Higher seeded Mars Hill boys roll to 88-62 win over GHCA

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    BANGOR — Depth and experience are two key factors for a team to experience success and the Central Aroostook boys showed plenty of both Saturday night at the Bangor Auditorium.
    The No. 2 Panthers (17-2) scored early and often as they defeated No. 10 Greater Houlton Christian Academy 88-62.
    With the win, Central Aroostook next faces No. 6 Deer Isle-Stonington at 2:05 p.m. Thursday in the semifinals. The Mariners upset No. 3 Washburn, 67-57, in a game also played Saturday in Bangor. CAHS did not face Deer Isle-Stonington during the regular season.
Pioneer Times photograph/Joseph Cyr
HUSTLE — Central Aroostook’s Dan Brewer and Deyrell Vargas of GHCA hustle after a loose ball during their Class D quarterfinal game last Saturday night in Bangor.
    “We shot the ball real well coming out of the gates,” Central Aroostook coach Tim Brewer said. “We have been better offensively this year than last year. We made some really nice shots tonight.”
    Mike McClung led the Panthers with 21 points, while Chandler Brewer added 16; Brendan York chipped in 15 and Steven Decker added 14.
    Micah Wiley led GHCA with 26 points, while Ethan Holmes added 16 and Deyrell Vargas chipped in 10.
    GHCA had no answer for Central Aroostook big man, McClung, a 6-foot, 6-inch senior center. In the first quarter alone, McClung tallied eight points from inside the paint.
    “The kids have been playing off of Mike all year,” coach Brewer said. “He obviously draws a lot of attention. We’ve had balanced scoring all year long because of it.”
    The Panthers took a commanding 33-11 lead at the end of the first quarter, controlling the boards on both ends of the court. That lead grew to 55-23 by halftime and 80-35 after three stanzas. GHCA out scored Central Aroostook 27-8 in the final period, against CAHS’ bench, when the outcome of the game was no longer in question.
    Greater Houlton coach Sam Henderson said there was much his team could learn from playing in Bangor for the second time in three years.
    “I’d like our guys to have a history playing here like Mars Hill has,” Henderson said. “We need to build our program to get to that point.”
    Doing so can be challenging with a student body of 37 kids, he added.
    He also tipped his cap to the class effort that CAHS put forth in the game.
    “Central Aroostook played a great game,” he added. “They came out and were relentless going after the ball, which is what playing at this level is all about. If we want to start creating a history (of playing in Bangor) we could learn a lot from watching what they did. They execute when they come to Bangor.”