By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The 2013-14 varsity basketball regular season has only a few days remaining.
Some squads, such as the Limestone-MSSM Eagle girls and boys, have already completed their 18-game schedule. The Caribou girls and boys wrap things up this week when the Presque Isle Wildcats come to town.
Friday is the official end date of the regular season, with Saturday used as a make-up day in the event of inclement weather. The preliminary playoff round takes place next Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 11 and 12, with the Eastern Maine Tournament at the new Cross Insurance Center in Bangor set to begin Friday, Feb. 14.
The Viking boys grabbed three more victories last week and took a 13-3 record into Tuesday night’s game at Houlton, who is undefeated and in first place in the EM ‘C’ division.
Caribou gained some major Heal Points by topping Hermon twice and, in between, stopping Fort Kent.
Cody Herbert’s 10 points led the way in the home meeting against the Hawks last Tuesday. The Savage brothers — junior Dayne and sophomore Donovan — tallied 15 points each and Derek Richardson posted 12 in the victory at Hermon Saturday.
Dayne Savage netted 23 points at Fort Kent in the 67-52 win.
A win last night and another Friday against the Wildcats would all but guarantee a top-three finish in EM Class B.
That would mean the Vikes would not have to play in the prelims and instead would earn a bye straight into the quarterfinals.
The Caribou girls, on the other hand, will most likely not qualify for the post-season unless they are able to upset No. 1 and undefeated PI at home Thursday, and then they may still need some help.
The Vikes were swept by the Hermon Hawks and even though they led at halftime Monday were stopped by the Shiretowners, 53-37.
In Monday’s contest, freshman guard Maddie Doucette hit three three-pointers en route to a team-high 11 points, but Caribou was defeated and is now 4-13 overall.
The Limestone-MSSM girls welcomed back Chelsey Pelkey and Jordyn Hopkins Friday after both had been sitting out with concussions — Pelkey for eight games and Hopkins for three.
Their presence was still unable to prevent Ashland from pulling off a 40-39 upset victory in Limestone. Marissa Chasse’s basket from five feet away with three seconds left was the difference.
The Eagle girls also fell at Fort Fairfield Saturday, 39-36. A three-point attempt by Hopkins with time running out was blocked and allowed the Tigers to split the season series.
Pelkey had 10 points, as did teammate Melissa Cantafio, in the loss to Ashland. Cantafio tossed in 10 and Mariah Williams nine against FF.
Limestone-MSSM, after a 14-0 start, heads into the playoffs loser of three of its last four games. The team is currently ranked sixth in EM Class D and will host a prelim next Tuesday against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. The final standings will be released this weekend.
The Eagle boys beat Ashland Friday, 38-37, for their fourth victory of the season, but were easily handled by Fort Fairfield Saturday to end their season out of the playoff picture. Tristan Kirk scored 13 points, including some key ones down the stretch, as the Eagles surprised Ashland after having been beaten two weeks earlier by 28 points on the Hornets’ home floor.
