It is down to the final two weeks of the regular season for schoolgirl basketball and several local teams are busy jockeying for key playoff positions.
Houlton (13-1) is enjoying a tremendous run, having won 13 consecutive games since a season-opening loss to Presque Isle. Houlton travels to Presque Isle today (Wednesday) in what is likely to be one of the marquee matches of the season. Coach Shawn Graham and the Shires must then travel to Calais Friday for another extremely tough contest before finishing their season Saturday hosting Lee Academy.
Hodgdon (0-15, no points) is 22nd and not in the playoff picture this season. The Hawks also lost one of their better players as freshman Janelle Goff suffered a severe ankle injury during practice last week and will be done for the year.
“She went up for a shot and came down with enough impact to strain the ligaments and displace her tarsal bone and receive a grade 3 sprain,” Hodgdon coach Taylor Quint said. “They had initially thought she had fractured her tibia and she was sent down to Bangor for surgery (which wound up not necessary), so we are very relieved that with rest and therapy she will be making a full recovery!”
Houlton 75, Lee Academy 20 — At Lee Thursday, freshman Kolleen Bouchard netted a game-high 16 points to pace Houlton to victory. Sophomore Rylee Warman added 11 for the Shires. Mona Roemer tallied 10 points for Lee Academy.
Mattanawcook Academy 26, Houlton 54 — At Houlton Saturday, Houlton used a strong second half-surge to race past the visiting Lynx of Mattanawcook Academy. The Shires nursed a 10-8 lead in the first quarter and went up 23-14 by halftime. In the third quarter, Houlton erupted to take a 36-18 advantage.
Bouchard paced Houlton with 26 points and added eight rebounds. Junior Natalie Hill added 11 points, three rebounds and two steals, while freshman Aspen Flewelling and Warman both had seven.
For the Lynx (6-6), Kendra Thurlow led the way with 11 points and Courtney Gordon added seven.
Washburn 71, Hodgdon 13 — At Hodgdon Jan. 21, Washburn’s MacKenzie Worcester dropped 29 points to lead the Beavers to victory. Joan Overman chipped in 13 for Washburn. Senior Hannah Sherman led Hodgdon with seven points.
Washburn led 25-2, 45-4 and 59-8 at the quarter breaks.
Hodgdon 28, Madawaska 36 — At Hodgdon Saturday, Sherman led all scorers with 12 points, while freshman Lexi McGuire chipped in eight. Alexis Levesque paced Madawaska with 10 points. Hodgdon led 9-8 in the first quarter, but trailed 15-11 at halftime. Madawaska opened a 28-19 lead after three periods.
Southern Aroostook 43, Ashland 46 — At Dyer Brook Jan. 20, the visiting Hornets went on a 22-5 run in the final period to earn a comeback victory. MacKenzie Carter led Ashland with 12 points. Senior Cassidy Lyons led SACS with a game-high 23 points.
The two squads were tied 8-8 at the end of the first quarter, but the Warriors led 22-15 at halftime and 38-24 after three periods.
Southern Aroostook 33, East Grand 59 — Individual results were not available for this game played Thursday in Danforth.
Katahdin 35, Easton 51 — At Easton Saturday, the Bears took an early 21-4 first-quarter lead and never looked back en route to the victory. Kylee Carter scored 19 points for the Bears, while Hannah Ferris added 13.
Junior Courtney Stevens paced the Cougars with 12 points, while junior Kacee Cintron added nine; freshman Natalie Richards, eight; junior Molly Cunningham, four; and sophomore Georgia Landry, two.
Easton led 30-12 at the half and 36-18 after three periods.
Ashland 38, Katahdin 57 — At Stacyville Thursday, Cunningham paced the Cougars with 19 points in the win. Landry added 17 for the Cougars. For Ashland, Laura Sturgeon netted 14 and MacKenzie Carter had 12.
East Grand 52, Woodland 59 — At Baileyville Monday, the Vikings fell for just the third time on the season. Senior Allie McEwen scored a game-high 30 points in the loss, while sophomore Sarah Stoddard added 11.
Jennie Cox led Woodland with 28 points, while Lauren Cook added nine. The Dragons led 12-10, 29-23 and 43-37 at the quarter breaks.
Southern Aroostook 31, Washburn 93 — At Washburn Monday, the Beavers jumped to a 31-5 lead in the first quarter and never looked back en route to the lop-sided victory. Worcester poured in 24 points, while Laina Mette added 18, Emily Churchill had 17, Overman added 12 and Grace Braley chipped in 10.
For the Warriors, senior Kennedi Smith netted 12 points while Lyons added 11.
