Tourneys kick off sports season
Practices for high school winter sports teams began on Nov. 19, but several area basketball and hockey teams have already played some exhibition games and many have more coming up over the next few days.
Presque Isle sent its hockey and two basketball teams on the road over the weekend for contests.
The hockey team competed in the John Bapst Face Off Tournament, held at Sawyer Arena in Bangor Saturday.
The Wildcats defeated Houlton, 1-0; lost to the host Crusaders, 7-4; and defeated Brewer, 4-2.
The defending Class B state champion Presque Isle girls basketball team made the trip to southern Maine to participate in a tournamement hosted by McAuley High School Friday and Saturday.
On the first day, PI raced past Mt. Blue, 65-34, and then lost to McAuley, 59-49.
The following day, the Wildcats beat Wells, 50-23, before falling to Oxford Hills, 43-39.
The Wildcat boys basketball team was able to play two games while participating in a tourney hosted by Hampden Academy.
PI was nipped by Nokomis, 51-49, and then was beaten by Penquis, 54-42.
The Fort Fairfield girls were also in action at a tournament hosted by Southern Victoria High School in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. The Tigers were victorious in one of the three games they played.
Action continues with local tourneys taking place beginning this weekend.
Presque Isle will host its annual Tip Off Classic Friday and Saturday. Waterville is the opponent Friday, with the girls playing at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Schenck of East Millinocket is in town. The girls game is at 11 a.m. and the boys at 12:30 p.m.
Central Aroostook High School in Mars Hill is the site of the Boys Preseason Basketball Tournament, also Friday and Saturday.
The matchups Friday are Easton at Ashland at 5 p.m., Madawaska at Houlton at 6:30 p.m. and Central Aroostook at Washburn at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, Ashland plays Madawaska at 5 p.m., Washburn and Easton meet at 6:30 p.m. and Houlton battles Central Aroostook at 8 p.m.
The fifth annual Preseason Invitational will be held at Fort Fairfield Friday and Saturday.
The schedule is as follows: Friday, 3:30 p.m., Southern Victoria vs. Easton girls; 4:45 p.m., Presque Isle JV boys vs. GHCA; 6 p.m., Fort Fairfield vs. Limestone-MSSM girls; 7:45 p.m., Fort Fairfield vs. Limestone-MSSM boys.
Saturday, 10 a.m., Fort Fairfield vs. Southern Victoria girls; 11:15 a.m., Fort Fairfield vs. GHCA boys; 12:30 p.m., Limestone-MSSM girls vs. Easton; 1:45 p.m., Limestone-MSSM boys vs. PI JVs; 3:30 p.m., Southern Victoria vs. Limestone-MSSM girls; 4:45 p.m., GHCA vs. Limestone-MSSM boys; 6 p.m., Fort Fairfield vs. Easton girls; 7:15 p.m., Fort Fairfield vs. PI JV boys.
In Washburn Monday and Tuesday, the annual Girls Preseason Basketball Tournament will take place.
On Monday, Madawaska and Ashland will play at 5 p.m., followed by Fort Kent and Central Aroostook at 6:30 p.m. and Houlton and Washburn at 8 p.m.
Tuesday’s matchups are Fort Kent vs. Ashland at 5 p.m., Houlton vs. Madawaska at 6:30 p.m. and Central Aroostook vs. Washburn at 8 p.m.
