CARIBOU, Maine — The host team has earned northern and central Aroostook County bragging rights in fifth- and sixth-grade boys’ basketball when the Caribou Vikings defeated the Easton Bears, 45-20, in the finals of the Northern Maine Community Recreation Association tournament at the Caribou Wellness and Recreation Center.
The tourney occurred over two days on March 3 and 4 and included 10 teams which played in a single-elimination format.
In the title game, Reece Cavagnaro and Wesley LaPointe scored 10 points each, while Griffen McNeal notched nine as Caribou took the lead early and dominated the Bears. Nine different players scored points for the winners, while stingy defense was also a key. Evan Carver was Easton’s high scorer with 13 points.
Presque Isle faced Caribou in one of the semifinal contests. The two teams met during the season and the Vikes came out victorious, 27-25. In the rematch, Caribou jumped out to a 14-4 lead after one quarter en route to a 38-18 triumph. LaPointe led the winning offense with 16 points, while Malachi Cummings had nine for PI.
The second semifinal saw Easton notch a 37-24 win over Van Buren. Carver fired in 18 points and Cade Ennis added seven for the Bears. Noah Martin, Xavier Deschaine and Sam Hebert had four points apiece for the Crusaders.
In first-round results, with 17 points, Brady Castonguay led three Washburn players in double figures in an opening-round victory over Ashland. Blake Vincent had eight points for the Hornets. Caribou knocked off Fort Fairfield, 48-18, behind McNeal’s 12 points. Four players had four points each for the Tigers. Presque Isle received 10 points each from Kaden Tardif and Dawson Beaulieu in a 43-14 triumph over Madawaska, which Ian Beaulieu’s 10 points led. Martin’s 11 points led Van Buren past Mars Hill. Colby Burlock scored six for the Panthers.
Presque Isle’s Cummings scored 22 points in a second-round victory over Limestone. Dawson St. Pierre scored 10 for the Eagles. Easton defeated Washburn 43-28 behind Carver’s 25-point effort. Castonguay had 17 points for the Beavers.
Making up the all-tournament team were Cavagnaro and McNeal from the victorious Vikings, Easton’s Carver, Van Buren’s Hebert and Presque Isle’s Ben Beaulieu.
