BANGOR– Kolleen Bouchard has made many big shots in her four years at Houlton high school. Bouchard recorded 27 points, seven rebounds, four steals, and two blocks to lead the Shiretowners to a 33-30 overtime victory over Dexter in the Maine Principals’ Association girls class C Northern Maine Championship game on Saturday night at the Cross Insurance Center.
Bouchard made a three pointer with 24.2 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. She scored three points in overtime to give Houlton their fourth straight regional championship.
“There are a lot of great teams and great players out there and they never win one,”Houlton coach Shawn Graham said. “To get four out of this is special. It is a true testament to our seniors and our underclassmen.”
The game had 11 lead changes including eight in the first half. Houlton held a 14-11 halftime lead. Bouchard had 12 first half points. Dexter freshman Peyton Grant had seven points in the first half.
Houlton went on a 9-2 run to start the second half and take their biggest lead at 23-15. Dexter followed that with a 10-0 run to take a 25-23 lead. The run was capped by two free throws from Grant with 6:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Dexter took another lead at 28-25 when Grant made a three pointer. Bouchard provided her dramatics with 24.2 seconds remaining,
The young Tigers are hoping this isn’t the last time they are in this situation and hope they can use this to learn from.
“We just didn’t do a good job executing in overtime, we need to get a foul at the end. That is part of being young,”Dexter coach Jody Grant said. “I told them, let’s hope this isn’t the last time we are in this situation. You never know, Dan Marino only played in one super bowl.”
Grant scored a team high 22 points for the Tigers, including 15 in the second half. Cheyenne Beem added six points and six rebounds, Becca Batron chipped in with two points and five rebounds. Dexter finishes the season with a 17-4 record.
The Shiretowners won the regional title in 2015 in class C. The last two seasons they won the class B regional title. Bouchard went over the 2000 point mark when she made a free throw in the third quarterly. Houlton (21-0) will play Monmouth in the class C state championship game at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday, March 3rd at 7:05 PM. Monmouth is the defending class C state champion.
