It was a memorable week of tournament games in Bangor for basketball fans. Southern Aroostook County was extremely well represented in the annual tournament, with the Houlton boys and girls, Hodgdon boys and Southern Aroostook boys all playing games at the new Cross Insurance Center.
Both the Houlton and Hodgdon boys collected Eastern Maine championships and will now make the trek to the Augusta Civic Center Saturday in hopes of bringing home a gold ball. Hodgdon plays Valley of Bingham at 2:45 p.m., while the Shires take the court at 8:45 p.m. versus Waynflete of Portland.
Much has changed in the past year. Last season, both the Hawks and Shires came one game short in their quests to reach the boys State D and C title games respectively.
The Hodgdon boys, under the guidance of coach Robbie Smith, once again showed tremendous poise and sportsmanship on the hardwood. The team enjoyed a large motorcade reception featuring fire trucks and many parents upon returning to the County Saturday evening.
It’s been a good year for coach Smith. The Hawks have posted an impressive 18-3 record and had two players — junior Chris Hudson and senior Deyrell Vargas join the 1,000-point club. Smith’s wife Jennifer gave birth to their first son, Logan, on Jan. 31 who has been at all of the Hawks’ playoff games along with siblings Morgan and Madison.
And now, the Hawks are hoping to bring home a gold ball for the first time since 1996.
Not to be outdone, the Houlton boys are poised to bring home a state championship for the first time since 2004. The third time proved to be the charm for the Shire boys and coach Rob Moran. After falling in the Eastern Class C championship game in each of the past two seasons, the squad was not to be denied this year.
The Shires showcased remarkable versatility in each of their three playoff games, as coach Moran came up with different strategies for each of the opponents the team faced. Against Lee Academy Saturday evening, Houlton found itself going up against a much taller squad, but that did not deter the team from dominating in all aspects of the game.
Both Houlton and Hodgdon held receptions for their teams Monday evening to congratulate and encourage the players and coaches as they prepare for States.
Hosting the tournament for the first time since opening its doors, the Cross Insurance Center proved to be extremely accommodating venue for fans and media alike. The vibe of the tournament, however, was noticeably different. Many fans found the seats too irresistible and spent much of the games resting in relaxation as opposed to jumping up and down.
Noise levels were also nowhere near the epic proportions of the old Bangor Auditorium. Sure there were a few moments of intense celebration after big shots, but overall, the center seemed too quiet on many occasions.
Perhaps that will change in future years as the newness of the facility wears off. From a pure spectator standpoint, though, it is hard not to like the new building. There are no bad seats or obstructed views to be had in the facility and the accessibility is second to none.
The staff of the Houlton Pioneer Times wishes the best of luck to both the Houlton and Hodgdon boys teams as they head to States on Saturday. We also offer congratulations to all of the teams that made it to the tournament.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.
