Hoop squads prep for preseason games

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    Tip off to the basketball season is right around the corner, and to get ready, local hoop squads will participate in several exhibition tournaments and pre-season games in the coming days.
    The Houlton High School boys and girls basketball teams will have a busy preseason schedule as they travel to numerous sites for exhibition games.
    The Shire boys will play at the Hampden Academy tournament Friday, squaring off against Jonesport Beals at 4:30 p.m. and Thornton Academy at 5:45 p.m. On Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, the Shires travel to Mars Hill for a pair of exhibition games. Houlton plays Madawaska at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and Central Aroostook at 8 p.m. Dec. 1.
    The Houlton girls will travel to Hermon on Monday, Nov. 26 for a 5 p.m. showdown with the Hawks. And on Dec. 3-4, the Shires will play in the Washburn pre-season tournament, meeting the host Beavers at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3 and facing Madawaska at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4
    Both the Shire boys and girls will also play a scrimmage with Katahdin on Thursday, Nov. 29 at 4 p.m. (girls) and 5:30 p.m. (boys).
Hawks stay busy
    The Hodgdon boys and girls will travel to Penobscot Valley High School in Howland for the annual Turkey Shootout this Friday and Saturday. On Friday, the Hawk girls play Penquis (Milo) at 1 p.m., while the boys also play Penquis at 3 p.m. On Saturday, the Hodgdon girls play PVHS at 5 p.m. followed by the boys contest at 7 p.m.
    On Nov. 30-Dec. 1, the Hawks will participate in the Lee Academy Tournament. On Friday, Nov. 30, the Hodgdon boys face Lee Academy at 4 p.m.; and on Saturday, Dec. 1, the boys square off against Calais at 11 a.m. and Woodland at 1 p.m.
    The Hodgdon girls play two games Nov. 30, meeting Mattanawcook Academy at 3 p.m. and Lee Academy at 5 p.m. On Dec. 1, the Hawk girls will play Calais at noon.
Warriors in action
    Southern Aroostook will also participate in the Turkey Shootout. On Friday, the Warrior girls play PVHS at 5 p.m., followed by the boys at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the girls face Penquis at 1 p.m., followed by the boys at 3 p.m.
Cougars hit the court
    The Katahdin boys and girls squads travel to Houlton Nov. 29 for a scrimmage against the Shires. The girls play at 4 p.m. followed by the boys at 5:30 p.m,
    The Cougar boys will also participate in the Lee Tournament Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Katahdin plays Lee 7 p.m. Nov. 30; Woodland, 3 p.m. Dec. 1 and PCHS (Guilford) at 5 p.m.
    On Dec. 4, the boys and girls travel to Stearns (Millinocket) for an exhibition contest. The girls play at 5 p.m. followed by the boys at 7 p.m.
GHCA sets games
    Greater Houlton Christian Academy travels to PVHS (Howland) Dec. 5 for an exhibition game, with the girls taking the court at 5 p.m. followed by the boys at 6:30 p.m. The boys will also participate in the Fort Fairfield round-robin tournament Nov. 30 and Dec. 1.
East Grand
    The Vikings travel to PVHS Tuesday, Nov. 27, for a scrimmage with the Howlers at 4 p.m. (girls) and 5:30 p.m. (boys). On Nov. 30, the varsity girls travel to Lee Academy where they play both Mattanawcook Academy and the host Pandas, with the first game at 6 p.m. The time for the second game was not available.