The Caribou junior varsity girls basketball team opened its season with a 59-38 loss at home to Hermon Saturday, but bounced back Tuesday for a 49-33 triumph at Fort Kent.
In Saturday’s opener, the game was close for 2-1/2 quarters before the visiting Hawks pulled away. Foul trouble contributed to the loss, according to coach Marc Weeks, as well as the Caribou team’s lack of height.
“Hermon outsized us at every position and in addition to wearing us down, we were in foul trouble partially because we tried to play vertical against a taller team,” Weeks said. “That is something we will address in practice with technique and positioning, as I suspect we will be shorter than every team we face this year.”
Sage Dubay scored 16 points to lead the Vikings’ offense.
In the 16-point win at Fort Kent three days later, Caribou came out fast and aggressive on the defensive end, led by sophomore captain Maddy Zeigler and freshman Mia Theriault, forcing turnovers that led to an early six-point lead the Vikings did not relinquish.
“We still have a lot of work to do in terms of defending size, protecting the rim and communicating as a team,” Weeks said, “but overall I was happy with the effort and the energy defensively during the game.”
Dubay, Renee Stubbs, Abbie McNeal and Gabby Sutherland all reached double figures in scoring for Caribou, which next has a road game in Pittsfield against Maine Central Institute Saturday afternoon.
