By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
For the second time this season, a schoolgirl athlete has joined the 1,000-point club. Fort Fairfield’s Amanda Hotham accomplished the remarkable feat Monday evening against Easton. Hotham, only a junior, is the first girl at Fort Fairfield to reach this scoring plateau.
Staff Photo/Kevin Sjoberg
HITS MILESTONE – Junior forward Amanda Hotham became the first Fort Fairfield girls basketball player ever to reach the 1,000-point mark for a career. She reached the achievement Monday in the first quarter of her team’s game at Easton. Hotham joined Shawn Manter and Jon Nichols on the school’s 1,000-point club. From left are, her sister Melissa, coach Larry Gardner, Amanda Hotham, athletic director Tim Watt, mother Beth Hotham and father Nathan Hotham.
The previous record holder for girls was Danielle Searles, who tallied 960 career points before graduating in 2004. John Nichols, a 1996 graduate, is the school’s all-time leading scorer. Shawn Manter (Class of 1989) is the only other 1,000-point scorer for the Tigers.
As impressive as that accomplishment is, it wasn’t the only record Hotham set this past week. On Saturday against Van Buren, she set a school record for most points in a game with 41.
“She is a special player,” Fort Fairfield coach Larry Gardner said.
Season winds down
The postseason looms ever closer, which is good news for many local squads who are in solid playoff position. As of Tuesday morning, the Maine Principals’ Association Heal Point standings revealed three of the four local teams would qualify for the postseason.
In Eastern Class B, Caribou (5-8, 35.0309) is clinging to the eighth seed. The top 10 teams make the playoffs with the top six earning a first-round bye directly to Bangor.
If the season ended today, Caribou would host a preliminary playoff against the No. 9 seed, presently Old Town (6-6, 30.7099). Old Town narrowly beat Caribou twice on the season 42-39 and 42-40.
In Eastern Class D, Washburn (12-1, 51.6104 points) is the No. 1 seed; Fort Fairfield (11-1, 33.7691) is fourth; Easton (6-7, 9.0886) is 11th; and Limestone-MSSM (2-10, 6.9444) is 12th.
The Tigers host Central Aroostook, the No. 2 team in the division, in a key matchup tonight at Fort Fairfield.
The top 10 teams in the 20-team region qualify for the playoffs.
The following is a recap of games played through Monday.
Washburn 58, Ashland 33 — At Washburn Monday, Rebecca Campbell tallied 13 points, while Carmen Bragg added 12 for the Beavers.
Hodgdon 44, Limestone-MSSM 29 — At Hodgdon Monday, Stephanie Leighton led the Eagles with 10 points, while Savanna Gray added five. Haley Gardner paced Hodgdon with seven points.
Fort Fairfield 65, Easton 37 — At Easton Monday, Hotham’s 20 points led the Tigers, while teammate Danielle Tracy added 10. Ariana Babineau sparked the Bears with 12 points, while Mindy Desmond added 11 and Carla Halvorson 10.
Hermon 59, Caribou 48 — At Hermon Saturday, Ashley Thayer scored 22 points to lift the Hawks past Caribou. Jenna Selander scored 27 for the Vikings, while Dayna Michaud added 10.
Limestone-MSSM 48, Ashland 44 — At Ashland Saturday, S. Leighton’s 14 points carried the Eagles over Ashland. Rylee Graham tallied 11 points to pace the Hornets.
Fort Fairfield 63, Van Buren 37 — At Fort Fairfield Saturday, Hotham netted 41 points to carry the Tigers past Van Buren. Parise Rossignol had 23 points for the Crusaders.
Fort Fairfield 64, Wisdom 24 — At St. Agatha Thursday, Hotham scored 16 points and Kellyn McGillan added 10 points as Fort Fairfield defeated Wisdom. Washburn 75, GHCA 20 — At Washburn, Tuesday, Jan. 18, Rebecca Campbell tossed in 24 points as Washburn rolled past Greater Houlton Christian. Kennedy Churchill added 11 points for the Beavers.
Fort Fairfield 65, Hodgdon 44 — At Fort Fairfield, Tuesday, Jan. 18 Sydney Churchill and Brooke Beaulieu led the Tigers with 17 points apiece, while Hotham chipped in 16 points.
