By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Presque Isle and Caribou boys’ basketball teams will hook up for their first meeting of the season tonight at 7 p.m. at Presque Isle High School, and a competitive game is expected between the two Eastern Maine Class B teams who were ranked first and eighth, respectively, in the Heal Point standings as of Tuesday.
“It should prove to be a great basketball atmosphere,” said second-year Wildcat coach Terry Cummings. “We know that Caribou is a very good team and we will have to be at our best to win.
“They have a prolific scorer in Dayne Savage [15.9 points per game], a great defender in Matt Milliard [who also averages 8.4 ppg], and Derek Richardson [14.9 ppg, 7.7 rebounds per game] and Cody Herbert [10.3 ppg, 4.4 rebounds per game] give them an inside presence,” Cummings said. “Plus they have some very good role players who stay within themselves.”
Caribou coach Chris Casavant said defense is always a key for his team and that will be the case in tonight’s contest as well.
“When we defend well, we give ourselves a chance to win,” he said. “Our offense is better because we are able to get out and run.”
The 12th-year Viking coach is well aware of the talent PI brings to the floor, especially 6-8 junior center Bradley Shields [11.1 ppg, 7.5 rebounds per game] along with seniors Tyler Brooks [12 ppg, 6.6 rebounds per game] and Jonah Stephenson [14.8 ppg, 5.8 assists per game].
“We’re going to have to hit shots,” Casavant said. “That may sound cliche, but with Shields inside, we’re going to have a difficult time doing much down low, so we’re going to have to convert from the perimeter.”
The Wildcats own a 7-1 record following Saturday’s 56-50 win at Hermon. PI’s lone loss came at the hands of Houlton at home on Dec. 12. They have reeled off six victories in a row since.
Caribou is 5-3 following Saturday’s 61-56 home win over Old Town. The Vikes have also beaten Washington Academy and John Bapst in road games and Foxcroft Academy and Ellsworth at home. Caribou’s losses were at Old Town and Houlton and at home to Mount Desert Island.
In the most recent victory over the Coyotes, despite giving up four inches in height, Milliard held Old Town’s Garrett Libby, the conference’s leading scorer, to 11 points over the first three quarters and 17 for the game. Milliard also helped out on the offensive end with 10 points.
“He enjoys the challenge of having to guard the other team’s best player,” Casavant said of Milliard. “He embraces it.”
Milliard also limited Houlton’s 6-4 forward Kyle Bouchard to 18 points, below his season average, in last Wednesday’s 59-51 loss.
Savage scored 15 points and Richardson had 12 for the Vikes, who came back after trailing by 12 during the first half. Caribou had lost at Old Town on Dec. 22, 59-47.
In the loss at Houlton, Richardson scored 25 points and Savage added 15. Caribou trailed by 15 points at halftime before mounting a comeback that fell short.
The Caribou girls began the season with six consecutive losses, but rebounded for two wins in a row heading into last night’s game at Presque Isle.
Caribou bested Foxcroft Academy on New Year’s Eve, 51-37, led by Rebecca McDougal’s 21 points and 15 more from Alexa Massey.
Then on Saturday, the Viking girls avenged a loss two weeks earlier in Old Town by winning in overtime, 48-44. Katelynn Tardie hit three three-pointers during the first three quarters and then made some key layups and free throws during the fourth period and in the extra session. She finished with a game-high 15 points, a big lift with Massey and junior Delaney Williams battling foul trouble throughout.
“It was a huge win,” said Viking coach Ryan Deprey. “Everyone chipped in, especially with the foul trouble.
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| Staff photo/Gloria Austin Logan Bubar of the Tigers drives in for a layup, while Hodgdon’s Lacey McQuarrie gets there late during last Wednesday’s game. |
“The last two games have been great. Everyone is upbeat with the direction the team is heading,” he said. “After getting a taste of winning, this team has become a group of confident players ready to step up to any challenge.”
The Limestone-MSSM girls are now 5-4 after losing to Fort Fairfield Saturday, 55-38, and defeating Madawaska Monday, 46-32. Alexis Bell had 12 points, eight rebounds and seven steals to lead the Eagles to the home win over the Owls. Kelsee Albert and Mariah Williams totaled eight points each.
The Eagle boys dropped games to Fort Kent and Van Buren and were 2-7 entering last night’s game at home against Fort Fairfield.
The Washburn girls and boys remain undefeated following lopsided victories over Greater Houlton Christian Academy at UM-Presque Isle Monday. Mitchell Worcester scored 36 points in the boys’ win, while Mackenzie Worcester had 20 and Carsyn Koch a season-high 16 in the girls’ triumph.
Fort Fairfield’s boys were beaten by Easton Saturday, 55-52, and saw their record even at 4-4.
The Tiger girls bounced back from a decisive loss to Hodgdon last Wednesday to collect the win over Limestone-MSSM and move to 4-2 overall. Whitney McNamee, Fort’s 6-1 center, was dominant with 24 points and 12 rebounds. “It was the best game of her career,” said FF coach Larry Gardner, “and I’m still expecting more from her as the season goes on.”
