Central Aroostook boys basketball coach Tim Brewer was asked to compare Richmond to a team his Panthers have played this season. Brewer drew a blank.

"There's nobody on our schedule with the size they have," Brewer said.

Central Aroostook and Richmond meet for the second time in three years in the Class D state championship game at 8 tonight at the Augusta Civic Center. In 2006, Central Aroostook beat Richmond 79-55 in the state game.

When referring to the Bobcats' size, Brewer didn't just mean 6-foot-10 center Marc Zaharchuk. Richmond also starts Sam Carter and Walter Miller, each 6-3, and Brandon Lancaster at point guard.

With a frontcourt featuring no player taller than 6-1, Central Aroostook hopes to match the Bobcats' size with speed.

"We don't have much size, but we're still quick," Brewer said.

Central Aroostook had four players score in double figures in the Eastern Maine final win against Woodland. Cameron York led the Panthers with 19 points, while Manny Martinez (16 points), Logan McCarthy (15) and Casey Brewer (10) also contributed to a balanced offense.

"They're all good ballhandlers. They all look to shoot the 3," Richmond coach Paul Lancaster said of the Panthers. "They look to run, play in-your-face defense and they rebound pretty well for their size."

When Central Aroostook won back-to-back state championships in 2005 and 2006, they were known as a team that would hit opponents with a fullcourt press for all 32 minutes. While the Panthers don't press as much as they used to, they will still employ a variety of defensive looks.

"In games I've seen them play, one game they used a fullcourt press, or a halfcourt trap," Coach Lancaster said. "The last game I saw them play a matchup zone. They try not to be predictable, and have you adjust to them and not them adjust to you."

Richmond is a diverse offense, and that should help counter any defense the Panthers use. If Central Aroostook plays man-to-man, Richmond can try to pound the ball inside to Zaharchuk. If Central Aroostook comes out in a zone or tries to pay extra attention to Zaharchuk or Lancaster, then the Bobcats can go to other players, like Miller, Carter and Eric Murrin, who are accurate outside shooters.

Slowing down the quick Panthers will be important as well, Coach Lancaster said.

"They create matchup problems in that those kids can run the floor," he said. "The transition game is going to be key. We can't turn the ball over. They take turnovers and turn them into points."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242
tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com