 |
| Contributed photo/Anna Travers Dayne Savage of the Caribou Vikings pulls up for a shot during his team’s game at Mount Desert Island Dec. 28. Savage sprained an ankle Saturday at Old Town and his playing status is uncertain for tonight’s game at Presque Isle. |
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
Following a 6-0 start, the Caribou Vikings’ boys basketball team has lost two consecutive games and could be without its leading scorer when the squad takes on arch rival Presque Isle tonight.
The Vikings completed a busy stretch that included five games in a nine-day period with losses to Houlton Thursday, 49-47, and to Old Town Saturday, 44-35.
The loss to the Coyotes came after Caribou had beaten them at home four days earlier, 60-46.
In Saturday’s game, Dayne Savage was forced to leave the game with two minutes to play in the first quarter and his team leading, 9-7. He returned to begin the fourth and played the rest of the way, but was limited.
“He’s pretty gimpy and hasn’t regained his full range of motion and mobility,” said Caribou coach Chris Casavant of his star junior guard. “Each day he gets better, but we’re not sure if he’ll be ready to go [against Presque Isle].”
Casavant said his team will need to adjust without its floor general if he’s unable to go.
“In a way it’s a good thing because it’s going to force others to step up,” said the coach. “Others will have to contribute for us to be successful, whether Dayne is in there or not.”
Savage has carried the scoring load for much of the season for the Vikes. He had scored 20 or more points in four of the team’s first six games before being held to eight (on 2 of 14 shooting from the floor) in Thursday’s loss to Houlton and to seven Saturday as well.
“Our morale is good,” Casavant said. “We’re going to use these last two losses to refocus a bit.”
The Vikings remain in second place in the Eastern Maine Class B standings, behind only No. 1 Camden Hills, also at 6-2.
In other Heal Point rankings as of Tuesday, the Caribou girls are in 12th place with their 3-4 mark, while the unbeaten Limestone-MSSM girls (9-0) are in third in Class D behind Van Buren and Fort Fairfield. The Eagle boys, at 1-8, are in 17th.
Summaries of games involving local teams played from Dec. 30-Jan. 4 are as follows:
East Grand boys 62, Limestone-MSSM 43
At Danforth Saturday, Logan Crone led the Vikings with 19 points, scoring 12 of the in the second quarter, to help avenge an early-season loss against Limestone/MSSM.
Limestone/MSSM was led by Chris Bernier with 17 ponts. Tristan Kirk netted 10 points and Victor Negron chipped in with nine.
Limestone-MSSM girls 48, East Grand 40
Melissa Cantafio scored 13 points en route to Limestone/MSSM’s victory over East Grand Saturday in Danforth.
Alexis Bell added 12 points for the Eagles, who remained undefeated.
The Vikings’ Chelsea Winiaski contributed 17 points and 15 rebounds
Old Town girls 52,
Caribou 31
At Old Town, Kaylee Madden and Lauren Martin scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, as the Coyotes defeated the Vikings. The win avenged the team’s loss in Caribou Dec. 31.
Maddie Doucette led the Vikings with nine points, while Delaney Williams added seven.
Old Town boys 44, Caribou 35
Garvey Melmed’s 14 points and Eric Hoogterp’s 12 points paced the Coyotes to the home victory Saturday. Adam Richardson added nine points for the winners.
Cody Herbert led the Vikings with eight points. Dayne Savage and Matt Milliard both chipped in with seven.
Houlton boys 49, Caribou 47
In a battle of undefeated teams at Caribou Thursday, the Shiretowners overcame a four-point halftime deficit to edge the Vikings.
Kyle Bouchard sparked Houlton, who improved to 8-0, with 15 points, while Christian Crane netted 10. Jacob Drew and Nick Guiod added nine and eight points, respectively.
Derek Richardson paced Caribou with 15 points, while Donovan Savage tallied nine and Dayne Savage eight.
Madawaska boys 52, Limestone-MSSM 33
At Madawaska Thursday, Cedric Gendreau’s 17-point performance led the Owls past the Eagles.
Kirk tossed in a game-high 18 points to pace the Eagles. Bernier added 10 points.
Limestone-MSSM boys 70, Madawaska 28
Melissa Cantafio scored 16 points to help Limestone/MSSM roll to another win. Jordyn Hopkins added 12 points and Danika Devost and Chelsey Pelkey each chipped in with 11 for the Eagles.
Leah Gonneville led Madawaska with nine points.
Caribou girls 38, Old Town 37
At Caribou last Tuesday, Doucette hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with just over a minute to play to give the Vikings their first and only lead of the game and a 38-37 victory.
Bria Judd led 3-3 Caribou with 11 points, with Doucette and Shyanne Barnes each scoring eight.
Lauren Martin had a game-high 14 points for the Coyotes.
Caribou boys 60, Old Town 46
Dayne Savage scored a game-high 21 points and Richardson scored 14 more as the undefeated Vikings collected the victory.
Herbert tossed in 11 points and Donovan Savage scored seven points for the winners.
Adam Richardson’s 12 points paced Old Town.
Limestone-MSSM girls 54, East Grand 28
At Limestone Dec. 30, Bell led a well-balanced Eagles attack with a 10-point effort to help defeat the Vikings of Danforth.
Hopkins added nine points, while Ellyzabeth Bencivenga and Kelsee Albert each scored eight. Pelkey highlighted a stellar defensive effort with 10 steals.
Limestone-MSSM boys 54, East Grand 48
Kirk scored a game-high 27 points to propel the host Eagles past East Grand Dec. 30.
Bernier contributed 14 points and Negron added 12 for the Eagles.
East Grand’s Kenneth Winiarski and Logan Crone led the Vikings with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
