Defense key to Wildcats win
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
CARIBOU — The rivalry was renewed Wednesday night as the Caribou Vikings hosted the Presque Isle Wildcats in a Class B schoolboy basketball showdown. Presque Isle won by 15 points, but the final score of 39-24 doesn’t tell the whole story.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
TYLER BROOKS of Presque Isle goes up for a left-handed layup against Caribou. The Wildcats won the game played in Caribou by a score of 39-24.
The game was a contrast in styles. Caribou looked to control the tempo and move the basketball and Presque Isle was content to push the ball up the court looking for the easy shot. The only problem in the first 12 minutes was those shots weren’t falling.
At the end of the first quarter Caribou clung to a one-point lead, 8-7. Midway through the second quarter the Wildcats upped their intensity with a three-quarter-court press, which didn’t lead to many turnovers initially, but changed the flow of the game.
“Caribou controlled the tempo for much of the first half, running their halfcourt offense and limiting our possessions,” said Wildcat coach Terry Cummings.
The low-scoring first half came to a close with Presque Isle holding onto a one-point lead, 13-12.
The third quarter belonged to the Wildcats who extended their lead to 26-15. Andrew Kofstad had two timely three-pointers to give Presque Isle some breathing room, but it was the ability to create turnovers which made the biggest difference.
“We talked at halftime about how we had to increase the pressure on the defensive end and in the second half we were able to do that,” said Cummings.
Cummings also pointed to the defensive effort of three of his guards.
“I thought defensively Cole Richards, Logan Good and Jonah Stephenson were very good at frustrating the Caribou guards and not letting them get many open looks,” he said.
Staff photo/Jon Gulliver
PRESQUE ISLE’S MATT EAGER goes up for a shot against Caribou last week. The Wildcats won the game, 39-24.
Caribou was playing without one of their top scorers as Cody Herbert missed the game due to an illness. His points were missed, but Caribou coach Chris Casavant said it gave him the opportunity to play some people who normally don’t get a lot of minutes.
“Obviously, I’m not pleased with the outcome but pleased that we played hard and that we had guys who don’t contribute much step up and give a good effort,” said Casavant.
Freshman Dayne Savage led 5-5 Caribou with 10 points, while Derick Richardson scored eight points and Nick Pucci added six.
Tyler Brooks led 7-3 Presque Isle with 12 points, while Kofstad scored 11 points and Richards added six.
The Wildcats entered the game in 10th place in Eastern Maine Class B; the win moved them back up to sixth.
“Now we have seven out of our last eight games at home so hopefully we can get on a roll and win some big games and give ourselves a shot at getting to Bangor,” said Cummings.
