With the standings as they are, it seems the Presque Isle girls would have won the rivalry match-up in Caribou on Jan. 27. The Lady Wildcats had, in fact, taken a home win against the Lady Vikings in December and, until recently, boasted a 12-3 record. But last week’s 47-41 loss to Caribou made that the fourth this season.
Contributed photo/jmavor photography
Amanda Cyr dribbles the ball down the court for Caribou as Presque Isle’s Kayla Richards follows her closely. Cyr put in a total of 20 points, leading the Vikings to a 47-41 win.
Presque Isle was slow to start, only knocking in seven points in the first quarter, while Caribou jumped to 12 before the second. As the game stopped for halftime, the Lady Vikings still led 20-17, though the Lady Wildcats were creeping closer. During the third, Presque Isle put in 14 points and took a 31-27 lead, but Caribou was not about to be defeated so easily. With minutes to go in the fourth, the Lady Vikings answered back with three points, bringing the score to 31-30, Presque Isle.
Amanda Cyr, who had been sick the day before, was on fire for Caribou, netting 11 points in the fourth quarter alone and a total of five 3-pointers as the Vikings went from 27 to 47 in eight minutes. Presque Isle held their own, bringing the game to within five points but as the Wildcats struggled to take back the lead, their fouls increased, sending Caribou to the free throw line time and again. Jenna Selander had 11 total points, seven of which were free throws. 5 of Cyr’s game-high 20 points were free throws as well. For the Lady Wildcats, Kayla Richards put in 15 points, while Sarah Porter contributed nine.
Viking coach Bill Casavant was very impressed with his team. “Every single player in the game played very well. The second string was able to fill in, and had good minutes. Brittany Doak played about four minutes and did outstanding.”
Casavant was also impressed with Presque Isle. “I have alot of respect for Jeff Hudson and his program. I know he wants to press us and run and we prepared for that. The reason we lost to Presque Isle before is because we weren’t prepared.”
On Friday, the Lady Vikings took a 55-48 win over Fort Kent. The Warriors led at the half 30-24, but Caribou came alive in the third, bringing the score to a 38-37 one-point difference and moving beyond Fort Kent in the final eight minutes. Selander put in 16 points while Cyr contributed two 3-point goals.
The Caribou girls’ only loss occurred this weekend, when Old Town defeated the Vikings 45-39. Caribou was down by three the first half, and brought the game to a two-point gap before the fourth quarter. But Cyr’s 12 points weren’t enough to propel the Vikings forward. The Lady Vikings are now 8-9.
The Viking boys also won against the Wildcats last Wednesday in Caribou, after the score, tied 31-31, pushed the game into overtime.
The fight to win went back and forth across the court and Caribou led at the end of the first quarter, 13-10. The Wildcats stepped up their playing, though, and took the 18-15 lead before the half, maintaining a four-point distance as both teams headed into the fourth quarter, 28-24.
Presque Isle tied the game up, but once in overtime, the Vikings put in five points and only allowed the Wildcats two.
Coach Chris Casavant remarked, “We were pleased with the win. Our whole emphasis is our defense, we play man-to-man to make sure we’re prepared for what they’re going to do to us offensively. We’re a pretty experienced group, so we don’t spend our entire practice defending-it’s more reinforcement.”
Casavant led the Vikings to a 45-40 weekend win over Old Town.
The Vikings kept the Coyotes away by five points at the end of every quarter, heading into the half leading 25-20. Cameron Anderson’s game-high 23 points solidified the Viking win. Caribou is now 13-4 and anticipates playing Houlton tonight.
Contributed photo/jmavor photography
Viking guard Cameron Anderson attempts a jump shot, avoiding the block from Wildcat Travis Dyer as Presque Isle’s Russ Mortland looks on. Caribou beat Presque Isle 37-34 last Wednesday.
Staff photo/Abigail Hunt
In Monday night’s game against Easton, Limestone Eagle Brandon Hopkins is stopped in his leap towards the basket by Easton Bear Sam Bacon. Limestone lost to Easton 82-44
