Thanks to a string of recent wins, the Southern Aroostook boys basketball team has established itself as one of the top squads in the Class D North region. As of Tuesday morning, the Warriors were second in the region, according to the Maine Principals’ Association Heal Points Standings.
Sporting a 6-2 record the Warriors (23.0364 Heal Points) were just 1.0494 points behind top-ranked Easton (6-2, 24.1358), even though SACS has already beaten Easton once on the season.
The two teams meet Thursday in Dyer Brook in what looks to be a prime matchup to decide which team takes over the top seed in the region.
Also in Class D North, East Grand/Greater Houlton Christian Academy (3-5, 5.9877) is ranked eighth and Katahdin (2-6, 2.7160) is 12th. Only the top 10 teams make the playoffs, so for the moment, the Cougars are not in the postseason picture.
In Class C North, Hodgdon (6-3, 19.3827 points) is currently sixth, down one spot from a week ago. George Stevens Academy (9-0) is the No. 1 team in the region. The top 12 squads make the playoffs, so the Hawks are sure to be in the mix when the postseason arrives next month.
In Class B North, Houlton (1-8, 3.5185) is 15th and is not currently in the playoff picture.
So. Aroostook 68, Woodland 56 — On the road Monday in Baileyville, Southern Aroostook received a whopping 41 points, including five 3-pointers, from junior Jackson Mathers. The sure-shooting guard dropped 20 points on the Dragons in the second quarter alone.
Juniors Nolan Altvater and Tyler Batchelder added 10 points and eight points respectively for the Warriors.
For Woodland, Drew Hayward and Kalob Moody each scored 16 points, while Dylan Leighton added 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.
SACS actually trailed the Dragons 25-15 in the first quarter before Mathers lit up the scoreboard, helping the Warriors take a 35-32 lead into the locker room. SACS padded its lead to 55-41 after three periods.
Hodgdon 75, Katahdin 41 — Hosting the Hawks Monday, Katahdin was no match for Hodgdon’s high-scoring attack. The Hawks bolted to a 21-6 first-quarter lead and never looked back as the team led 35-16 at halftime and 60-27 after three periods.
Senior Jimmy Buzzell led Hodgdon with 23 points, while junior Daden Palmer chipped in 14.
For the Cougars, senior Tyson Porter netted 11 points and sophomore Brody Guiggey added 10.
East Grand/GHCA 49, Ashland 44 — At Ashland, the Vikings pulled off a close victory over the Hornets. Individual game results were not reported.
Shead 72, East Grand/GHCA 36 — At Eastport Saturday, Ryan Eylar scored a game-high 18 points to pace the Shead Tigers to victory. Matt Harris chipped in with nine points and Stevie Morrison added eight.
The Vikings were led by sophomore Thomas Gilman with 11 points, while freshman Isaac Potter added eight.
Shead led 26-8, 38-14 and 59-33 at the quarter breaks.
Washington Academy 52 Houlton 41 — At Houlton Saturday, Greg Jarrett and Stefan Milivojevic each tallied 15 points to lead Washington Academy to its seventh win. For Houlton (1-8), sophomore Nick Perfitt and senior Garrett Ring scored 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Houlton led 9-5 at the end of the first quarter, but trailed 18-17 at halftime and 40-27 after three periods.
Houlton 42, Hermon 48 — At Hermon Dec. 31, Tyler Beaton scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Hawks past Houlton in overtime. Garrett Trask added 11 points for the winners.
Houlton was led by sophomore Cameron Graham with 21 points and Ring chipped in 10.
Hermon led 6-5 in the first quarter and 16-14 at halftime, before Houlton took a 28-26 lead after three periods. The two sides were knotted at 36-36 at the end of regulation.
Hodgdon 75, So. Aroostook 80 –– At Dyer Brook Dec. 30, Mathers led all scorers with 36 points, with 33 coming in the 2nd half, to lead Southern Aroostook to the win. Altvater added 27 points and junior Tyler Batchelder chipped in with 14 for SACS.
Hodgdon was led by Palmer with 24 points and Buzzell who contributed 22.
