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Celebrity welcome for girls basketball team detoured by storm

The girls on the team seemed to take the last minute trip change in stride.

BELFAST (NEWS CENTER Maine) — More big state championship basketball titles will be decided Saturday. But Friday’s coastal storm posed a real challenge for one of the teams.

The girls’ team from Vinalhaven High School often has long road trips to play games. The school is on an island 12 miles at sea, and the team has to take an 80-minute ferry ride to reach the mainland.

They were planning to make the trip Friday afternoon and stay overnight in Augusta for Saturday’s game. But coaches and school officials became worried the high tides and winds from the storm would shut down the ferry. So Thursday afternoon team and coaches all packed up and left the island a day early.

By Friday they were able to set up a special practice session at the YMCA in Belfast. The 10 girls, who are already the defending state Class D champions, were given a celebrity welcome by preschool students at the "Y," led by teacher Jen Johnson, who had taught the six senior girls on the team many years before.

Coaches and the school's principal admit it was a little stressful having to make all the last minute arrangements, but said taking a chance on the weather would not have been a wise thing to do.

"Oh, nobody wants to take that risk," said principal Anne Fitzpatrick. "We thought about staying and taking the 7:00 or 8:45 this morning but we didn’t want to take that risk."

The girls on the team seemed to be taking the last minute trip change in stride.

"It wasn’t too bad because we’re used to having to go a day early in case the ferryboat doesn’t go," said senior Deja Doughty.

None of the 10 players were also in last year's state championship team, and say they hope their experience will help counter the height advantage of the Southern Aroostook team, their rival for the Class D gold ball.

Vinalhaven is also playing with a 33-game winning streak, which dates back to the early months of last season.

Coach Sandy Nelson said the girls assured her via Snapchat, "We're ready." And all the seniors said Friday the last minute changes and extra day off the island would help.

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