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| Contributed photo/jMavor Photography Fort Fairfield’s Ryan Pelkey tries to block a drive to the basket by Limestone-MSSM’s Victor Negron during Monday’s contest at LCS. The Tigers prevailed, 72-42. |
Vikes sweep openers, Eagle girls win pair
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
It was a splendid season debut for the Caribou Vikings Saturday as the girls and boys were both able to come away with victories over visiting John Bapst of Bangor.
In the first game, the Vikes and Crusaders stayed close throughout but good free throw shooting down the stretch and the poise of Caribou’s younger players accounted for the difference in the 41-37 win.
Caribou was unable to handle John Bapst’s Maegan True during the first half as she broke loose for 13 points, including three three-pointers. However, she injured her ankle late in the second quarter and did not return to the lineup.
The Vikes shot 76 percent from the line in the game, with Maddie Doucette and Rachel Soucy, both freshmen, combining to go 5 of 6 from the line over the final two minutes.
“It was a great test for us,” said Viking coach Ryan Deprey. “Bapst is well coached and always physical and with only one returning starter [Delaney Williams] we had a lot of questions coming in. I can’t overstate how huge this win was to get our confidence up.”
Caribou demonstrated great balance, with Shyanne Barnes and Morgan Outing leading the charge with eight each and Doucette and Bria Judd each netting seven. Deprey said all 10 of his players saw action, with eight scoring and the other two contributing in some way.
The Viking boys bounced back from a sluggish start to dismantle the Crusaders in the second half and go on to a 68-35 triumph.
Caribou experienced foul trouble to their two all-conference players, Dayne Savage and Derek Richardson, during the first half, but the return to the court of Matt Milliard, who had missed the first two weeks of preseason practices with an ankle injury, seemed to spark the Vikings in the second half.
Caribou’s 10-point lead at intermission ballooned to 23 at the end of three as Milliard “brought energy at both ends of the floor,” according to Viking coach Chris Casavant.
After a slow start, Savage picked up his offense in the second half and finished with 16 points, but Cody Herbert set the tone early with some strong inside play and led the charge with 18 points to go along with eight rebounds.
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| Contributed photo/jMavor Photography Alexis Bell, a senior for the Limestone-MSSM Eagles, slithers into the lane for a layup during her team’s game against Fort Fairfield Monday. Bell scored seven points in the Eagles’ 66-52 victory. |
“Cody plays hard all the time and he got results on Saturday,” Casavant said. “He carried us on the glass.”
Milliard held Bapst guard Colby Kohn in check throughout the second half after Kohn had scored 13 first-half points, but finished with 15.
Richardson had 11 points and Adam Collins fired in three three-pointers.
The Caribou girls hosted Fort Kent last night, while both teams will travel to Dover-Foxcroft to take on the Foxcroft Academy Ponies Saturday afternoon. The Viking boys will take on Fort Kent at home Dec. 18.
Summaries of other games played since Dec. 6 are as follows:
Limestone-MSSM girls 66, Fort Fairfield 52 — At Limestone Monday evening, sophomore Chelsey Pelkey had a huge game with 19 points and 12 assists as the Eagles used a strong second half to down the Tigers.
Mariah Williams tallied 14 points for the winners in a foul-plagued game which saw both teams combine to attempt 80 free throws. The Eagles poured in 44 second-half points after trailing throughout much of the first half.
“The momentum shift happened when we got out on the break,” said Eagle coach Ryan O’Neal. “That is when we are at our best. We rebounded much better in the second half, which allowed us to break and we were able to get some easy baskets late in the second quarter and throughout the second half.
“Any time we can use our athleticism in the fullcourt is a plus for us.”
Kelsee and Kassee Albert tallied nine and seven points, respectively, for the Eagles, while Alexis Bell notched seven points as well.
Taylor Churchill’s 13 points were tops for the Tigers, who were making their season debut.
Fort Fairfield boys 72, Limestone-MSSM 42 — In the first game of Monday’s doubleheader at Limestone Community School, the Tigers bolted to the victory behind two double-digit scorers and good balance beyond that.
Hunter Beaulieu and Robbie Watson led the offense as Beaulieu scored 15 points and Watson 14.
Other contributors for the Tigers were Logan Craig with nine, Johnny Theriault with seven and Chris Giberson and Noah Bernard with six each.
“We’ve had a balanced attack through our first two games,” said FF coach Todd Alley. “[Our results] are a step in the right direction, but we have lots of tests to come.”
Alley said Theriault, Giberson and Ryan Player have been instrumental in putting effective defensive pressure on opponents, while in rebounding, it’s been a team effort in getting the job done.
“The teamwork and hustle has really impressed me early on,” Alley said. “They don’t care who is filling up the stat sheet as long as we are getting the job done.”
In other games played Friday, all decided by lopsided scores, the Washburn girls downed Hodgdon, 80-11, as Grace Braley scored 16 points to lead the way for the three-time defending Class D state champs. Also, Limestone-MSSM raced past the Madawaska girls, 63-13, the Fort Fairfield boys bested Ashland, 61-32; and the Madawaska boys eased past Limestone-MSSM, 72-43.
