FORT KENT, Maine – It was a true battle of Warriors on Saturday, as the Fort Kent Community High School Warriors boys basketball team narrowly defeated the Southern Aroostook Community School Warriors, 67-64 in overtime.
The thrilling contest included 15 successful 3-point shots between the two teams.
Fort Kent was led by Austin Delisle who had a game-high 31 points, including three 3-pointers. Ethan Daigle scored 15 points with two 3-pointers, one in overtime; Keegan Cyr added 10 points (3-pointer); Evan Deschaine pitched in eight points and Collin Bennet scored a 3-pointer.
Leading scorers for Southern Aroostook were Dylan Burpee with 23 points, including three 3-pointers). Hunter Burpee added 21 points (3-pointer); Drake Weston added 10 (2 3-pointers); Trafton Russell chipped in six points (3-pointer); and Buddy Porter contributed four points.
Visiting Southern Aroostook came out strong in the first half, leading Fort Kent on the boards in both quarters with SA on top 28-20 at the break.
Not much changed during the third quarter when Fort Kent gained a point on Southern Aroostook but still remained seven points behind at 47-40.
Things heated up for Fort Kent in the final quarter of regulation play including a big 3-pointer from Cyr to take a 61-59 lead with just 16 seconds left in regulation.
“We made some adjustments defensively and shot a better percentage from the floor in the second half,” Fort Kent Coach Chad Cyr said.
Despite Coach Cyr’s calls to his team for “no fouls,” Fort Kent fouled Southern Aroostook sending Burpee to the line with 11 seconds remaining in the game.
Burpee sank both his shots, tying the game at 61-61, sending the game into a five-minute overtime.
Ethan Daigle hit a 3-pointer during Fort Kent’s first overtime possession, which was immediately matched by a 3-point basket from Southern Aroostook’s Weston.
The game ultimately came down to three successful foul shots by Fort Kent’s Delisle.
“Austin Delisle was a tough match for us all day,” Southern Aroostook coach Brett Russell said. “At times I thought we played pretty decent defense on him, but he hit tough shot after tough shot and made a lot of nice passes out of double teams to teammates for shots towards the end of game.”
“Southern Aroostook is a very good team and are well coached,” Coach Cyr said. “That game was a very challenging game but we made it harder on ourselves than it had to be.”
“With a bounce here or there the outcome may have turned out differently,” Russell said. “The biggest thing I came out of this game with was there is no quit in my guys.”
The Warriors from both ends of The County will meet up again this season, and Southern Aroostook will be ready.
“A tip of the hat to Fort Kent and we’ll be looking forward to their trip to our gym,” Russell said.
FORT KENT, Maine – December 18, 2021 – Hunter Burpee goes for an overhead block while Ethan Daigle of Fort Kent attempts a layup during a game in Fort Kent on Saturday, Dec. 18. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)
FORT KENT, Maine – December 18, 2021 – Fort Kent’s Ethan Daigle reaches for a layup and Southern Aroostook defender Buddy Porter is close behind during a matchup between the teams on Saturday, Dec. 18 in Fort Kent. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)
