heart and guts in all three games I saw (two at the regionals, one at the sectionals) and I give that squad a lot of credit for that, particularly sparkplug point guard Katy Herr (the team’s best rebounder at 5-foot-4!). Kudos and good luck to Marsha Kinder, whose story is an inspirational one and who sets a fine example for combining skill and perseverance on the basketball floor.

On to Springfield…