Stormy weather postponed basketball games scheduled throughout the area Monday and Tuesday, but plenty of games were played over the weekend and earlier last week.
The Caribou girls lost their second consecutive game to begin the season, dropping a 64-46 decision at Foxcroft Academy Saturday.
Gabrielle Marquis and Jenna Boucher scored 11 points each in the loss, while Searra Herbert chipped in with nine more. Abby Simpson’s 19 points led the way for the Ponies, who tallied 23 points in the opening quarter and rolled from there.
Also on Saturday, the LCS/MSSM teams were swept in a doubleheader played in Danforth against the East Grand/GHCA co-op team. The Eagle girls were beaten, 58-38, as Haleigh Shay netted 26 points for the winners and Sarah Stoddard complemented her with 18 more. Jackie Peers tossed in 13 and Kassee Albert nine for the 0-5 Eagles, who also lost games last week to Fort Kent (34-27 last Wednesday) and Madawaska (57-33 Thursday). Jessica Lindsay and Francesca Armstrong had six points each against the Warriors and Jackie Peers and Madeline Williams eight points each in the loss to the Owls.
The boys from Limestone fell to East Grand/GHCA by a 31-24 final and are now 2-3 on the young season. Alex Spague totaled 10 points for the Eagles, who registered a 34-29 win over Madawaska Thursday as Victor Negron had 12 points and Dalton Canonico 10 for the winners. Craig Gendreau tossed in 20 for the host Owls. In last Wednesday’s 55-36 home loss to Fort Kent, Justin Hamilton totaled nine points to lead LCS/MSSM.
“The team is really adjusting to structure,” said first-year Eagle coach Brian Massey. “We must maintain the course of building a program and look at each victory or defeat as another step toward something positive.
“Some surprise MSSM players and freshmen have really been nice to have this year. I think the seniors see how hungry the younger players are and they give just a bit more of themselves,” he added.
The Washburn boys and girls hosted Van Buren Friday and defeated the Crusaders in both ends of the twinbill. The Beaver boys improved to 2-0 with the 61-42 victory, highlighted by Jarrett Olson’s 21 points. Washburn trailed by three points at halftime before going on a 29-4 run in the third quarter. Olson (12 points) and Derek Baker (11) led the Beavers in the pivotal period. Baker finished with 14 points and McCall Turner totaled 10 as the duo combined for six three-point field goals.
Washburn’s opening-season game was a thriller played last Tuesday in Hodgdon. It took two overtimes for the Beavers to prevail, 81-70. The visitors outscored the Hawks in the second OT period, 15-4. Olson had 24 points and Noah Caron and Brandon Cropley netted 23 each for the winners, while Jimmy Buzzell had 32 in a losing cause.
The girls’ team from Washburn had an easy time downing the Crusaders Friday, thanks to a 21-4 scoring flurry in the second quarter that stretched a six-point lead to 23. Eight Beaver players scored, with Grace Braley pacing the offense with 13, Brittany Corey adding 12 and Taylor Howe and Emilia Churchill chipping in with nine each. Washburn is now 2-0.
“Taylor has played a critical role for us early on,” said Washburn coach Diana Trams. “She has been very aggressive on the boards which has helped us.”
The fourth-year coach noted that Churchill has served a variety of roles, running the offense and handling the ball while also averaging a whopping 16 rebounds through the first two contests.
“Our half court offense, when we are patient and look for teammates, is better than it has been in years,” Trams added. “We still have the potential to press with several quick players and Grace and Brittany have done well in the post creating opportunities there.”
The Beaver teams have huge early-season showdowns set for tonight in Washburn. Southern Aroostook comes to town, with the girls playing at 5:30 p.m. and the boys at 7 p.m. The SA girls are off to an impressive 3-1 start, while the Warriors boys are at 3-0.
The Fort Fairfield girls are perfect at 3-0 following Friday’s 51-31 triumph over previously-unbeaten Southern Aroostook. Chelsey Pelkey scored 16 points and collected seven steals in the win, while Taylor Churchill and Teresa Maynard also hit double figures in scoring with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Kylie Vining tallied nine points for the Warriors, now 3-1.
The Tigers trounced Hodgdon last Tuesday, thanks to a strong first quarter that saw FF outscore the Hawks, 25-2. Churchill had 14 points, Kayla Giberson 11 and Marissa Brouette 10 for the Tigers in the win.
On Thursday in boys’ action, the Hodgdon Hawks handed Fort Fairfield a 50-47 defeat in a game that stayed close throughout. Buzzell had a dominating performance with 33 points for the Hawks, with none of his teammates scoring more than four in the contest. For the 1-1 Tigers, Chris Giberson had 18 points and Isaac Cyr 15.
The Tigers boys have a big week with a game at Fort Kent Thursday, a home tilt against Easton Friday (made up after Monday’s postponement) and another huge home contest Monday against Southern Aroostook.
