Staff Writer
The Fort Fairfield and Van Buren boys kept their fans in rapt attention as their match on Tuesday, Dec. 11 went into double overtime. The score matched at 60-60 at the end of the regulation four quarters, then at 64-64 after the first overtime period. However, the Tigers clawed their way to a 76-69 win in the heated game. Matt Cresenzo finished with 18 points followed in close second by Josh Booth with 17.
Doug Sharpe added 12 and Austin Dufour had 10 in the double-digit scoring effort.
“It was absolutely our composure coming down the stretch,” commented head coach Todd Alley. The Tigers shot eight for nine from the free-throw line, leading to their win.
While the Tigers had a hot hand beyond the three-point arc last Friday, they failed to topple Madawaska in a close call, 52-49
Booth, Dufour and Noyes all had double-success shooting outside. Cresenzo led team scoring with 14 points and Dufour added another 10 in the Tigers’ effort.
“It was a good defensive game from both ends,” said Alley, “but they executed and we didn’t.”
The Fort Fairfield and Easton girls’ teams met at Easton last Thursday in Class D basketball competition with Easton hoping to match the boys’ win from the previous week. However, Tigers Maryl Shaw and Kaitlyn McLaughlin both netted 10 points toward the eventual red win, 58-20.
Bear Sydney Trask led her team with nine points.
Bears boast home victory
Easton varsity basketball clawed past East Grand in a Saturday double-header.
The Bear boys overwhelmed the Viking defense for an 84-49 final to keep their perfect record. The Easton boys shot 14 for 15 from the field in the third quarter of the game for the overwhelming score.
Brad Trask shot for the team-high 21 points followed in close second by Jeremy Brock with 20 points. Nate Saunders and Nick Flewelling also had double-digit efforts at 18 and 10 respectively.
“They’re playing extremely well,” said head coach Travis Carter. “They’re very focused.”
The Easton girls fought for their first win of the regular season over the Vikings, 42-30. Kristen Boxwell and Sydney Trask had 12 points each to push the Bears into the winning column.
Head coach Evan Graves called the win a confidence-booster and applauded the leadership of Boxwell and Brooke Hammond, who has just come to the point guard position.
Freshman Trask has also impressed with her ability to adjust to high school varsity play.
“We’re improving every game,” said Graves.
Beavers block opponents
Washburn’s aim proved too much for Hodgdon in girls’ basketball action on Tuesday, Dec. 11. The Beavers plunked in their shots and suppressed Hodgdon to claim at 43-26 win.
Scores remained close in the first and second quarters at 6-5 and 14-13 respectively. However, McDougall led a third-quarter stampede to pull ahead of Hodgdon.
McDougall totaled 14 points and 13 rebounds. Kelsee McLaughlin added 15 of her own points.
Rebecca Campbell proved multi-faceted with seven points, five steals and six rebounds.
The lead swung back and forth between Washburn and Central Aroostook in girls Class D basketball action at Washburn last Friday, but the Beavers claimed the final 41-27 victory over the Panthers. Washburn outscored Central Aroostook in the second 25-9.
Beaver Rachel Palmer dominated the post with 13 points and jumped for 11 rebounds. McLaughlin and McDougall each added another nine.
“We played really hard,” commented head coach Ron Ericson. “Palmer has had two awesome games … we’ve been winning different ways.”
The coaching staff hoped the recent wins would prove to area teams that, despite losing Alex Bird to an injury, the Beavers will still compete this season.
Panther Sarah Long led Central Aroostook with a game-high 17 points.
The Washburn boy’s faced Southern Aroostook at Dyer Brook last Wednesday in Class D basketball competition.
While the Beavers kept a tied score in the second and third quarters at 21 and 37, Southern Aroostook came out on top in the fourth, 50-47.
Beaver Connor Fitzpatrick had shot for 14 points followed by Nick McIntosh with 11 for double-digit scorers.
