Staff Writer
ASHLAND – Senior Mindy Chasse had shut off her mind to everything but the business of ticking off another Hornet win when she drove in a layup for her 1,000th career point in the Greater Houlton Christian Academy matchup last Wednesday.
“I forgot it was my 1,000th point and my cousin Whitney Flint had to come tell me,” explained Chasse after the game. “Once we started playing I was focused on winning. Winning was our goal.”
Game play stopped as coaching staff and administration presented the game ball to Chasse for achieving the milestone. Chasse has worked toward adding her name to the list of female athletes reaching quadruple shooting figures for Ashland since she started as a freshman. Her name will be added to former Hornets Liz Coffin (1984), Kim Michaud (1990) and Ashley Nemer (2006). Chasse remembered Nemer’s big moment as a young member of the team, and strove for her own game ball ever since then.
The center has always enjoyed basketball, going to summer sports camps with her cousin Flint. “I love the environment. Even if you’re down by 10, you can come back and win it.”
The night of important moments continued as Ashland went on to defeat formerly undefeated GHCA, 80-54, in possibly one of the most important games of their season.
Flint couldn’t shoot wrong putting up 43 points including five baskets behind the three-point arc. “What Flint did was just incredible,” said head coach Bill Nemer after the game. “I hadn’t even fathomed that she had scored that many points.”
“Our goal was to set our press and play hard,” explained Chasse, who had 15 points during the game. In the third period of play, Chasse actually fouled out of the game leaving a gap filled by junior Jade Tilley.
“I was really proud of how she played,” said the co-captain. “She’s really stepped up this year.”
According to Nemer, Tilley pulled down at least 10 rebounds in the pivotal game. The GHCA marked the beginning of his squad taking on the top teams with a home advantage, and if Wednesday’s game is any indication, the future looks good for the second half of the season. “There just hasn’t been a lot of fire and spark the first half of the season,” said Nemer.
The Ashland boys, energized by the huge girls’ victory, stampeded over GHCA in the following matchup, 91-45. Jeremy Tarr, Tyler Cote and Carl Nemer proved a triple-threat inside and outside as they shot into double-digits. Tarr finished with 18 points, Cote added 15 and Nemer shot for 14 for the Hornets. Justin Belanger put up 13 points underneath for Ashland.
Poulin leads Hornets
Junior Hornet Suzie Poulin had one of the biggest nights of her high school basketball career Tuesday, Jan. 15th as she led her team in scoring, and put in enough baskets for her career-high 21 points. Ashland stormed out against Van Buren for a 59-29 victory.
“It was fire in my hands I guess,” said Poulin after the game. “I always try to come out with aggressiveness and try my hardest.”
Poulin’s scoring included four three-pointers. Senior Mindy Chasse contributed 12 points, six at the free throw line.
It was a well-attended rematch of Class D rivals as Southern Aroostook faced Ashland in boys’ basketball action at Dyer Brook on Tuesday, Jan. 15th. The Hornets had a narrow three-point lead at the half, 34-31, but swept away their opponents in the second 16 minutes, 88-71.
Hornet Jeremy Tarr catapulted Ashland to their victory with 23 points. Tyler Cote sailed in three three-pointers toward a 22-point total.
Lucas Belanger drove up from the inside for 21 points. Carl Nemer put in two three-pointers to a 10-point total.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
SENIOR MINDY CHASSE watches her layup drop through the basket at a recent game against Washburn.
