Local athletes join together for hoop

    The County Youth Basketball Organization of America (YBOA) girls spring basketball teams for grades 9 and 11 kicked off their seasons last weekend in Bangor and Fairfield.
    Both teams went 2-3 on the weekend, winning games in Bangor and losing three games in Fairfield.
    The freshman team defeated Lincoln, 30-29 after Mariah Wiley of GHCA hitting free throws to seal the win. Alexa Massey of Caribou scored nine points and Rebecca McDougal of Caribou added six more for the County.
    In their second game, MDI stayed close until the final period when the County used a 12-1 scoring run to win 44-31. Marina Cameron of Houlton High School led the way with 15 points, while Kate Bubar of Caribou netted 12 more.
    The junior County team started the weekend with a 29-24 win over the Maine Fusion, with Jasmine Rockwell of Southern Aroostook Community School pacing the team with 12 points.
    In game two, the junior team defeated MDI 41-24, with Erin Dugal of Madawaska leading a well-balanced scoring attack with nine points, while Shelby Hartin of Southern Aroostook Community School and Sydney Churchill of Fort Fairfield each tossed in eight points and Rockwell added another seven.
    In Fairfield, the County teams combined to play three games in Lawrence.
    In game one against the Central Maine Stars, the County girls fell 43-23, with Danielle Tracy of Fort Fairfield and Dugal scoring five points apiece. McDougal added four points in the loss.
    In game two, the Gardiner Tigers overtook the County, 41-29. Churchill hit two 3-pointers for six  points, while Dugal and Wiley each chipped in with four points.
    In their last game of the weekend, the County girls were defeated 41-26 by the Northstars. According to coach Dave DeMerchant, the game was closer than the score indicated.
    Hartin scored eight points, while Massey and Rockwell each dropped in six points.