The Houlton Shiretowners are 3-0 as the season gets under way, picking up two more decisive wins last week.
On Saturday, the Shires used a strong second half to defeat visiting Fort Kent, 69-34.
The Shires opened the game with a 12-8 lead before boosting it to 28-18 at halftime. Houlton used a 15-0 run to open the third and outscored the Warriors, 19-, in the period en route to the win.
Kyle Bouchard led the Shires with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Nick Guiod knocked down 15 points and dished out six assists. Elyjah Crockett also tossed in 13 points and pulled down six rebounds.
Isaac Cone, Jake Drew and Christian Crane all scored six points apiece for the Shires.
Fort Kent’s Ryan Chasse drained three three-pointers for 12 points.
Houlton won the junior varsity contest, 48-23.
Last Wednesday, the Shiretowners overtook Class B Presque Isle, 69-54, as Bouchard scored nearly half of Houlton’s points.
Bouchard poured in 33 points, including six 3-pointers, grabbed eight rebounds, made seven of his eight free throws and handed out six assists. Christian Crane turned in a solid game with 16 points and nine boards.
Guiod and Cone each scored six points for Houlton.
Karson Eaton’s 24 points, including six 3-pointers keyed Presque Isle. Bradley Shields finished with 15 points.
Houlton opened the game with a 20-17 lead and pushed it to a 10-point cushion at halftime, 40-30. After three, Houlton stayed ahead, 59-41.
The Hodgdon Hawks soared in their last three games outscoring their opponents by 67 points (219-152), with junior Chris Hudson racking up 97 points over that stretch.
Saturday in Danforth, Hudson lit the net up for a game-high 41 points as Hodgdon overpowered East Grand, 90-62.
Senior transfer Deyrell Vargas put in 14 points; Tyler Sherman scored a dozen and Devin Quint added 10 points in the win.
The Hawks controlled the game from the tipoff with a 23-11 lead that erupted into a 46-26 halftime cushion. After the third, Hodgdon was well ahead, 72-35.
Kenny Winiarski pumped in 29 points for East Grand, while teammates Logan Crone netted 14 and Jimmy Brittain 10 more. Alex Stoddard added seven more for the Vikings.
Hodgdon traveled to Fort Fairfield last Thursday and came home with a 59-47 victory.
Hodgdon led 19-8 in the first quarter before pushing the lead to 33-18 at the half. After three, Hodgdon remained in the lead, 42-31. The Tigers closed the gap to six points with just over three minutes left but Hodgdon took control of the glass and hit crucial free throws down the stretch to keep Fort Fairfield at bay.
Hudson drained 30 points, while Vargas tossed in 10.
Robbie Watson led Fort Fairfield with 15 points and Hunter Beaulieu added 12.
Hudson’s 26 points paced Hodgdon past visiting Washburn last Tuesday, 70-43.
Vargas netted 14 points, while Quint chipped in with 11 more for the winners.
The Hawks jumped to a 28-2 first-quarter lead and held a comfortable 43-12 halftime advantage en route to the win.
On Saturday, the Katahdin boys went to Bangor to play the Patriots. The Cougars lost 57-35.
Wyatt Morse led Katahdin with a game-high 22 points, while Nick Lane added seven.
For Bangor Christian, Seth Pearson had 17 points, while Caleb Peary scored 14 and Ben Miller 13 to go with his 10 rebounds.
Last Wednesday in Howland, the Cougars picked up a 69-32 victory using a 22-5 opening scoring run.
Gavin Russell scored 16 points, while TJ Young had 14; Morse, 13; and Lane another 12.
At halftime, Katahdin led 47-17 and after three, 55-27.
Jarrett Priest paced the Howlers with 10 points.
On Monday in Stacyville, the Katahdin boys overpowered GHCA, 89-41.
T.J. Young scored 20 points and had five steals, while Wyatt Morse and Nick Lane each netted 13 points for Katahdin. Tyson Porter tossed in 10 points and snatched nine rebounds.
For the Eagles, Dana Brown pumped in 20 points and Aaron Holmes fired up 16.
Katahdin jumped to a 31-3 opening-quarter lead and built a 46-15 halftime cushion, continuing it into the third, 73-27.
GHCA’s home opener did not favor them, as the Wisdom boys won, 58-33 at the University of Maine Presque Isle.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 20-3 opening lead; led at halftime, 33-13 and after three, 50-25.
Brown scored a game-high 23 points for the Eagles.
For Wisdom, Nate Boynton totaled 19 points and Dominic Roy chipped in with 15.
In other action, the Southern Aroostook Warriors overtook visiting Ashland, 59-51 last Wednesday.
