CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou’s North team bested Fort Fairfield, 33-23, to win the championship in the Northern Maine Community Recreation Association boys’ basketball tournament played March 2 and 3.
It was the second consecutive title for the host Vikings. The tourney is held annually and is for fifth- and sixth-graders.
Trailing by a point after one quarter of play, the Vikings outscored the Tigers 13-6 in the second to take the lead for good. The game was close heading into the fourth but Caribou held Fort Fairfield scoreless to clinch the title.
Dylan Bouchard put in 18 of the Vikings’ points to lead all scorers. Bryce Martin tallied nine to lead the Tigers.
Caribou had reached the finals be defeating Presque Isle in the semis, 40-31. Alex Belanger had 18 points and Landon Tracy added 10 for the winners, while Ricardo Jackson netted 15 points and Kameron Tardif had 11 for PI.
Members of the tourney champion Caribou rec basketball team are, in front from left, Luke Beidelman, Dawson St. Pierre and Noah Kilcollins. Back row, Tristan Robbins, Brady Jalbert, Dylan Bouchard, Keegan Bell, Ben Leavitt, Alex Belanger, Lars Spooner, Landon Tracy and coach Matt Bouchard. (Courtesy of Caribou Parks & Rec. Department)
Fort Fairfield topped Easton in the other semi, 38-29, behind Martin’s 12 points and eight more from Landon Leavitt. Owen Sweeney poured in 19 for the Bears and teammate Dawson Lamoreau chipped in with seven.
Other tourney scores: Caribou North 35, Mars Hill sixth-graders 32; Van Buren 26, Caribou South 21; Presque Isle 44, Mars Hill fifth-graders 16; Fort Fairfield 28, Limestone 17; Caribou 32, Madawaska 11; Fort Fairfield 30, Washburn 9; Presque Isle 48, Ashland 7; and Easton 44, Van Buren 16.
Making up the all-tournament team were Caribou’s Belanger and Bouchard, Fort Fairfield’s Leavitt, Presque Isle’s Jackson and Easton’s Sweeney.
