Oceanside girls basketball team is undefeated 2 years after leaving Class B North

Jan. 25—It is always nice to have someone averaging 18 points per game in your high school basketball lineup.

It is even better to have a pair.

That is what Matt Breen has as the coach of the Oceanside High School girls basketball team in his daughter, freshman forward Bailey Breen, and junior guard Audrey Mackie. Now Oceanside, in just its second season in Class B South, is 10-0 and sitting right behind leader Wells (11-0) in the Heal points standings.

Oceanside and Wells are the only undefeated schools among the 30 in Class B, between both North and South.

Oceanside was in Class B North two years ago and finished 13-5 and in eighth place. The Mariners were upset by No. 9 John Bapst of Bangor 52-40 in a preliminary round game.

There wasn't a tournament last season due to COVID-19.

The Mariners have made it look easy so far, averaging 67.5 points per game to their opponents' 32.3.

Breen admitted that winning handily on a regular basis and not being challenged are concerns.

"You can only play who's out there," Breen said. "I'm hoping the team will grow and gain more experience and take something away from each game ... learn something and improve. I can see areas where we can continue to get better."

Breen has been most impressed by his team's balance.

"The fact that we have had different people step up each night, making plays and moving the ball around has made our team more efficient scoring the basketball," Breen said. "And we're more fun to watch."

His daughter, Bailey, dominates the paint.

The 6-foot-2 Breen is averaging 10 rebounds and four assists a game. The 14-year-old has already been offered an athletic scholarship by University of Maine women's basketball coach Amy Vachon.

If teams try to shut down Breen, Mackie can make them pay from the outside.

Mackie is closing in on 1,000 career points and is averaging four assists per game.

"If teams try to concentrate on Bailey inside, Audrey will knock down outside shots. If they focus on Audrey, she can work the ball inside to Bailey. They are learning to play off each other," he said.

Mackie is one of three three-year starters for Oceanside.

Matt Breen, who was the longtime boys basketball coach at Oceanside, took over as the girls coach two years ago but didn't coach last year due to health issues.

The 43-year-old, who earned his 200th career win earlier this season, said he had a young lineup in 2019-20.

The other three-year starters are junior forward Abby Waterman and senior guard Anna Kingsbury.

Waterman, according to Breen, does "everything for us."

She is averaging 8-10 points, 10 rebounds and 4-5 steals and is a "great defender."

Kingsbury has been producing 8-10 points per game from the outside.

"She has been shooting it great for us. She has made a big difference," Breen said.

Junior guard Emily Sykes was one of the first players off the bench two years ago and was elevated to a starting role by Molly Bishop Harriman last season during the pod campaign.

Harriman was the school's athletic director and filled in for Breen while he was on medical leave.

Sykes is a solid all-around player who can shoot, pass and defend, according to Breen.

The Mariners have three players who give them a spark off the bench in senior guard Ahlivia Morris, freshman guard Aubrie Hoose and sophomore forward Sophia Daggett, cousin of former Southern Aroostook High School of Dyer Brook standout Kacy Daggett.

Morris is a tenacious defender and can hit jumpers, Hoose is very athletic and a good ball handler and defender, and the 5-11 Daggett is a reliable rebounder.