Worcester now part of 2,000-point club
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
Last Tuesday, Washburn senior Mitchell Worcester joined an elite group of high school basketball players when he scored the 2,000-point of his career in a 69-61 win at Fort Fairfield.
2,000 POINTS — Washburn senior Mitchell Worcester eclipsed the 2,000-point milestone during last Tuesday’s game in Fort Fairfield. From left are his parents, Larry and Kim Worcester; Mitchell Worcester and coach Randy Norsworthy.
Worcester hit the milestone during the second quarter with his 19th point of the game. It put him in select company in Maine basketball history. He joins Julie Bradstreet of Central Aroostook, Matt Rossignol of Van Buren and Matt Oliver of Hodgdon as the only players from Aroostook County to score at least 2,000 points in a career. Ray Alley of Vinalhaven and Cindy Blodgett of Lawrence are among the estimated 11 others who have reached the mark.
Washburn counts regular season and post-season games as well as the team’s participation in the annual pre-season tournament, whose inclusion dates back to a period when Washburn played just 16 regular season games instead of the maximum of 18 allowed by the Maine Principals’ Association.
BLOCKED — Fort Fairfield senior Andrew Lewis gets a hand on this shot attempt by Washburn’s Mitchell Worcester during last Tuesday’s game in FF. The Beavers won, 69-61.
Fort Fairfield coach Todd Alley has faced off against Worcester numerous times over the years and said it is his work ethic that has taken him to what he has accomplished.
“He has always been able to shoot outside, but he has worked on becoming stronger and has added an inside game that has put him to the next level,” Alley said. “It’s been impressive to watch, but that’s how elite players become elite … by putting in the time.”
“He’s a great kid, but has killed me especially in games at Fort Fairfield so I’m glad he’s done playing here,” he said with a laugh.
Worcester’s own coach, Randy Norsworthy, said his star player has been able to achieve individual records while still putting his team first, as evidenced by the 13-0 record the Beavers held heading into last night’s game against Ashland.
“Mitch is a great young man and has developed a great perspective,” Norsworthy said. “He truly has a humble attitude about all he has accomplished and always thinks of others first. He has told me many times that team success is more important than any records he has set.
“He is focused to make the most of this young team and help them be the best they can be the remainder of the regular season and looking forward to the post-season.”
Worcester ended up with 39 points in the victory over the Tigers and then tallied 25 more Saturday as his team knocked off Central Aroostook in Mars Hill, 54-52.
Norsworthy said his team’s defensive effort was the key against the Panthers.
“The game stayed close the whole way, but I really liked the way that we played our halfcourt man-to-man defense in this one,” he said.
Washburn has accomplished what it has despite a couple key players missing some time due to injuries. Freshman Jarret Olsen is now back after suffering a broken right foot which sidelined him for approximately a month.
Norsworthy said sophomore guard Cameron Bragg, the team’s second-leading scorer, has a doctor’s visit on Feb. 5 to see if he’ll be cleared to play after having missed multiple games with an arm injury.
“Guys like [freshman guard] Noah Caron have stepped in … he’s scoring and taking care of the ball quite well and has been a pleasant surprise,” Norsworthy said. “Cameron Preston and Kenny Irving, both sophomores, are beginning to play their roles well.”
Derrick Baker nailed three three-point field goals to complement Worcester’s performance against the Tigers. Caron had nine points against FF and added eight against CA.
ASHLAND’S Nick Belanger puts the rebound back up against Wisdom during last Wednesday’s game, won by the Hornets, 52-25.
SHOT ATTEMPT — Steven Decker of the Central Aroostook Panthers gets off a shot during Thursday’s 68-42 loss at Hodgdon.
Andrew Lewis scored 25 for the Tigers last Tuesday in a game that stayed close into the fourth quarter.
Three Panther players combined for 50 of their 52 points. Chandler Brewer had 18, Steven Decker 17 and Zach McClung 15.
Washburn climbed up to third place in the Eastern Maine Class D standings, just behind Central Aroostook. Defending Class D state champion Jonesport-Beals now leads the way with its 13-0 record. Easton is eighth and Fort Fairfield is 10th. The regular season ends Feb. 8. The top 15 teams qualify for the post-season and Ashland is currently in 16th with its 5-9 record.
TO THE HOOP — Ashland’s Savannah Flint goes up for a layup against Wisdom’s Chelsi Albert in the third period of last Wednesday’s game in Ashland. The Hornets won, 36-16.
The Beaver girls improved their record to 14-0 and remain atop the ‘D’ rankings following Monday’s 100-36 thrashing of Southern Aroostook in a game played in Dyer Brook.
Five Washburn players reached double figures in scoring. Mackenzie Worcester had 24 points, Carmen Bragg 20, Joan Overman 15, Nicole Olson 12 and Carsyn Koch 11.
The Fort Fairfield Tigers continued their impressive campaign with Monday’s 67-36 triumph at Madawaska. Senior Sydney Churchill drained eight three-point field goals en route to a career-best 28 points. Whitney McNamee added 12 points for FF, which improved to 12-3 and is now ranked fifth in the division.
“I really like the makeup of our team,” said coach Larry Gardner. “They have been very unselfish and hard working … they have already exceeded many peoples’ expectations and we are starting to find our identity.”
Easton holds the 11th position with its 8-6 record following Monday’s 47-41 loss at Van Buren. Carla Halvorson had 13 points and Cassie Buck added 11 more for the Bears, but it wasn’t enough as the Crusaders’ Parise Rossignol fired in 35 to lead her team.
Ashland beat Katahdin Monday by that same 47-41 score, but still finds itself on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. The Hornets, now at 3-12 and in 16th place, received 16 points and seven assists from freshman Caitlin Paradis in the home victory over the Cougars.
The Presque Isle girls kept their unbeaten season going after beating Mount Desert Island Friday and Ellsworth Saturday during a road trip to Hancock County.
The 52-40 victory over MDI was huge as the Trojans had given PI its toughest game of the season at home Dec. 29.
“It was a tough, hard-fought win like we thought it would be,” said PI coach Jeff Hudson. “Ralph [Michaud, the team’s assistant coach] had the idea of changing the press a little, and it really bothered them.
“We had trouble with our halfcourt offense, just like they did, but we forced numerous turnovers and were able to get more scoring chances,” he added.
After a slow start from the foul line, PI connected on eight of its final nine to close out the game.
Chandler Guerrette scored 24 points and Hannah Graham added 12 for Presque Isle, which enters tonight’s game against Houlton as the No. 1 team in EM Class B, a whopping 32 points ahead of second-place Oceanside.
Hudson is hoping a big crowd will show up at PIHS tonight to witness what he calls “one of the best senior classes in school history” play on its home floor for the final time this season. The group is a perfect 35-0 on its home floor over the past four years.
“Some of their accomplishments have been unbelievable and they are certainly worth watching,” he added.
The Presque Isle boys remain atop the standings after splitting their recent weekend road contests. PI made a late comeback, but still fell short against MDI Friday, falling 49-48. Jonah Stephenson scored 20 points and defensive ace Ben Nickerson, who held the Trojans’ Ben Walls to just three field goals, chipped in with 11 points.
The Wildcats downed Ellsworth Saturday, 58-48, behind Stephenson’s 21 points and 13 more from three-point shooting specialist Michael Boone.
PI played both games without the services of senior Tyler Brooks and junior Cody Lyford, who were both injured during the Jan. 21 loss at Houlton. Coach Terry Cummings said Brooks sustained a concussion and is hoping he will be cleared to resume practicing by today. Lyford pulled a calf muscle and could have played last weekend, but Cummings held him out for precautionary reasons.
“I thought we played well defensively all weekend,” Cummings said. “It kept us in the game against MDI and was the key in the win over Ellsworth.”
