Dyer Brook 7-8 grade boys win NMCC AYBL Festival

    The Dyer Brook Bulldogs 7-8 grade boys’ team traveled to Presque Isle on March 14 to take part in the Northern Maine Community College 7-8 grade Aroostook Youth Basketball League (AYBL) Festival.  
    In the opening matchup, Dyer Brook squared off with a solid Fort Kent squad. Dyer Brook came out running the floor very well and went up 14-0 within the first several minutes, as the full-court press they applied was effective.  Dyer Brook would lead at the half 34-15. Dyer Brook finished with a balanced effort in the opening game and came away with a 58-35 win.
Contributed photograph
CHAMPS – The Dyer Brook Bulldogs 7-8 grade boys’ basketball team recently won the NMCC AYBL Basketball Festival. Playing for the team are, from left, front,  Cody Lassonde, Robert Rockwell and Billy Livezey; back, coach Matt McCluskey, Lucas Anderson, Colton Bivighouse, Spencer Anderson, Kaleb Burpee, Jesse Boulier and assistant coach Robert Rockwell.
     In the second game, Caribou West would give Dyer Brook a good test. Dyer Brook could not rest easy despite maintaining a double-digit lead after halftime of 31-22. Jesse Boulier played a tremendous first half for Dyer Brook with 13 points at intermission, as he found the open space and pounded the offensive glass early. Colton Bivighouse came alive in the second half and Dyer Brook pulled out to a 47-30 lead. Caribou West would make its final push, but couldn’t get it into single digits and Dyer Brook moved on with a 55-45 win.
    Dyer Brook’s third game would pit them against Caribou East. Dyer Brook lead 25-20 at the half. A more focused team showed up in the second half however, and Rob Rockwell would catch fire from all over the floor to give the team the offensive spark it needed to pull away. Spencer Anderson’s defense and passing also played a big part in a second half run that put the game out of reach. Dyer Brook finished with a 61-43 win moving them to the championship game against Caribou West.  
    In the championship game, Dyer Brook jumped out to 6-0 lead on three nice looks inside in the opening minute of play, but Dayne Savage would just be getting started, drilling a 3 followed by a Devin Berkoski 3 from the corner, and it was suddenly tied at 6-6.
    Dyer Brook would feed big man Bivighouse for a deuce and then he would follow with a putback on the next possession to make it 10-6 Dyer Brook. But Savage would stay in attack mode with two more 3-point baskets, while pulling up off the dribble with only a step by two defenders and give Caribou its first lead, 12-10.
    Dyer Brook would pull ahead again as Billy Livezey broke down the Caribou guards for several tough finishes at the hoop and Dyer Brook would lead 18-15 before another Savage barrage put Caribou back up 21-18, as he would swish another 3 under pressure and a two. Bivighouse and Rockwell would string together and impressive series of moves as Dyer Brook went on a 14-4 run, to make it 32-28 at halftime.
    Dyer Brook would make a defensive adjustment at halftime, and it paid off immediately. A 10-2 run to start the second half gave them their first double-digit lead, and they started to score fast-break points off good defensive possessions, eventually breaking the game open. Rockwell finished several moves in traffic and Bivighouse owned the paint, as Dyer Brook exploded, going on a 25-8 run to put the game out of reach.
    The final score Dyer Brook 71, Caribou West 42.