MARS HILL, Maine — The Central Aroostook girls basketball team decisively beat Fort Kent 60-36 on Wednesday, Jan. 22, in a game that saw Central Aroostook senior Breann Bradbury reach 1,000 points.
Fort Kent seemed outmatched going into the game, sporting a 3-10 record to Central Aroostook’s 11-3. The Panthers had also beaten Fort Kent, 64-37, in a previous matchup on Dec. 30. Like that last match, it was the Panthers’ offense that helped them prevail over the Warriors, especially big numbers from Bradbury and junior Maci Beals, who combined for a majority of their team’s points.
The game started competitively, with Fort Kent putting up nine to Central Aroostook’s 16 in the first quarter. But the Panthers cemented its lead in the second quarter, scoring 21 more while keeping Fort Kent at bay offensively.
Bradbury propelled herself to the 1,000-point club in the second quarter on her fourth field goal of the day. Play briefly stopped as she and her teammates and family celebrated the accomplishment. Multiple Fort Kent players also congratulated her.
Central Aroostook player Libby Grass, center, is defended by Fort Kent’s Larissa Daigle, right, as Fort Kent coach Kelly O’Leary, left, watches in a game on Wednesday. (David Marino Jr. | The Star-Herald)
The game appeared to be one Central Aroostook had command of going into halftime as the team led 37-13. The bulk of Fort Kent’s offense in the first half came from senior Desirae Hafford, who scored nine of her team’s 13 points through halftime.
Central Aroostook continued to play well in the second half, though its offensive performance slowed down. Nonetheless, Central Aroostook ended the third quarter leading by 28.
Fort Kent had its best quarter in the fourth, scoring 15 points and holding Central Aroostook to just 11. Yet, it was far less than was needed to turn the tide in a game that Central Aroostook ultimately won 60-36.
Beals led Central Aroostook with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. Bradbury had 15 points, and sophomore Liberty Fulton scored nine points.
On the Warriors, Hafford led with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. Freshmen Larissa Daigle had nine and Caitlin Overlock had six.
Panthers coach Dillon Kingsbury said he was happy his team was able to dominate both halves. With the playoffs in Bangor quickly approaching, he said performances like this were especially important.
“Late January, you want to see your team play that well,” Kingsbury said.
Bradbury, who said she didn’t know she was so close to 1,000 points going into the game, said she appreciated the support from her teammates and the home crowd.
“It was just a great honor and a huge achievement that I always wanted to have,” Bradbury said.
