WASHBURN, Maine — The Ashland Hornets left the nest to face Washburn Tuesday night, Feb. 1, but it was Parker Corey who led the Beavers to a 60-28 victory.
The win marked just the second victory for Washburn this season as the Beavers improved to 2-11. Ashland dropped to 1-13 on the year.
Corey tossed in 20 points to lead the Beavers, followed by Beckam Vaughn with 10 points; Derek Cruz, eight; Garett Plourde, six; Mitchell Turner and Mitch Hewitt, both four; and Jack Tate, Hunter Campbell, Brayden Worsley and Colt Curtis each with two.
“The game didn’t start out so well, it was kind of slow,” said Washburn boys varsity coach Micheal Hartford. “We have not played in over a week and maybe that played a part in that. I liked how the third quarter and early fourth quarter went. I still think we pushed a little too much when we didn’t need to. We tend to get impatient and rush things when we should be more patient, especially when we have a 15-point lead. Overall that was a win that we really needed to get.”
For Ashland, Inyas Janoch led the team with 15 points, followed by Dakota Sutherland with five and Grant Thomas with four. Both Andrew Dotson and Colt Eastman chipped in two.
In the first quarter, both teams had a slow start. Both teams couldn’t quite get a good momentum going, but still got some points on the board. The Hornets and Beavers ended the first quarter with a close score of 8-6 in favor of Washburn.
When the second quarter came, Washburn found its momentum and by halftime, the Beavers had gained another 16 points, while limiting Ashland to nine, keeping their established lead from the first and ending the half on top 24-15.
The second half saw Washburn continuing to hit its stride. The Beavers’ communication and teamwork improved since the first half. The Hornets were making smarter plays as well, but Washburn’s lead was wide and only getting wider. The teams closed the third quarter 40-28 for Washburn.
With the lead established, the Beavers focused on a more defensive strategy that paid off in the end. Ashland was making free throws during the last quarter, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. The game closed with free throws from Washburn’s Jack Tate. Tate shot the ball as the gym hushed to a halt. With a swish of the basket, the gym erupted with cheers as Tate scored his first basket as a varsity player, ending the game 60-28 for the Beavers.
WASHBURN, Maine — February 1, 2022 — Ashland’s Austin Clark tries to run past Washburn’s Mitchell Turner during a basketball game on Tuesday. Washburn won 60-28. (David DiMinno | The Star-Herald)
WASHBURN, Maine — February 1, 2022 — Ashland’s Inyas Janoch pushes past Washburn’s Derek Cruz during a basketball game on Tuesday. Washburn won 60-28. (David DiMinno | The Star-Herald)
WASHBURN, Maine — February 1, 2022 — Washburn’s Beckam Vaughn (52) jumps for a shot while teammate Hunter Campbell (21) helps defend against Ashland’s Dakota Sutherland (30) and Austin Clark (10). Washburn won 60-28. (David DiMinno | The Star-Herald)
