The 2017 girls high school summer basketball season comes to a close July 28 and 29 with the Boothbay Region Lobster Jam tournament. Boothbay is hosting 15 Maine girls basketball teams for the seventh straight year.

The tournament, organized by former Boothbay Region High School coach Tanner Grover, began seven years ago as a summer classic featuring teams from diverse Maine geographical regions. This year’s tournament features four Class AA, four Class A, four Class B and four Class C squads. The 16 teams are placed in four pools and play three games. The top team in each pool moves onto the semifinals at 7 p.m. on July 29 and the winners meet at 8:30 p.m.

Each contest is a standard high school game. There is no running time and players foul out. First year Boothbay coach Brian Blethen said the regulation rules and quality competition make it a special competition for participants.

“It’s a nice way to wrap up the summer season. Everybody is looking forward to playing against some good competition and it should be a lot of fun,” Blethen said.

Boothbay is playing in Pool A which includes Greely of Cumberland (A), Winslow (B), and Waynflete of Portland (C). The tournament is held at the high and elementary school gymnasiums. Boothbay begins the tournament at 2 p.m. on July 28 against Waynflete. Game two is at 10:30 a.m. against Winslow. And Pool A play concludes at 4 p.m. on July 29 against Greely. All Boothbay games are played in the high school gym.

Pool B teams are Oxford Hills (AA), Lincoln Academy (B) of Newcastle, George Stevens Academy of Blue Hill  (C), and Leavitt of Turner  (A). Pool C teams are South Portland (AA), Camden (A), Kennebunk (A), and Lisbon (B). Pool D teams are two-time Lobster Jam champion Cheverus of Portland (AA), Lewiston (AA), Gardiner (A), and Mattanawcook Academy (C) of Lincoln.

This summer, Boothbay has played eight local summer league games, played in the Cony League and participated in the Gold Rush High School Weekend Tournament at Colby College. Blethen said his team has been receptive to playing a more physical and uptempo style.

“We have seen good commitment from our team about playing together and playing more physical. I like seeing them diving for loose balls. That’s how we want to attack the game,” Blethen said. The Lady Seahawks are also playing a less structured offensive set and applying more full court, pressure defense.

Blethen believes the pressure defense will result in more turnovers and provide more points in the transition game.

“The uptempo pace gets them excited and energized. I think they feed off that and it will create some offensive opportunities for us, too,” he said.

Last season, Boothbay was 2-1 in pool play and didn’t qualify for the semifinals. During the winter high school season, Boothbay finished 18-2 and lost in the Class C South final.