Mavericks win Jam Title over Frazer

The North Country Mavericks were able to lock down the Jamboree Championship title after surviving the 2016 Jamboree Girls Tournament held at the Whitewater High School Gymnasium on Saturday, November 19.

The Mavericks defeated the Frazer Bearcubs 20-10 to win the championship.

"(We knew the) Jamboree Championship was going to be a tough game," Mavericks Head Coach Charlene Wasson said. "We already played Frazer four times during the regular season and three out of the four games were close and down to the wire."

The Mavericks had lost their last meeting with the Bearcubs on November 4, as Kaylandra St. Marks exploded for 25 points.

To prepare for a potential matchup with Frazer, the Mavericks worked hard on their defense and screen setting, according to Coach Wasson.

"That focus is what won us the game," she said. "We played great help side defense and did a tremendous job on hedging the screen so St. Marks could not get a shot off."

She also noted that their offense was also solid.

The win served as retribution for last season's championship game, where the young Mavs lost to Frazer.

"Last season we lost to Frazer in the Championship, so there was a lot of emotion for the girls to put a game together and win," Coach Wasson said. "It was nice to bring the trophy back to North Country."

The team had also defeated Nashua 24-8 earlier that day.

"We just tried our best and our helping and recovering (was effective)," Deion Lefdahl, a sixth grader from Hinsdale said.

Lefdahl and a couple of her teammates stood pretty tall in stature compared to their opponents, which Lefdahl believes helped.

"Against the short kids you can get the ball and put it back up," Lefdahl said. "The bad thing is that my brother (Sloan Lefdahl) can make fun of me for it but I make fun of him for being short."

Fellow sixth grader, Cienna Strommen believes that the team played well against Nashua.

"I think we did pretty good so far," Strommen said.

She also knows that there are things the team can work on.

"Putting up better shots," she said. "We shot a lot of shots and we missed a lot of them."

Coach Wasson attributed practice being the main contributor to their impressive 13-1 season.

"We put many hours last winter and spring into playing and improving and each one of the girls did that and we will have the same opportunity this winter and spring to help this program grow," Coach Wasson said.

Strommen also had reasons for their success.

"Teamwork, good passes, trying to be a team and helping each other, good defense, good offense and knowing the plays," Strommen said.

Coach Wasson has been impressed with the co-operative consisting of Saco, Whitewater and Hinsdale schools.

"So much of this success is contributed to all the people who make this coop work," Coach Wasson said. "Bus drivers, athletic directors, superintendents, teachers, coaches, players, parents, fans and community. Thanks to everyone who had an active, supportive or quiet role in helping the Lady Mavericks win this Jamboree season."