HOULTON, Maine — The last day of the regular high school basketball season is Friday, but Saturday, Feb. 7 can be used as a makeup day since teams are still looking to get in all of their scheduled games due to snow postponements.
The preliminary playoffs for schoolboy basketball begin on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The Eastern Maine Class B-C-D Tournament starts Friday, Feb. 13 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. Several boy’s teams are poised to reach the tourney.
In Eastern Maine Class C, the Houlton Shiretowners are in third with a 13-3 record and 80.3468 Heal Points, following No. 1 Central of East Corinth (13-3, 86.5105) and No. 2 Calais (12-2, 81.6449).
Houlton was scheduled to travel to Caribou yesterday, with their last game of the season being Thursday in East Machias when they play Washington Academy. The junior varsity game starts at 5:30 p.m. followed by the varsity contest at 7 p.m.
If Houlton stays ranked No. 3, they would face the prelim winner of No. 6 (currently, Washington Academy, 10-5) and No. 11 (Bucksport, 7-9) at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 9:35 a.m.
In Class D, Southern Aroostook, Hodgdon and Katahdin are in the hunt to reach the Eastern Maine tourney.
Southern Aroostook is currently third in the Heal Point standings with a 14-1 record and 66.7540 Heal Points, following No. 1 Washburn (14-1, 82.1078) and No. 2 Easton (14-2, 67.1387).
The Warriors were to host East Grand yesterday and will play in Washburn today and Fort Fairfield tomorrow, with both games at 7 p.m.
The Hodgdon Hawks are in the 11th spot with an 8-7 record and 18.0885 Heal Points, while Katahdin is 14th with a 6-9 record, 13.6188 Heal Points. The Hawks were scheduled to host Limestone/MSSM yesterday and will host East Grand tonight and will travel to Fort Fairfield on Friday. All games are at 7 p.m.
The top 15 teams in Class D qualify for the playoffs, with the top-ranked team, currently Washburn, receiving a bye and heading straight to the quarterfinal round in Bangor on Monday, Feb. 16. If the Hawks stay in 11th, they will travel to Machias (11-2, 42.3713) on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Katahdin if they remain in 14th will play in Dyer Brook against the Warriors.
The Cougars were scheduled to play in Easton yesterday and will play two games in Bangor at Bangor Christian today and on Thursday at Central Aroostook. However, a snowstorm is being forecast for Thursday, so the game may be made up on Friday.
The East Grand Vikings are currently ranked No. 20 in Class D with a 1-11 record. The Vikings were scheduled to make up their game with Southern Aroostook yesterday and will play in Hodgdon today at 7 p.m. On Thursday, the Vikings will host Machias (5 p.m.) and on Friday they will be at home to Wisdom at 5:30 p.m.
In last week’s action, the Shiretowners overpowered visiting Presque Isle, 76-48, last Thursday in Houlton.
Kyle Bouchard led Houlton with 15 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, while Christian Crane scored 12; Jake Condon, 10; and Dan Howe, nine points on Senior Night.
Presque Isle’s offense was keyed by Kyle Rider’s 13 points and Randon Mortland’s 10.
Last Thursday, Southern Aroostook raced by Hodgdon, 81-46, in Dyer Brook even though the Hawks hit 11 3-pointers, it was not enough to recover.
Jackson Mathers poured in 25 points, while Cam Landry tossed in 19 and Nolan Altvater netted 13 more.
Leading the Hawks was Daden Palmer with 15 points, all off 3-pointers.
In Eastport last Thursday, the East Grand boys were defeated 61-28 by Shead.
Alex Stoddard scored 13 points for East Grand, while Greg Jarrett posted a game-high 22 points for Shead. The Tigers led all quarter breaks: 15-5; 29-15; and 52-22.
Last Wednesday, the Katahdin Cougars fell to Schenck, 80-50.
