Undefeated teams are prevalent in the central Aroostook area. Five boys teams still sported perfect marks following Monday’s contests.
In Class B, Presque Isle is 4-0, while Caribou is unbeaten through its first three contests and using solid defense in the process, allowing just under 33 points per game.
In Class D, Central Aroostook (4-0), Easton (4-0) and Washburn (3-0) are rolling early on in the campaign. The surprising Bears beat last year’s EM D runners-up, Fort Fairfield, by a 27-point margin at home Monday.
The Maine Principals’ Association Heal Points standings as of Tuesday morning were:
Eastern Class B —2, Presque Isle (4-0, 3.6728 points) and 5, Caribou (3-0, 2.1914). Ellsworth (3-0, 4.4136) is alone in first place.
Eastern Class D — 1, Central Aroostook (4-0, 4.9201 points); 2, Easton (4-0, 4.3519); 6 Washburn (3-0, 2.0988); 11, Fort Fairfield (2-2, 1.3272); 14, Ashland (1-4, 0.5556); and 18, Limestone-MSSM (0-4, 0.0000).
The following is a recap of games played through Monday, Dec. 20.
Easton 70, Fort Fairfield 43 – The Bears are a perfect 4-0 after easing past the Fort Fairfield Tigers at home Monday.
Reid Clark’s 20 points led Easton, who went on top by 15 points after one quarter and stayed in control. Holden Turner and Jared Hafford both totaled 12 points for the Bears.
Travis Noyes led the 2-2 Tigers with 16 points and Dylan Caldwell tossed in 10.
Central Aroostook 80, Ashland 14 – The 4-0 Panthers scored in bunches and held the host Hornets in check throughout the game Monday in the lopsided victory.
Mike McClung scored 17 points, Brendan York 15, Daniel Brewer 14 and Caleb Kelly 12 to lead the CA offense.
Tyler Levesque’s five points led the Hornets.
Presque Isle 51, John Bapst 33 – The Wildcats fell behind early, but dominated the final three quarters to move to 4-0 on the year.
Travis Dyer was limited to three points as he battled early foul trouble, but Oliver Zubrick and Alex Tuttle scored 12 points each and combined for 15 rebounds to lead the way. Andrew Legassie and Wilder York had nine and eight points, respectively. Brandon Gibson pulled down seven rebounds and Andrew Cash had five.
Washburn 79, Van Buren 50 – A balanced offense and an opportunistic defense led the Beavers to the victory in their first home game of the season Friday.
All four starters scored in double figures and the fifth fell just short with nine points. Washburn’s pressure defense forced the visiting Crusaders into numerous turnovers, which the Beavers often turned into points.
Mitch Worcester scored a game-high 21 points for the winners, while Jordan McLaughlin totalled 18 and Chase Chandler and Mason Turner 12 and 10, respectively. Connor Fitzpatrick had nine for the 3-0 Beavers.
McLaughlin collected 11 steals and Chandler led the way in rebounds with 12.
Eric LaPlante’s 13 points led Van Buren.
Central Aroostook 70, Wisdom 52 – In St. Agatha Friday, the Panthers cruised to an 18-point lead at halftime to defeat the Pioneers.
Kelly had 23 points to lead 3-0 Central Aroostook, while Logan McLaughlin netted 13 and York 11.
Curtis Picard had a big offensive night for Wisdom with 28 points.
Ashland 55, Limestone-MSSM 47 – The Hornets managed their first victory of the season in the new Ashland District School gymnasium Friday on the strength of a 20-point, 15-rebound performance by Levesque. The sophomore forward established career bests in both categories.
Ashland survived a lackluster effort from the foul line (14 of 38 overall) in picking up the win. Kenny Tarr scored 18 points, Alex Chasse hit a pair of three-pointers and Keith Holmes connected on a pair of clutch free throws to lead the Hornet offense.
Josh Forsman scored 12 points and Zach Cote totaled nine, including a pair of threes, for the winless Eagles.
Fort Fairfield 66, Hodgdon 40 – The Tigers bounced back from the season-opening loss to Central Aroostook with a lopsided road win over Hodgdon Thursday.
Noyes poured in 21 points and Dereck Dufour notched 15 more as the Tigers used a 21-8 run in the second quarter to put the game away.
Nick Lunn led the Hawks with 15 points.
TOUGH DEFENSE —Easton’s Jacob Bacon blocks the path of Limestone-MSSM’s Nate Tucker during a Wednesday, Dec. 15 basketball game in Limestone. Easton beat the Eagles 61-47.
Easton 61, Limestone-MSSM 47 – The Bears used Reid Clark’s 13-point effort last Wednesday to spearhead their victory over the Eagles last Wednesday in Limestone.
Jonah Bacon added 12 points and Holden Turner 11 for Easton, which won for the third consecutive time to begin the campaign.
Nate Tucker was the Eagles’ lone double-digit scorer with 12 points.
Southern Aroostook 79, Ashland 41 – Rob Rockwell registered 24 points and Anthony Diaferio fired in 16 as the Warriors had no trouble with the Hornets last Wednesday in Ashland.
Kenny Tarr netted four three-pointers en route to a 27-point total for the Hornets.
WILDCATS WIN BIG – Presque Isle dominated Houlton last Wednesday in a road contest, 70-21. In top photo, junior forward Andrew Kofstad hits for two of his six points, while at bottom, senior forward Oliver Zubrick eyes the rim while attempting a layup.
Presque Isle 70, Houlton 21 – Eleven players reached the scoring column in the Wildcats’ blowout road win over the Shires last Wednesday.
Alex Tuttle had 13 points and Oliver Zubrick 10 to lead the way for the winners, while Wilder York and Jonah Stephenson had seven each and Andrew Legassie, Brandon Gibson, Patrick Cash and Andrew Kofstad six apiece.
Central Aroostook 76, Fort Fairfield 62 – The Panthers took advantage of numerous turnovers by the Tigers, who were making their season debut, in collecting the home victory last Tuesday.
Kelly scored 20 points, York 15, McLaughlin 14 and McClung 11 for Central Aroostook.
Noyes had 26 for the Tigers, while Caldwell posted eight.
Washburn 91, Hodgdon 49 – Worcester and McLaughlin combined for 58 points last Tuesday at Hodgdon to key the win for the Beavers.
Washburn got out to a 33-6 lead after one quarter and continued to roll the rest of the way.
Hodgdon was led by Josh Hudson’s 14 points.
