Staff Writer
WASHBURN – Beaver and Bear fans split the Washburn District High School gymnasium to cheer for their boys’ and girls’ team in a classic double-header on Friday night.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson Beaver Kelsee McLaughlin powers past her Easton defender, Katie Cyr, in last Friday’s home game.
The Washburn boys rampaged the court, hungry for a home victory and tossed in the first five points of the game before Easton could get on the board.
“They challenged us and that’s what we need day-in and day-out,” said Easton head coach Travis Carter. “We’re starting a little bit slow and finishing stronger.”
Easton’s fullcourt pressure tested Washburn’s passing skills, as the Bears fought back for control of the game after WDHS led at the first quarter. Easton’s coaching staff were very impressed with the young team working so well together.
“We weren’t getting good looks but we weren’t turning the ball over,” said Washburn head coach Randy Norsworthy about Easton’s defensive pressure.
In the second quarter, the Beavers again took an early jump on the basket to make an eight-point run stopped by Bear Nate Sanders. Easton got their bearings on the unfamiliar court from this point to take home a 55-38 victory.
“We seem to start well in the first quarter and two or three minutes in the second, and then lose it from there,” commented Norsworthy. Coaching staff continue to work on this with their squad.
Sanders led Easton firing up 16 points while Jeremy Brock shot in another 14 points for Easton.
Nick McIntosh sailed in the game-high 20 points on Washburn’s side.
The Easton girls kept up a hard-fought battle against the Washburn squad, but eventually fell to their number-one ranked skills, 54-7.
Kelsee McLaughlin popped in 14 points for Washburn.
Van Buren capitulates to Washburn girls
Freshman Rebecca Campbell led the Beavers to their 13th victory at Van Buren on Saturday with 18 points toward the 52-23 final. Campbell dominated outside with four three-pointers.
Rachel Palmer drove up another 10 points for WDHS.
Junior McIntosh shot for the game-high 32 points in the Beaver defeat to Van Buren on Saturday, 72-54.
The Beavers kept up a furious fight from behind in all four quarters. McIntosh put in triple three-pointers.
WDHS defeats GHCA
Washburn’s girls’ varsity basketball squad had the final say against Greater Houlton Christian Academy on Tuesday, Jan. 22. The Beavers learned from the previous loss at the University of Maine at Presque Isle court to defeat GHCA, 41-40.
Senior center Palmer tipped up the final two-pointer that gave the Beavers the winning advantage with only seconds remaining. Palmer tore down a total of eight rebounds for WDHS.
Fellow senior McLaughlin shot for the team-high 13 points and boxed-out for nine rebounds. Erica McDougall grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Washburn boys also had the triumph over GHCA, 57-36. Connor Fitzpatrick sailed in a team-high 21 points, and McIntosh popped in 19 points including three three-pointers.
Washburn over Hornets
The Washburn girls kept a narrow lead for the first two quarters of Monday night basketball action. The Hornets paced up to the front in the third quarter, but the Beavers took charge of the fourth quarter to win, 42-31.
According to Ashland head coach Bill Nemer, the Hornet squad’s 25 turnovers led to the downfall. “We were too patient and other times we weren’t patient enough,” said Nemer.
Senior Beaver Kelsee McLaughlin put up 17 points for Washburn, including one three-pointer. Erica McDougall popped in another 13 points, and played a major role in the fourth quarter pull-away.
Mindy Chasse shot for the Ashland team-high with 17 points.
Tigers takedown competition
Fort Fairfield’s Whitney Clark powered the Tigers with 15 points to put FFHS over Easton, 70-11,
Brooke Beaulieu shot up another 10 for the Tigers. Bear Sydney Trask led Easton with five points.
The Tiger boys leapt onto their home turf fired up to takedown Easton in Monday night boys’ class D basketball action.
In a fast-paced and close match, Fort Fairfield took the victory, 58-51.
“They’re a good team,” said Easton head coach Travis Carter. “I wish we’d been on the other end of the close match, but I guess they wanted it more than we did.”
Austin Dufour led Tiger scoring with 19 points.
Jeremy Brock put up 20 points for Easton, and is four points away from his 1,000th. Brad Trask added another 17 points for Easton.
The Tiger girls traveled to Van Buren Friday night to take a win from the defending home team, 35-22. Fort Fairfield’s Maryl Shaw captained offense with nine points.
The Fort Fairfield girls’ basketball team controlled Hodgdon through all four quarters of their matchup on Tuesday, Jan. 22. However, the Hawks had a late surge that tied the game and sent play into overtime where they pulled off the 49-44 victory over the Tigers.
Clark led the Tiger offense with 14 points, and Kristen Hebert added another 10 for FFHS.
Four Tigers sank shots beyond the arc, to pace Fort Fairfield over Van Buren on Tuesday, Jan. 22, on their home court.
Doug Sharpe, Austin Dufour, Travis Noyes and Matt Cresenzo all had success in their long shot for the final score, 54-42.
Cresenzo put in the team-high of 14 points.
