They know each other well. Heck, they have even played some pick-up ball together. But, tonight, those friendships will be put aside, as the Houlton and Hodgdon boys go head-to-head at 7 p.m. in Houlton’s Alumni Gymnasium.
A year ago, the teams split, with Hodgdon taking the win on their home court and then Houlton avenging that loss.
“I think it will be really two good games,” said Houlton coach Rob Moran of the series. “We are a pretty solid team and so are they.”
The Shiretowners starting lineup of Nick Guiod at point guard and Kole Buzzeo in the backcourt, teams with its front court of Dan Swallow, Kyle Bouchard and Elyjah Crockett. Hodgdon will match Devon Logie, Josh Hudson and Chris Hudson [who will have to crash the boards and box out], with Nick Lunn and Tyler Sherman [who will have to be quick with the guards].
“I think the crowd will see an up tempo game with the potential for a lot of points,” said Hodgdon coach Rob Smith. “These two teams have scored a lot of points in each of their first four games.”
Playing in front of more than 1,000 people gets the players’ blood pumping, as they hear the fever-pitch of the crowd.
“It’s a treat for the kids,” added Moran. “It’s hard for me to imagine that there is a better atmosphere in high school basketball in Maine then the Houlton-Hodgdon games, especially with two pretty good teams.”
Smith wants his team to be mentally ready, as well as physically.
“It is hard to play in that gym due to the crowd and the noise,” he said. “If the band is there, it is loud during timeouts on the visiting end. If the band is not there sometimes the size of the building can make it difficult to shoot.”
Moran and his players are respectful of Hodgdon and its talent.
“They are definitely a contender in Class D,” said Moran. “When you play them, you have to keep them off the glass. They are really athletic and have good size.”
Even though the teams should be evenly matched in rebounding, Moran realizes his team needs to “compete at least on the glass.”
“We can’t give them two or three shots,” he said.
Smith said one of the keys for his team is to control the scoring runs of Houlton.
“It seems like each year Houlton comes out in the second half and goes on a run,” he explained. “In the game, there are spurts where one of the two teams will be up four or six and then the other team goes on a run and ties it up or goes ahead. We have to minimize the runs. They are going to happen, but we have to contain them and keep them small.
“Houlton is well balanced with 3-point shooters and guys that can bang in the paint,” Smith added. “We will have to be on top of our game defensively and move with our hands out to close up lanes and be ready to crash the boards.”
Houlton’s players can shoot and are not afraid to drive the lane, said Smith. “We will have to stay planted on our feet and not buy the ball fakes.”
A win for Houlton would be beneficial in the Heal Point standings.
“It’s a big game,” Moran said. “It’s a lot of points. They will win 14 or 15 games in a worse case scenario. But, we have a lot of points on our schedule, too.”
The Shiretowners, according to their coach, will have to be aware of happenings on the court.
“We need to get back defensively,” he said. “And, it’s important that we hit some shots because that opens everything up. We also need to do a good job on their players, getting a hand up on shooters.”
Smith wants his club to execute their offense.
“We have to settle in quick and look for a lot of shots through layups or close to the basket,” he said. “It takes our team a few shots to settle in at Houlton. On offense, we will have to take advantage of any mismatches whether it is a size or speed mismatch. If we can get our post game set up Josh [Hudson] can bang in the paint. Quick movement of the ball and good decisions will lead to good shots.”
Like any good rival, the game will be emotionally fueled.
“It should be fun,” said Moran. “It should be a close matchup. My guys will be ready to play and so will theirs.”
Smith added, “This game should be exciting because of the potential of both teams being undefeated. Either way, Hodgdon versus Houlton is always exciting. With the college students and family being home that gym should be packed and loud.”
In last Thursday’s game, the Houlton varsity boys showed glimpses of their true potential by defeating Class C Stearns at Alumni Gymnasium, 69-47.
The Minutemen were getting inside on Houlton’s post men, keeping the score close in the opening quarter. After Kole Buzzeo of Houlton sank back-to-back 3-pointers, the Shires grabbed a 10-8 lead with 3:54 left in the first quarter.
The Shires held a 31-20 scoring advantage at halftime. Through the second half, the Shires managed their 11-point lead, 39-28 at the 3:38 mark of the third. The Shires continued to run the floor for transition hoops building a 46-30 lead to start the final stanza. The Minutemen could not regain any ground, as they were outscored 38-27 in the second half.
Bouchard and Guiod each finished with 17 points, while Swallow added nine and Buzzeo chipped in with eight.
In other hoop action last Thursday, the Greater Houlton Christian Academy varsity girls and boys hosted Van Buren at the University of Maine Presque Isle.
The GHCA girls lost 62-30, as Parise Rossignol led the Crusaders with a game-high 34 points, including six 3-pointers. She had 10 rebounds and seven assists.
For GHCA, Colby Walker tossed in nine points, while Olivia Lord and Destinee Neureuther each had six.
The boys’ contest was closer, as Van Buren came out with a 60-47 win.
Marc Lajoie had 19 first-half points to key the Crusaders, finishing the game with 23.
For GHCA, Russell Socoby lit up the hoop for a game-high 24 points, while Deyrell Vargas netted 10 points.
In Stacyville, the Katahdin Cougars lost in overtime to visiting Fort Fairfield, 56-49.
Colton Bivighouse paced Katahdin with 20 points and Wyatt Morse tossed in 10 more.
For the Tigers, Andrew Lewis hit a fade-away jumper with 18 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, where Fort Fairfield outscored Katahdin, 7-3 for the win. Lewis finished with a game-high 26 points and Andrew Tuck had 11.