CARIBOU, Maine — Caribou Viking fans packed the team’s high school gym on March 1 for a reception honoring the team’s second consecutive state basketball victory.
The team won the Class B state championship at the game against Maranacook in double overtime. With seconds left on the clock, Viking Parker Deprey passed the ball to his brother Sawyer Deprey, who scored the shot and ensured a 73-71 victory for Caribou.
Likewise, last year’s state championship game against Cape Elizabeth also ended in double overtime, and a close 49-47 victory for Caribou. The 2019 championship marked the first time Caribou had won the gold ball in 50 years.
The Caribou High School parking lot and gym flooded to capacity on Sunday and guests were led in singing the school song as the reception began.
The crowd gave the first of several standing ovations as the team walked in the gym and took seats next to a table displaying both gold balls.
The Caribou Vikings applaud the community for their support during a March 1 reception honoring the team’s second consecutive state victory. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
RSU 39 (Caribou and Stockholm) Superintendent Tim Doak said several officials from other Maine schools have reached out to congratulate the team and that many have commented on the team’s professionalism and sportsmanship.
Doak also spoke of Caribou’s legacy, and how 51 years ago Viking Mike Thurston helped Caribou win the state championship by making a three-pointer from beyond the midcourt stripe.
“For so long, we’ve heard of Mike Thurston’s shot, at every tournament, it will be talked about how Caribou made that last minute shot,” Doak said. “We have a new saying now — ‘What a pass.’”
The crowd erupted in applause and Caribou High School principal Travis Barnes commended the team for its excellence on the court and also in the school as exceptional students. Barnes also discussed the community’s support, with families coming to games and cheering on their loved ones, local businesses putting up signs encouraging the team and the police escorting the team through Aroostook County as they made their return home.
He asked that the Vikings stand with him to applaud the community for their support.
Athletic Director Evan Graves also shared a couple stories and comments that came through Facebook from the community. The first was from Woodland resident Tom Drew, who congratulated the team for doing so much more than winning the second consecutive gold ball.
“You fellas are responsible for bringing us all together, if only for a little while,” Drew wrote. “No matter our politics, we were united. No matter our age, we were attentive. No matter our status, privilege or wealth we cheered you on. Everything we thought separated us was insignificant and that alone was a refreshing gift.”
Graves showed a video created by Caribou High School alumnus Ben Ezzy, introduced each of the players to the crowd and then team captains Parker Deprey and Alex Bouchard and Coach Kyle Corrigan said a few words about the victory.
Caribou Vikings head coach Kyle Corrigan talked about how unselfish and humble the team has been, despite winning two consecutive state victories, during a March 1 reception at Caribou High School. (Chris Bouchard | Aroostook Republican)
Deprey said the victory meant a lot to him and his teammates and that it was one of the greatest athletic experiences of his life.
“I’d like to thank the coaches, the Caribou High School administration and all of our fans,” said Deprey. “The support we’ve received in the past couple of years has been absolutely incredible and acknowledged statewide. I’ve had an awesome experience being a Caribou Viking and I can’t wait to cheer on our future teams.”
Bouchard thanked the entire city of Caribou for its overwhelming support through the season.
“It’s greatly appreciated by our team and I know it’s helped us throughout the run we made this year,” he said. “I’d also like to thank the coaches from the past and present. Credit is due for the coaches in the past who helped us get where we are now. And I’d like to thank my team, you’ve made every second of basketball exciting and I’d say if you look at the table over here, we’ve made out pretty well.”
Corrigan emphasized how, despite having earned bragging rights for its second consecutive state victory, the Vikings remain unselfish and humble.
He said that when the team returned to the hotel after the game, they opted to leave the ball on the bus, to not look like they’re arrogant or bragging about the victory.
Corrigan also reiterated the team’s incredible resilience and how with only 40 seconds left on the clock, they determined a plan for victory and followed through.
“Those two kids could have easily said ‘This is it. We’ve just lost,’” the coach said, referring to Parker Deprey’s pass to his brother Sawyer. “But neither of them gave up. That play shows how resilient these kids are, that they’re not going to quit until that final horn blows and there are two zeros on the board.”
He said that Parker, a senior who has scored 1,300 points throughout his time at Caribou High School, could have easily tried to make the shot himself, but saw that his brother was wide open and that passing to him would ensure a victory.
“He had a chance to win it himself, and he passed up that opportunity for a better chance and that just speaks volumes to what these guys are like,” said Corrigan. “They don’t care who scores the points — they just want to win and be successful.”
