WASHBURN, Maine – The Washburn boys’ varsity basketball team wrapped up their season Thursday night with a 65-49 win over Fort Fairfield.
Fort Fairfield got the upper hand early behind the defensive play of Otis Edgecomb and Austin Dufour, who used quick hands to create steals at the top of the key. But Washburn’s Adam Thompson and Alex Morrow hit a three and a layup, respectively to keep the Beavers within one in the first.
The Tigers climbed back out to a nine-point lead to open the second with a three and a long two from Dufour, but two quick fouls kept the window open for Washburn and the Beavers capitalized.
Matt Connolly showed his athleticism as he leapt in for the rebound and put back in one motion off a missed three attempt. Nick McIntosh put up a second chance layup and Morrow and Connolly got back-to-back steals to put the team within two with 4:16 left in the half.
Fort Fairfield maintained a two-point advantage at halftime but the Beavers carried their second-quarter momentum into the third and went on a 6-2 run to open the second half.
Washburn opened up a seven-point lead and never looked back.
Thompson led Washburn with 16 points and Steven Pesut followed with 14 including 10 in the second half. Connolly added 13 points and eight assists to the mix.
Dufour led Fort Fairfield with 15 points.
Wednesday night, the Beavers traveled to Mars Hill and gave the undefeated Panthers a battle but couldn’t pull out the 53-42 win.
Defensively, neither team allowed extra shots, but Central Aroostook got the advantage on their low post game. Silas Kelly, Tim Carlson and Cameron York all took charge, working the ball inside while keeping Washburn shooters quiet. The Beavers missed five inside shots in a row to end the first quarter and a buzzer beater by Kasey Brewer put the Panthers up by seven.
Thompson hit two layups in the a row to end the Beavers’ scoring drought but Carlson and Manny Martinez hit two three pointers in a row and Kelly added a basket in the post as the Panthers went on an 8-0 run and pulled away to a 13-point lead midway through the second.
Washburn made a run in the fourth quarter but Central Aroostook came away with the 11-point margin.
Kelly led the Panthers with 16, York added 12 and Carlson put up 10.
Pesut led Washburn with 15 points and Thompson tossed in 12.
Washburn wraps up the year at 11-7 and in eighth place in Eastern Maine Class D. The team hosted Woodland Tuesday night.
Central Aroostook finishes a perfect season at 18-0 and in third place in Eastern Maine Class D. The team hosts Machias tonight at 6 p.m.
Fort Fairfield ends the year at 5-13, just missing the preliminary round in the 17th spot.
Other teams making the playoffs include Presque Isle, which wrapped up the regular season at 10-8 and traveled to Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield for their preliminary game Tuesday night. Scores were not available by presstime for Tuesday’s preliminary round.
