It’s play-off time! Local high school boys teams in prelim games tonight

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Tonight, four teams will be in play-off action as the boys preliminary games are played.
    No. 7 Houlton
vs. No. 10 GSA  (8-10)
    The Houlton Shiretowners will host George Stevens Academy at 5:30 p.m. at Alumni Gymnasium. The doors will open at 4:45 p.m. and season tickets will not be honored. Tickets are $5 adults and $3 for students and senior citizens.
    The Shiretowners played “young” to open the season, but by season’s end, they had worked their way into being a contender. The Shiretowners learned to execute better on both ends of the court and they have improved their free throw shooting, which caused problems early on.
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
GETTING AROUND — Hodgdon’s Chris Hudson attempts to work his way to the hoop around Deyrell Vargas of GHCA. Both teams will be playing in preliminary games tonight for the right to reach Bangor.
    If the Shiretowners continue to play team ball, they can play with the top teams in Class C at the Bangor Auditorium.
    Coach Rob Moran said that GSA is a tall club with two front-line players standing at 6-4 and a guard/forward at 6-3.
    “Their last game was essentially a playoff for them,” explained Moran. “They are a solid team that plays a decent schedule. They are well coached by Dewayne Carter, who does a good job.”
    With sizable post players, Moran wasn’t sure of the Eagles’ perimeter game, but knows his squad will have to block the paint and take care of the ball.
    “We are going to have to defend the interior,” he said. “We have to be able to run good offense against them. If we do that, we should be in good shape.”
    The Shiretowners’ starting lineup consists of freshmen Kyle Bouchard and Dan Howe, along with sophomore Nick Guiod; junior Dan Swallow and senior Doug Dickison.
    “We are relatively young,” he said. “They are more senior-laden.”
    The Shires will have to play a well-rounded game in rebounding, defense, execution in the half court, taking care of the ball and valuing possessions.
    “Hopefully, we are ready to play,” Moran said. “If we can rebound against them, I think we can run a little bit. I think, we may be a bit quicker than they are in the open court. We just need to play well. There is a trip to Bangor on the line.”
No. 4 Katahdin vs. No. 13 Shead (6-11)
    The Katahdin Cougars are back in the mix in Class D, as they prepare to face Shead tonight at 6 p.m.
    “After a slow start at 3-3, we reeled off nine straight wins and started playing disciplined team basketball,” said co-coach Dale Fiske. “We have played in a lot of close games and I think that will help us in pressure situations. We think our best game is still yet to be played and we hope to put that together as we look forward to the tourney.”
    The Cougars have adapted to the “blended system” of Fiske and co-coach Cliff Urquhart.
    “The kids have learned and bought into what we are trying to get them to do on both sides of the ball,” Urquhart said. “Our team is very intelligent. We won a lot of close games this year because we played smart … we had 13 games within 10 points or less.”
    Urquhart knows the Cougars need to play smart basketball to move on into the tournament.
     “These kids know who they are and do a good job playing within themselves and not trying to do too much,” he said. “We are not a team that is going to light up the scoreboard every night. We understand and accept that we are not as gifted athletically than most of the teams we play and that is O.K. There is more to the game of basketball than being fast or having leaping ability. It’s a game that is played six inches at a time, six inches above the neck and six inches between the ears.”
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
FOCUSED — Hodgdon’s Sara Fitzpatrick focuses on the rim, as Lauren Robertson defends.
    If the Cougars win their prelim game they are scheduled to face the winner of Hodgdon/PVHS on Monday at 2:05 p.m. at the Auditorium.
    “If we are fortunate enough to make an appearance in Bangor, I think our fans can expect to see much of what they saw all year,” said Urquhart. “A group of smart and hard working kids that find ways to win basketball games.”
    The Cougars reached the quarterfinals last year, but lost to Washburn.
    “Fans can expect the team to play hard and leave it all on the floor,” added Fiske.
No. 5 Hodgdon vs. No. 12 Penobscot Valley (5-13)
    The Hodgdon Hawks take to their home hardwood at 6 p.m. tonight to face the Penobscot Valley Howlers in Class D preliminary action.
    Hodgdon coach Rob Smith noted the Howlers play a mix of C and D teams. The two clubs’ only common opponent is Katahdin — who the winner of this game will play if the Cougars also win their prelim matchup against Shead — on Monday in Bangor.
    PVHS lost twice to Katahdin, once in overtime by four points in Howland and then the Cougars picked up a 14-point win in Stacyville.
    “Coach Russell likes to slow the game down and is willing to work the ball around until his team gets a good look at the basket,” explained Smith. “He will run a zone, but will come out to play man when needed. They have Griffin Libby, Robbie Hallett and Logan Jipson who can lead their team in scoring on any given night.”
    The Hawks have struggled this season with first quarter “blues.”
    “We will have to come out and start strong,” said Smith. “We can not wait until late in the first quarter to show up and play. If we get behind, Coach Russell will patiently sit back and work time off the clock by passing the ball around and looking for a layup or open shot.”
    Smith noted that if his team gets behind, he will pull them from their patented zone, and the Hawks will have to box out and make sure the Howlers’ possessions are limited.
    “The Howlers have two or three shooters and crash the boards,” said Smith. “We need to make sure they do not get two or three chances on each possession.”
    Offensively, the Hawks would like to push the ball when the opportunity lends itself instead of playing at a slower tempo.
    “The last few games, we have taken advantage of good outlet passes and fast-break points,” said Smith.  “If our guards can release and run the floor it may give us an advantage. We want to push the ball and only play a half-court game if we need to.”
    Smith will look for leadership from Josh Hudson and Nick Lunn, while Chris Hudson and Tyler Sherman, on “any given night could lead our team in scoring,” said Smith. Rounding out the starting five is Devon Logie, who Smith said, “has been going to the hoop stronger off the dribble.”
    Quinn Harris has been a great senior leader and getting good minutes off the bench, said Smith, while Matt Harmon and Devin Quint have come off the bench to give the starters a rest.
    “Our bench has been loud and into the game by cheering on the guys on the floor,” Smith said.
    The Hawks will need to take care of the basketball by limiting their turnovers, and Smith said the team goal was to keep the lead less than 15.
    “We have won games when we have been in that range and we have been close in others when we are near our goal,” said Smith. “We rebound well as a team, usually led by Josh, Chris or Devon. Each of these guys will need to step up and control the boards. We have been averaging three guys in double digits on offense and will need this to happen tonight.”
    No. 7 Machias (8-8)
vs. No. 10 GHCA
    The Greater Houlton Christian Academy Eagles are a game away from the Class D Eastern Maine Tournament in Bangor.
    The Eagles will travel to Machias tonight for a 5:30 p.m. game.
    “Machias has size and inside play,” said GHCA coach Sam Henderson. “We have to pressure their guards and box out to be successful.”