CARIBOU, Maine — With a new-look lineup that featured four new starters, the Vikings were still able to put together a solid season. They were rewarded with the chance to host a preliminary playoff game tonight with hopes of returning to the Class B regional tournament.
Caribou went 10-8 to finish sixth out of 17 teams in the division. As a result, the Vikings will host No. 11 Foxcroft Academy at 6 p.m., with the winner advancing to the ‘B’ North quarterfinal round and an 8 p.m. Friday matchup against third-seeded Washington Academy of East Machias at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
The Vikings claimed the solid seed thanks mostly to home wins over No. 4 Desert Island and No. 5 Orono four days apart midway through the campaign. Both those teams had a chance at the No. 1 ranking heading into the final week of the regular season. The Vikes downed the Trojans Dec. 30, 60-57, and then stopped Orono, 61-59 on Jan. 2.
Coach Chris Casavant said the team progressed fairly well throughout the winter despite having only one player, senior Donovan Savage, play significant minutes the previous season.
They were joined in the lineup by sophomore Nick Allen, who had missed the final three weeks of last year due to academic ineligibility, and junior Andre Rossignol, who played his first two high school seasons at Van Buren before transferring in last summer.Senior Ricky Sheldon saw some time off the bench last year but was elevated to a starting role, while Gabe Massey was on the varsity team last season but saw very little time and also became a starter.
“I knew it was going to be a learning experience for a lot of the guys and they came around pretty well,” said Casavant.
The constant has been Savage and the coach said “we go as he goes offensively.” He put up big numbers and is among the Big East Conference’s statistical leaders in many categories, averaging 17 points, three assists, 2.5 rebounds and two steals per contest. He is also an 85 percent foul shooter, tops in the league.
Allen averages nine ppg, while Rossignol and Sheldon are both close behind at eight ppg. Sheldon leads the way in rebounding at nearly seven per outing. Massey is a top-flight defender and is third on the team in rebounding behind only Sheldon and Allen.
There are no surprises defensively with the Vikes, who rarely stray from their strong halfcourt man-to-man.
“When you aren’t getting pressed and you are committing that many, it’s an area of concern,” Casavant said. “We also have to do a better job at the free throw line.” Casavant is confident heading into tonight’s game, noting the team has been successful in most of its prelim home games in the past. He is hoping the team can lower the number of turnovers it has been committing in recent games. He said the Vikings have averaged close to 16 per game over the past three weeks.
Foxcroft comes in with a 6-12 record but has won four of its last six games. The team’s top scorer, senior Hunter Smith, has been recovering from an injury suffered in the fall. Caribou beat the Ponies in their Dec. 12 meeting played in Dover-Foxcroft, 49-48, behind some late clutch foul shots by Savage.
“They are definitely playing well, but being at home is a huge advantage for us,” Casavant said.
Caribou closed out the regular season last Wednesday with a 44-39 home victory over Presque Isle on Senior Night. Savage scored 17 points, nine coming from the foul line, while Allen added eight more. Kyle Rider tallied 17 points for PI, which finished the season with a 3-15 record.
