CAMDEN – The Vinalhaven boys and girls teams made it to the Busline League Small School championships and both tipped off against opponents from Woolwich at the Camden-Rockport Middle School Saturday afternoon.

The Vinalhaven boys finished the season No.1 while the Woolwich Wildcats finished No. 2. The Vikings were undefeated this season and looking to end the day that way. On the other side it was reversed with the Woolwich girls being No. 1 and undefeated wile the Vinalhaven girls finished the season No. 2. 

At the end of the day, the undefeated teams of the Vinalhaven boys and the Woolwich girls walked out of the gym champions and still undefeated. 

BOYS GAME
This game was a nail biter from the opening tap to the electric finish as both teams gave it everything they had and then some. Playing to a 16-16 first quarter tie, it was obvious that this was going to be fun. 

Dakota Freeman paced the Wildcats with nine-first quarter points, while Vinalhaven was led by Keon Arey with six points. Woolwich took a lead at the half 29-24. Vinalhaven came out strong in the third quarter and by the end had cut into the lead, narrowing it down to a three point score 41-38.

The fourth quarter started out all Woolwich, building an eight point lead at one point, but the Vikings would have none of that and applied a press that resulted in some steals and points that got the game tied late before Vinalhaven built a four point 63-59 score from the foul line where they held on for the win. 

Scoring for Vinalhaven were, Cody Hamilton with 22 points; Keon Arey 16; Max Stanley 15; Liam Thomas six; Cole Mills four; and Elijah Ames two. Vinalhaven was 12-of-33 from the foul line. They had three 3-pointers, Thomas (2) and Stanley. 

Other Vinalhaven team members are, Tyson Goyette, Isle Blackington, Andy Moody, and Henry Noyes.

As is often the case the effort of some do not show up in the stats and it was really the total defense of the Vikings that kept them in the game when they were behind, and ultimately the difference in the game. Cole Mills was a standout on defense in this game as he threw his body around without fear going for every loose ball and taking a hard charge late in the fourth quarter that not only caused a turnover, but also the momentum of the game. Cody Hamilton easily had a double-double today with the rebounds he pulled down on both ends of the court.

For Woolwich, Dakota Freeman had a game high 36 points; Evan Parson eight; Tucker Banger six; Jeremy Thibault four; Max Reed and Sullivan Boyd two each; and Lucas Brown one. Woolwich was 11-of-20 from the foul line. 

The rest of the Woolwich team members are, Declon Hall, Bradley Drake, James Lacavera, Trevor Santiago, and Josh Doughty.

Click here for the Photo Gallery from the Boys Game

GIRLS GAME
The Woolwich girls came to the game ready to play and put their extreme size advantage to work early and used it well breaking the press from Vinalhaven and rebounding, especially on the offensive boards leading to 48-28 win and the championship.

Woolwich lead after each quarter, 14-11, 30-19 and 44-22 after opening up the score in the third quarter outscoring Vinalhaven 14-3. The fourth quarter was time for the height advantage to come back to work and the Wildcats used it beautifully to slow down the game making big long passes that were out of the reach of some of the Vinalhaven girls. 

Scoring for Woolwich were, Madaline Suhr with a game high 26 points; Brooke McElman 16; and Lilah Pashley, Korallei Fifield and Lilly Maccio two each. Woolwich was 10-of-15 from the foul line.

Other members of the Wildcats are, Isabella Monborquette, Gabrielle Morin, Catherine Seaman, Tori Ceglinski, Hannah Card, Tanisha McKenzie and Sara Graves. 

For Vinalhaven, Bailey Wadleigh had 12 points; Gilleyanne Oakes 11; Ashlyn Littlefield and Deja Doughty two each; and Hannah Ames one; Vinalhaven was 11-of-15 from the foul line and they had one 3-pointer from Oakes. 

Other members of the Vikings are, Kameron Cluff, Katrina Osgood, Jenea Cray, Cheyenne Bickford, Amber Shane, Paige Dennison, MaKenzie Young and Carolyn Hopkins. 

Click here for the Photo Gallery from the girls game

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