Staff Writer
HOULTON – Starting back in February, a group of third-and fourth-grade boys formed a team to play in the Aroostook Youth Basketball League.
Contributed photograph
YOUNG SHIRES – Playing for the 3-4 grade Houlton team in the Aroostook Youth Basketball League were, from left, front, Cameron Clark, Jacob Brown, Ethan Sawyer, Cameron Graham and Jacob Worthley; back, Garrett Ring, Connor Grant, Parker Brewer, Ryan Dee and Garrett Putnam.
With a varying degree of skill level, the players worked together, as they competed in 12 games against Caribou East, Caribou West, Fort Kent, Presque Isle Blue, Presque Isle White and Washburn, capturing the league title with an 11-1 record.
On March 22, the Houlton team played two games, one against Caribou West and the other against Caribou East, to claim the championship at Houlton Southside School.
In the opening game, the Houlton boys overpowered Caribou East, 38-14 behind a strong first half of scoring, 21-4, with Garrett Ring scoring seven of his 15 points in the second period. Garrett Putnam had seven points, while Ryan Dee, Connor Grant and Jacob Brown all had four points. Cameron Graham and Ethan Sawyer each had a basket for the winners.
In the second game, Houlton cruised to a 41-24 victory, using another solid first half, 23-14, to put distance between the teams. The Houlton boys outscored Caribou, 12-4 in the final period to pull away after leading by nine to start the fourth quarter.
Ring led the offensive charge with 10 points, while Putnam and Brown each netted six points. Parker Brewer dropped in five points, while Grant and Jacob Worthley both had four points. Rounding out the scoring were Graham, Cameron Clark and Dee with a hoop apiece.
On March 16 at Houlton’s Alumni Gymnasium, the Houlton team pulled away from both of their opponents to pick up a 14-point victory over Presque Isle Blue and an eight-point win over Fort Kent.
Against Fort Kent, the Houlton team held a 15-8 halftime lead and outscored their opponents, 11-10 in the second half to escape with the win.
Houlton’s Brewer (6 points) led Houlton to a 7-4 lead in the opening period as he tossed in four points. Putnam scored eight points, followed by Ring with seven. Brown and Dee had three and two points, respectively.
In their game against Presque Isle, an 11-point second period gave the Houlton boys the lift they needed, as they staked a 16-9 halftime lead en route to the win. The game was closer than the score indicates, as Houlton held a slim 19-16 advantage in the third.
Brown led Houlton with eight points, while Putnam and Brewer each had six points. Clark dropped in three points, while Ring, Dee, Graham and Grant all had two points.
The Houlton boys had a single game against Presque Isle White on March 14 at Houlton High School, and the home team came away with a 31-6 trouncing of their northern competitors. After a slow first period, the Houlton team outgunned Presque Isle, 15-2 in the second period and 10-4 in the third to pull away.
Brewer led the Houlton team offensively with 10 points, while Putnam finished with six and Ring added five more. Grant dropped in four points, while Brown and Worthley each had two.
The Houlton team had no problem against Presque Isle in their March 9 doubleheader either, taking a 42-14 win from Presque Isle White and a 25-13 victory over Presque Isle Blue.
Houlton’s Putnam keyed the offense against Presque Isle White with 11 points, while Dee had eight. Ring scored five; Worthley, Graham, Brewer and Clark all had four points and Grant finished with two.
Against Presque Isle Blue, Putnam had five points, while Worthley, Dee and Brown all had four points. Clark and Brewer finished with three points apiece and Graham hit a hoop.
Washburn was the toughest challenger the Houlton boys had, as in both of those contests on March 1 in Washburn, the scoring was extremely close throughout the games.
In their opening game, Houlton built a 19-15 halftime lead, but the Shires were outscored 17-14 by Washburn in the second half hang on for a 33-32 win.
Putnam paced Houlton’s offense with 12 points, while Brown tossed in eight. Ring added six points, while Brewer and Graham each chipped in with four points. Rounding out the scoring were Dee and Clark.
In the second contest, the scoring was consistent, as Houlton held a 17-14 halftime advantage and then outscored their hosts, 21-16 in the second half en route to a 38-30 win.
Leading the offense for Houlton were Putnam (9 points) and Brown (8 points). Ring posted five points, while Clark and Worthley each tallied four and Brewer chipped in with three.
To begin the season on Feb. 9, the Houlton boys suffered their only loss of the season to Fort Kent, 34-21 before going unbeaten the rest of the year.
Houlton couldn’t dig themselves out of an early hole, as they fell behind 22-10 at halftime. Leading Houlton’s scoring was Putnam with 10 points. Ring had three points, while Brown, Clark, Brewer and Dee all had baskets.
In the next two games, the Houlton team downed Caribou West, 35-24 and Caribou East, 31-19.
Against Caribou West, Putnam turned in 14 points, with Ring finishing with seven. Brown, Graham and Grant all had a basket.
The Caribou West team briefly held the lead in the third, but Houlton’s Brewer controlled the boards and scored six of his eight points in the final period.
In the second game against Caribou East, it was Putnam leading the offensive attack with 14 points. Ring notched seven and Brown another four points. Brewer, Dee and Graham rounded out the scoring.
Houlton carved out a first-half lead, scoring 13 straight points after Caribou’s Donovan Savage scored the first hoop. The second half would be played evenly, with Houlton taking an 18-17 scoring lead for the win.
Putnam scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Ring scored all seven of his points in the first half and had four steals in the game. Brown tallied four points, while Brewer, Dee and Graham all had two points. Brewer hauled down six rebounds and Dee brought down five more.
