Shires’ hopes of EM title dashed

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    The Houlton Shiretowners’ work just began at the end of last Saturday night’s Eastern Maine Class C championship.
    “If we work, we get better,” said Houlton coach Rob Moran. “I think we can be very deep and be in a competitive situation next season. If we improve on our weaknesses, we could be right back where we were this season.”
    The Shiretowners’ lack of rebounding coupled with turnovers were costly, as Lee Academy recouped to win its second consecutive Class C title, 58-47. The Pandas will play Dirigo in the state championship Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.
Pioneer Times photograph/Gloria Austin
WAY TO FINISH — The three graduating players from the Houlton Shiretowners, from left, Doug Dickison, Zach Harvey and Cody Woods, finished their high school basketball season strong, with an Eastern Maine runner-up plaque.
    Kyle Bouchard led his team with 20 points, while Doug Dickison racked up 13 points.
    In the second half, the Pandas defense jumpstarted their offense.
    “Their half-court trap bothered us,” said Moran.
    Boubacar Diallo scored 11 third-quarter points off Lee’s defensive intensity, as the lead switched hands four times during the period. The Shires took the lead, 38-35, as Kole Buzzeo nailed a 3-pointer and Bouchard sank two free throws to close out the quarter.
    The Pandas scored seven unanswered points, 42-38, to start the last eight minutes of play. Free throws, ironically, kept the Shires close, as they made five of six and then Bouchard’s jumper from the top of the lane with about four minutes to play drew Houlton closer, 48-45.
    But, the 6-3 junior guard, Diallo used his speed and strength to score the next six points to give Lee a 54-45 lead with 1:41 left. Houlton’s last points of the game came when Bouchard was double-teamed and he found Swallow open for the lay in.
    Coming out of the gate slow, Houlton went down 4-0, but after a brief chat with their coach, the Shires’ Nick Guiod and Bouchard hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give Houlton its first lead of the game, 6-4. But, Lee’s D.J. Johnson returned the favor to close the scoring gap to 8-7 with his own shot from behind the arc at the 2:21 mark of the opening quarter.
    The first period ended with Houlton on top 12-11 after Bouchard delivered the ball to Doug Dickison in the paint.
    Brad Kong knotted the game at 14-all in the second quarter on a free throw. Then, the Shiretowners pushed their lead to five points when Bouchard hit an open 3-pointer with 1:07 left to the half to give Houlton a 25-20 advantage.
    Freshman standout Bouchard scored 10 points in the first half, while senior Dickison tossed in eight of his 13 points.
    “We competed very well,” said Moran. “But, no rebounding in the fourth quarter hurt us.”
    Houlton lost the war on the boards, 13-4 in the fourth quarter and 25-9 in the second half.
    “When you have a 5-8 guy guarding a 6-1 guy, it’s difficult,” said Moran. “It’s hard to block out when you are giving up weight. They are more athletic than us.
    “We fought hard,” he added. “We started the season 2-5 and finished playing in an Eastern Maine championship. The future is bright.”