Tarr spearheads Ashland win

15 years ago

Boys basketball

By Joseph Cyr
Sports Editor

    ASHLAND — When two teams desperate for a win meet on the basketball court, a close hard-fought game usually ensues.
    Such was the case Friday evening when Limestone-MSSM journeyed to Ashland to take on the Hornets. 

    Ashland’s Kenny Tarr netted a game-high 21 points to lead the Hornets to a 62-43 victory, while teammates Lucas Hafford added 10 and Tyler Levesque chipped in 11.
    Aaron St. Pierre led the Eagles (2-13) with 11 points.
    Ashland (6-8) has just four games remaining on its schedule, and three of those contests are on the road. The Hornets travel to Van Buren, Easton and Washburn before finishing the regular season with a home game against Katahdin.
    Last year, Ashland finished 12-5 and was the No. 5 seed in Eastern Class D and advanced to the Bangor Auditorium. But this year, after losing their starting five to graduation, the wins have come a bit more difficult for the Hornets.
    “We’re rebuilding this year, but we have a chance to move up a bit [in the standings] in our last few games,” Ashland coch Jim Gardner said. “I think for a rebuilding team, we are a little bit ahead of schedule.”
    In Friday’s game, the scoring game fast and furious in the first quarter as the two teams played a frantic, up and down game that featured many exciting baskets, but also numerous turnovers.
    “We went into overtime with Limestone the first time we played them,” Ashland coach Jim Gardner said. “They are big and have a couple of good outside shooters, so we need to stick with our 2-3 [zone defense] and maybe expand it out at times. And we have to hope that we shoot well.”
    And shoot well the Hornets did, particularly down the stretch as the Hornets rallied from 29-27 halftime deficit to outscore the Eagles.
    Limestone-MSSM led 14-13 in the first quarter and took a 29-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. Ashland rallied in the third quarter, taking a 45-43 lead and outscored the Eagles 17-10 in the final eight minutes of play.
    A total of 11 3-pointers were drained in the game with Forsman, Morgan, Allen, Tarr and Levesque each with two.
    “We are on the outside right now, but we have a couple of big games left,” Gardner said of his team’s chances of making the postseason. “I told the boys before the game that tonight was the start of a brand new season. We need to be 5-0 or 4-1 in these next few games if we want to get into the playoffs.”

 

ImageStaff photo/Joseph Cyr

    GOING UP STRONG — Lucas Hafford, middle, of Ashland posts up against Limestone-MSSM’s Ty Tracy, right, during Friday night’s game in Ashland. To the left is Eagle Dylan Morgan.