PIHS boys basketball team opens with win
The Caribou Vikings have opened up the season with a dramatic win, Presque Isle is big and will be tough again this year and Washburn and Central Aroostook will be battling for supremacy in Class D boys basketball. These are just a few of the themes that became apparent in the first few days of the high school basketball season.
Here’s a recap of games played through Monday, Dec. 12:
Ashland 61, East Grand 34 — At Danforth Monday, Tyler Levesque scored 15 points to lead Ashland by the Vikings.
Tyler Chasse added 12 points for the Hornets and Alex Chasse chipped in with eight.
Logan Crone paced East Grand with eight points while Alex Brittain and Kenneth Winarski each added six.
Limestone/MSSM 51, Southern Aroostook 49 — For the second straight game the Limestone/MSSM boys have earned a close win to up their record to 2-0 on the young season.
At Limestone Monday, the Eagles downed Southern Aroostook 51-49.
Chris Paradis paced Limestone/MSSM with 17 points. Nate Tucker had 15 and Brandon Thompson had 11.
Joe Frazier tossed in a game-high 22 points to pace Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook. Pat Goodall netted 15 points for the 0-2 Warriors.
Caribou 39, John Bapst 37 — On Saturday on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono, the Caribou Vikings had a dramatic win over the John Bapst Crusaders, 39-37.
Freshman Dayne Savage connected on a three-pointer with 7.2 seconds left in the game to propel Caribou to the win in their season-opener.
“We defended well down the stretch,” said Caribou coach Chris Casavant. “We had numerous chances to take the lead when we were down one late in the fourth quarter and couldn’t convert. Dayne missed the front end of a one-and-one with under a minute, and in the next possession Chad Caverhill drew a charge to get the ball back. We called a time out at around 17 seconds to diagram a play, they were in a 2-3 zone, Chad penetrated and kicked to Dayne who hit a jumper.”
Casavant said it was a good win on the road and gives the team some confidence.
Savage paced Caribou with 13 points.
Presque Isle 67, Hermon 34 — It’s win number one for the Presque Isle Wildcats’ new varsity coach Terry Cummings. On Saturday, Presque Isle opened up at home with a win over Hermon.
Matt Eager scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Presque Isle by the Hawks.
The Wildcats were down by six at the end of the first quarter but outscored Hermon 20-0 in the second quarter en route to the victory.
“Always good to start off with a win,” said Cummings. “We got off to a slow start, but once we locked in defensively, we played pretty well.”
Cummings also had praise for Wilder York, the only returning starter from last year.
“He directed the offense and distributed the ball well getting everyone involved,” the coach said. “I was pleased with our effort, the guys played hard and that’s all I ask.”
For the Wildcats, Tyler Brooks added 13 points, and Andrew Kofstad chipped in with 11 points.
Easton 76, East Grand 14 —At Danforth Saturday, Reid Clark poured in 26 points and tallied seven steals as Easton cruised past East Grand.
Holden Turner contributed 12 points and six rebounds for the 1-0 Bears.
Washburn 95, Ashland 28 — The Washburn Beavers opened up on the road taking on the Ashland Hornets on Saturday.
The Beavers had five players in double figures led by Jordan McLaughlin’s 32. Mason Turner had six three-pointers in the first half and finished with 18 points.
Tyler Levesque had 18 points to lead the Hornets.
Limestone/MSSM 49, Fort Fairfield 48 —At Limestone, Nate Tucker converted two free throws with six seconds left to lift the Limestone/MSSM Eagles to victory.
Chris Paradis led the Eagles with 14 points and Tucker finished with 12.
Andrew Lewis scored a game-high 18 points to lead Fort Fairfield. Dereck Dufour chipped in 17.
Central Aroostook 83, Southern Aroostook 40 — At Mars Hill Friday, Dan Brewer hit five 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 21 points as the defending Class D state champions opened with a victory.
Chandler Brewer chipped in 18 points for Central Aroostook, while Brendan York and Mike McClung each tallied 12 points.
Jake Frazier paced Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook with 13 points.
