DYER BROOK, Maine — A stellar fourth quarter catapulted the Greater Houlton Christian Academy boys basketball team to a 71-58 victory over Southern Aroostook Thursday evening.
GHCA (6-5, ranked fourth in Class D North) received a 26-point effort from sophomore Will Austin that included six baskets from behind the 3-point arc. Sophomore Parker Brewer chipped in 16 points, while freshman Jeremy Stone and junior Isaac Potter each had eight for the Eagles.
“Southern Aroostook is always a very-well coached team and you cannot take anything for granted when facing them,” GHCA coach Justin Speirs said. “I told the team, we needed to be fundamentally sound if we wanted to get the win, and fortunately they picked up the intensity and we got the win.”
Jayden Burpee led the Warriors with 19 points, while Hunter Burpee added 15 and Xavier Morales had 10.
Coach Speirs said the Eagles had to be diligent and not place too much attention on just one SA player in their game with the Warriors.
“You have to be mindful of the entire squad, because they can all shoot the three or penetrate to the basket,” he said.
It was GHCA, however, that was red-hot from behind the arc Thursday as the Eagles connected for eight 3-pointers in the game. Three of Austin’s six treys came in the first quarter alone.
The first quarter was also the most lively as it featured four ties and four lead changes with GHCA clinging to a 17-15 advantage at the end of the period.
The Eagles slowly pulled away in the second quarter, building an eight-point lead (31-23) with 1:56 to play in the half when Joel Carmichael drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Still, SA kept its composure and rattled off a 7-4 run to close out the half down just 35-30 thanks to a jump shot and free throw from Jayden Burpee, a free throw from Steven Rackliff and 3-pointer by Jacob Brooks.
That five-point cushion remained in place in the third quarter, as every time the Warriors cut into the lead, an Eagle would hit a big shot to regain momentum. GHCA slowly increased its lead in the final period, though, thanks mostly to solid shooting from the free throw line.
GHCA was impressive from the charity stripe as the Eagles connected on 16 of 19 foul shots (84 percent). Southern Aroostook made seven of 13 free throws (54 percent).
With the loss, Southern Aroostook falls to 4-8 on the season and is now ranked seventh in Class D North.
The Eagles had little trouble breaking Southern Aroostook’s trapping defense, and were also successful when they tried pressing defensively.
“For the most part I was pleased,” coach Speirs said. “With a team like Southern Aroostook, you have to make the most of your opportunities when you get them. And you can’t make any mistakes. There’s always room for improvement, but the guys are starting to play like the team that I hoped they would be this season.
