Staff Writer
ASHLAND – The fans battled as much as the athletes in tight quarters at the Ashland Community High School last Thursday, as the Hornet boys measured up against the Easton Bears, who had only suffered one defeat to top-ranked Central Aroostook in the regular season.
A late fourth quarter three-pointer by senior Bear Nate Sanders, and the 73 percent accuracy rate of Easton at the free throw line, added another tick in the winning column for EHS, 70-59.
The score board didn’t leave fans much breathing room for most of the Class D minutes. From the tipoff, Ashland Tyler Cote drove in a layup that brought Hornet faithful to their feet. However, the Easton crowd soon had a chance to echo back when Jeremy Brock put the Bears onto the scoreboard and Brad Trask arched in double three-pointers. Brock sailed up five three-point shots on the night that touched only air and net.
Hornet Lucas Belanger broke the Bear first quarter scoring streak to end the first 16-11 Easton. In the second quarter, he took a charge to negate an Easton basket and go to the foul line. Carl Nemer also took two offensive fouls.
According to head coach Joel Hall, the Hornets have improved in this capacity at practice. “We got them into some foul trouble,” said Hall. “We need to work on perimeter defense. Trask made us play on the outside.”
Trask’s dead aim outside the paint forced defenders up, but Easton has equal offensive power under the net. Brock tallied up 16 points and Sanders another 16 for Easton.
“They played tight throughout the whole game,” commented Hall, who hoped to see inside scoring improve in the next game.
Lucas Belanger put in 14 points, his height giving him visible advantage over his opponents. Jeremy Tarr, Nemer and Cote all participated in the battle of the three-pointers with Tarr and Cote putting in two each and Nemer with one beyond the arc.
The triple-point shots sent a frenzy into the cheering crowds. Both coaches agreed the atmosphere brought out the best in their players and made the match a perfect January night game.
“I was jumping up and down,” said Easton head coach Travis Carter. “The fans were rocking and they are a well coached team and a good group of kids.”
“It was a fun game to be involved in,” agreed Hall.
Bear Trask, who finished the four quarters with 25 points, according to Carter, played his best game of the season thus far.
Tarr and Justin Belanger hammered in 12 points apiece for Ashland, and Cote added 10 points.
In girls’ Class D action at Ashland, the Hornets overtook the young Bear squad for a 61-16 final score.
Mindy Chasse lead the orange with 15 points, and Suzie Poulin had another 12 points toward the win.
Sydney Trask led the Easton effort with seven points.
Bear Trask put in the game-high of 11 points in Easton’s Jan. 8th match against Wisdom at St. Agatha, but the baskets couldn’t put Easton on top.
Wisdom claimed the 39-27 win on their home floorboards.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
ASHLAND’S JEREMY TARR prepares to make a move around Easton’s Nate Sanders in Class D action.
