Top local Hotshots advance
CARIBOU — The Northern Regional Finals of the Maine Recreation and Park Association and Maine Red Claws Hotshot Basketball Competition were held at the Caribou Wellness Center Feb. 23.
The Hotshot competition is a basketball skills competition for youth ages 9-15 years of age and involves shooting from five “hot spots” marked on one end of a basketball court. The competition tests each contestant’s speed, shooting, dribbling and rebounding ability.
Kathy Mazzuchelli, superintendent of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department and director of the Northern Regional Finals, noted that the actual Hotshot competition has been going on for over 30 years. Originally the competition was sponsored by the NBA and local sponsors and winners at the state level were able to travel to different parts of the country each year to compete in the national finals.
Once the NBA dropped sponsorship, the Maine Recreation and Park Association chose to retain the competition and is pleased to have the Maine Red Claws as a partner promoting solid sports fundamentals through the Hotshot program.
This year the top three finalists from Aroostook County traveled Sunday to the Portland Expo, home of the Maine Red Claws, to compete in the State Hotshot Competition. Participants were also invited to stay for a Maine Red Claws game that afternoon.
For 9-10 year-old girls, Brittany Hagan of Houlton captured the top three-round score in the regional competition. The runner-up was Madison Stratton of Caribou and the third-place finisher was Brenna Levasseur of Fort Fairfield.
For 9-10 boys, Gradon Griffeth of Fort Fairfield placed first, followed by Ethan Cassidy, also of Fort Fairfield, and Nicholas Stetson of Mars Hill.
Kaylyn Krul of Caribou took top honors for 11-12 girls, followed by Brianne Thibeault of Madawaska and Amber Chasse of Ashland.
In the 11-12 boys’ division, a trio of Fort Fairfield boys captured the three slots with Dawson Watson taking first, followed by Dylan Dufour and Malcolm Langner.
For 13-15 girls, Caribou’s Maddie Doucette and Jenna Boucher battled to a first-place tie, which led to a shoot-off. When the dust settled and the shoot-off round scores were totaled, Doucette captured the top slot, followed by Boucher. Third place was claimed by Desiree Belanger of Madawaska.
In the 13-15 boys’ category, Ryan Player of Fort Fairfield topped the division, while Isaac Cyr, also of Fort Fairfield, was second. Noah Rosado of Caribou rounded out the top three.
Although 16-18 year olds are not allowed to advance at the state level, the Northern Maine Community Recreation Association agreed to allow for a 16-18 year-old division, which was won by Ashley Hersey of Easton. Second place went to Jordi Lagassie of Presque Isle.
At Sunday’s state competition, Hagan and Doucette captured first-place titles, while Cassidy turned in a third-place performance.
