Last Wednesday night, the Presque Isle Wildcats clawed to the top in their game against Caribou, defeating the Vikings 57-39. Jumping out ahead early on, the ‘Cats were able to secure a solid lead, maintaining consistency with high scorer Russ Mortland.
The Lady Wildcats also defeated the Lady Vikings on Tuesday, Dec. 16 in Presque Isle 39-31. A closer match, both teams struggled from the foul line but Kayla Legassie brought in a game high of 13 points, recovering the Wildcats in a fourth quarter burst of offense. The girls went on to beat Hermon 73-55 on Saturday.
At Mars Hill, the Fort Fairfield Tigers continued their winning streak last week over the Central Aroostook Panthers, last year’s Eastern Maine champions, with a 55-39 victory.
Fort Fairfield jumped out early, with a 14 point lead by the end of the first quarter. At half time, it seemed like the Panthers might have a chance at coming back, but the Tigers leapt even farther ahead in the third quarter, broadening the distance between the two teams by twenty points.
Leading the court for the Tigers were Josh Booth and Austin Dufour with 13 points. Matt Cresenzo contributed 10 more, and Manny Martinez scored a game-high 14 points for Central Aroostook.
The Lady Tigers had a quiet week, with their only game last Wednesday in Van Buren. Fort Fairfield dominated the entire game, keeping Van Buren under 30 with a final 75-27 blowout. For the Tigers, Amanda Hotham had a 21 point game for the Tigers and teammate Whitney Clark put 18 away as well.
In other basketball action, Washburn boys went 1-1 this week, losing to Hodgdon on Dec. 16, but defeating Van Buren 78-44. The Lady Beavers prevailed over previously undefeated Souther Aroostook 44-41, with 19 points from Washburn lady Rachel Palmer.
In their only game of the week, the Ashland Hornets lost to Southern Aroostook by 2 points, despite Jeremy Tarr’s 19 point game high. The Lady Horents added two back-to-back victories to a current 3-3 standing, overcoming Van Buren on Saturday and Easton on Friday. Team captain Suzie Poulin led the way against Van Buren with 17 points , 3 of which were three point shots, and 8 rebounds. Taylor Baker also contributed with 12 rebounds.
The Easton Lady Bears continue to build this season, learning from their loss to Ashland and also Limestone/MSSM Dec. 16.
In Mars Hill, the Lady Panters dominated Wisdom in a 63-33 Friday night victory. The boys varsity team of Central Aroostook recovered from their loss against Fort Fairfield in a 99-57 victory over Wisdom as well.
Due to inclement weather earlier in the week, all of Mondays games were postponed and rescheduled for later in the season.
Staff photo/Abigail Hunt
AVOIDING THE BLOCK, P.I. sophomore Oliver Zubrick looks to move away from a Caribou opponent in last Wednesday’s game. The Wildcats defeated the Vikings in a 57-39 win. Caribou came out strong, but Presque Isle started banking the baskets early on, instigating a lead that the Viking’s were unable to catch up to.
