When Mt. Abram defeated Dexter 55-52 to win last year's Class C state championship, it was the most points scored by the winning team in a Class C girls basketball state final in this decade. Madison hopes defense rules when it plays Lee Academy for the Class C crown tonight.

Lee, you see, is averaging 69.6 points per game this season. The Pandas have scored at least 80 points six times since mid-January, and will look to run from the time the teams tip off at 6 tonight at the Augusta Civic Center.

Madison, on the other hand, wins by keeping other teams off the scoreboard. The Bulldogs are allowing 31.3 points per game in the postseason -- that's a below-average half for Lee -- and have not allowed more than 51 points in a game this season.

Lee forward Karin Bird leads the Pandas in scoring at 18.5 ppg, followed by guards Amanda Gifford and Aarika Ritchie at 13 points apiece. Ritchie was accepted early decision to Colby College, while Gifford was accepted early decision at Bates.

"They're very quick," Madison coach Al Veneziano said. "They like to press. They can take the ball to the basket. They can also shoot the three. We've got to defend all those (Wednesday). They go from defense to offense as fast as anybody I've seen this year, so we've got to make sure that we get back on defense."

But Madison also has some talented guards in Danielle Hebert, Lacey Ashbrook and Brittany Rich, and they also have the one thing the Pandas lack -- a genuine post player in center Margo Russell, who hit double figures in both points and rebounds several times this season.

"We've got to rebound, consistently limit them to one shot, and see if we can score in transition," Lee coach Ron Weatherbee said.

Madison also has Briann Emery, who is 5 foot 8 and can score inside, and brings 5-8 Jessica Hayden off the bench.

"We have to get the ball inside," Veneziano said. "If we have an advantage, I believe it's there."

Madison defeated Lee 43-30 in a preseason scrimmage at Cony High School, but Veneziano says, "It's a whole different season right now."

Madison will be playing its seventh game of the season at the Civic Center, while Lee will be there for the first time, although many of the Pandas have played on that floor in previous years.

"At this point, the kids are excited about playing, regardless of where it was," Weatherbee said.

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com