Sixty-two youngsters from across Maine headed to the Portland Expo March 13 to compete in the state finals of the Maine Recreation and Park Association/Red Claws Hotshot Basketball Competition.
Contributed photo
11-12 MRPA/Red Claws Hotshot Basketball champions are, from left, boys’ runner-up Rece Baker of Brewer, boys’ winner Josiah Krul of Caribou, girls’ winner Caitlyn Paradis of Ashland and girls’ runner-up Tracie Townsend of Hollis.
All the participants earned the right to compete at the state finals by winning their respective local and regional competitions. By the end of the state finals, the delegation from Aroostook County had captured 11 of the 16 top spots.
The Hotshot Basketball competition tests each competitors basketball skills by having them shoot three one-minute rounds from 5 designated hotspots on a half court area. Each competitor accumulates points for the number of baskets scored as well as bonus points for shooting clean from the five designated spots. Points are deducted for violations such as traveling and double dribble.
The Hotshot program is sponsored by the Maine Recreation and Park Association as well as Maine’s newest professional sports team the Red Claws, a farm team of the Boston Celtics, which is housed in the Portland Expo.
Winners of this year’s state finals were: 9-10 boys, first, Dagan Savage, Caribou, 124 (46 in the playoff); second, Kory Winch, Hampden, 124 (39 in the playoff); 9-10 girls, first, Christina Skidgel, Presque Isle, 98; second, Isabelle Dawson, Portland, 82.
11-12 boys, first, Josiah Krul, Caribou, 119; second, Rece Baker, Brewer, 113; 11-12 girls, first, Caitlyn Paradis, Ashland, 111; second, Tracie Townsend, Hollis, 98.
13-15 boys, first, Thomas Hanson, Brunswick, 126; second, Taylor Thibodeau, Caribou, 122; 13-15 girls, first, Jenna Boucher, Caribou, 102; second, Catelyn Coulombe, Ashland, 94.
16-18 boys, first, Josh Forsman, Limestone, 134; second, Nate Tucker, Limestone, 111; 16-18 girls, first, Amanda Hotham, Fort Fairfield, 131; second, Emily Blaisdell, Fort Fairfield, 107.
Contributed photo
13-15 MRPA/Red Claws Hotshot Basketball champions are, from left, girls’ runner-up Catelyn Coulombe of Washburn, girls’ winner Jenna Boucher of Caribou, boys’ runner-up Taylor Thibodeau of Caribou and boys’ winner Thomas Hanson of Brunswick.
Contributed photo
16-18 MRPA/Red Claws Hotshot Basketball champions are, from left, boys’ runner-up Nick Murray of Lawrence, boys’ runner-up Nate Tucker of Limestone, boys’ winner Josh Forsman of Limestone, girls’ winner Amanda Hotham of Fort Fairfield and girls’ runner-up Emily Blaisdell of Fort Fairfield.
