County girls compete in state tourney

    The county YBOA teams all competed in the state tournament in the Waterville/Fairfield area over the weekend.     The 13 year olds finished fifth out of 11 teams, winning two and losing two. In game one against the Junior Eddies, the County struggled from the foul line, making 12 of 25 and losing 43-38. Katelyn Bubar had nine points and Tori Hanson added nine. Game two, versus the Maniacs, was a close game until the County’s pressure caused numerous turnovers, good enough for a 39-27 win. Kendra Stephens, Mariah Wiley and Alexa Massey all had six points each. The Wave was opponent number three and the County checked out of this game after halftime. Trailing 22-13 at the half, everything fell apart and the Wave rolled to a 43-24 win. Leading the team were Massey with nine, Bubar with six and Marina Cameron with five. The final game was a forfeit to the County as the Maniacs failed to show up, thus giving the County a fifth place finish. Kristin Tarr, Rebecca McDougal and Sydney Churchill played key roles in the teams success. Their record now goes to 11-8.
    The 14 year olds lost their first game to the Flash 52-33. The County led at the half, 24-18, but the Flash defense picked up in the second half and the County couldn’t get going. Amanda Fogarty, with 14 points, was the only player in double figures. The Northstars fell to the County in game two, 54-44. This time trailing at the half 26-23, the County’s press enabled them to gain the lead and the win. Kayla Richards had 14 points, Vicki McIntyre contributed 13 and Fogarty netted 10. Maine Hoops, out of the Portland area and usually a first or second place team, proved why they are tough, defeating the County 47-30. Richards and McIntyre each had nine points. In the best game of the tourney for the County, the Maniacs topped the local team, 56-52. All nine players scored for the County with Chelsea Nickerson leading the way with 13. Richards and McIntyre each tossed in 11 points apiece. With the loss, the County finished fourth out of seven teams. Rachael Grew contributed 3-point shooting and rebounds. Mallory Patton, Casey Bonville, Danielle Tracy and Brooke LaBelle and contributed to the top four finish. Amanda Hotham was unable to play due to a broken finger she suffered in an earlier game. Their record goes to 13-6.
    The 16’s had the share of the Maine Hoops teams as the County played all five of their games in the tourney against the Hoops. Game one against the Burney Hoops team was close until the end as the County fell 58-44. Vanessa Sanderson put in 13 points, Liz Goodall had nine and Olivia McNally and Evangeline Goodall each had eight. The Aceto Hoops team pounded the County 77-38. The County had no match for the Hoops’ size in game two. The Southern Aroostook trio of the Goodall twins and Lauren McGary all had nine points each in this one. Game three was a first for the County team in state play, as no county has ever beaten a Maine Hoops team in the 12 years of County basketball – until now. The County made 16 of 25 foul shots and played a great defensive game to pull off the upset 60-50. All eight players scored, led by Sanderson and Liz Goodall’s 15 each, McNally’s 10 and Emma Dionne’s nine. Hoops Aceto, which pounded the County in game two, found themselves in a tougher game the next time around, but still won 64-50. Sanderson again had 15 while Martha McPartland and nine and Dionne’s eight helped the County stay close. In addition, the County shot 29 of 38 foul shots. In their final game against the Burney Hoops, the County trailed 33-27 at the half and great foul shooting kept the game close. But it wasn’t meant to be as the County suffered a 68-53 loss and a fourth place finish. Vanessa Sanderson had 19 points, 11 of which were from the free throw line. Liz Goodall put in 14 and Erin Dugal had eight. Their record falls to 9-10. The County shot 127 foul shots in their five games and made 83 as the Hoops play a very rough brand of basketball; something the County is not used to. With the two fourth place finishes, the 14 and 16 year-old teams qualify for the Nationals in Florida this July.