FORT KENT, Maine — The Southern Aroostook varsity girls basketball team showed championship level abilities on the basketball court when the team traveled to Fort Kent Saturday.
Southern Aroostook, winners of two state championships and last year’s Aroostook County champ, rolled to an 81-47 victory over Fort Kent.
Southern Aroostook’s Madison Russell had a game-high 33 points, including three 3-pointers. Brianna Daggett and Cami Shields each chipped in 13 points.
Lily Oliver led in scoring for Fort Kent with 19 points, followed by Lily Wertngen with 10 points. Hannah Lovley chipped in another eight, including two 3-pointers.
“It always helps to shoot the ball as well as we did early in the game,” SA coach Cliff Urquhart said. “We limited them to one and done on the defensive end and that helped us get out in transition to score some easy buckets.”
Never one to let the scoreboard get in the way of coachable moments, Fort Kent Warriors coach Kelly O’Leary refused to give up on his team, even when they were behind by more than 30 points near the end of the game.
“We still have six seconds left, let’s go,” coach O’Leary shouted to his players from the sidelines. “You are always a coach, right to the end; you don’t give up on your team. It’s about everybody in your program, not just the starting five.”
Fort Kent assistant coach Alexa Massey said her players remained positive throughout the game.
“Our girls have a great attitude,” Massey said. “They didn’t focus on the scoreboard. They fought hard the whole time and didn’t give up.”
“Fort Kent is going to keep getting better as the season goes along and they gain some experience at the varsity level,” Coach Urquhart said. “They have some really nice pieces. They are one of the better shooting teams in the county from long range.”
FORT KENT, Maine – December 18, 2021 – Ally Shields of Southern Aroostook makes a break with the ball while Madeline Philbrook of Fort Kent defends during a Saturday. Dec. 18 game in Fort Kent. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)
FORT KENT, Maine – December 18, 2021 – Southern Aroostook’s Madison Russell flies up for a basket during a game against Fort Kent on Saturday, Dec. 18. (Jessica Potila | St. John Valley Times)
