BANGOR, Maine- The Caribou Vikings built a 10 point halftime lead, then after a Hermon Hawks rally would hit some key free throws down the stretch for a 43-40 thrilling win in a Maine Principals’ Association Class B North regional boys championship game played at the Cross Insurance Center Saturday afternoon.
The two teams swapped the lead four times and were tied four times as well in the opening quarter, before Caribou got a late basket from Parker Deprey to take a 13-11 lead after the opening eight minutes. Deprey had six points, and the Hawks Isaac Varney had seven points in the first.
The Vikings turned up their defensive intensity in the second quarter holding the Hawks to just four points. Issac Marker also had eight points and three steals, as Caribou opened up a 25-15 halftime lead. Hermon stormed out of the locker room going on an 8-0 run, led by a layup and three pointer by Garrett Trask to cut the lead to 25-23. After Deprey hit a three to put the Vikings back up five, a three point play by Trask and a basket from Varney tied it 28-28. Sawyer Deprey though scored a layup in the paint as time expired to give Caribou a slight two point edge heading to the fourth quarter. The Hawks did however outscore the Vikings 13-5 in the stanza to stay within two after three quarters of play.
Hermon opened the fourth quarter on a three pointer by Varney, to take their first lead since it was 11-9 in the first quarter. Deprey hit a three to regain the lead for the Vikings, while Kent Johnson tied it again moments later. Deprey did it again from long range to make it 36-33 Caribou, a lead they wouldn’t give back. A Cody Hawes basket for the Hawks made it 36-35 with 1:40 remaining, before Deprey pushed the lead back to three again 40 seconds later. Austin Findlen then knocked down two from the line for the Vikings to increase the lead to five with 43 seconds left. Hawes and Findlen exchanged two from the line on each end to keep it a five point game, before Hawes buried a three for Hermon to cut it to 42-40 with 12 seconds showing on the clock. Findlen made 1-2 from the line on the other end, and Varney attempted a three pointer to tie for the Hawks with five seconds left. The shot came up short and went out of bounds with only two seconds left. Caribou inbounded to Alex Bouchard, who dribbled out the clock to preserve the win. The Vikings made 5-6 from the line in the fourth quarter.
Deprey led the way for 18-3 Caribou with 19 points (eight in fourth quarter) and made 3 three pointers in the game. Findlen finished with 11 points and made 4-4 from the line in the fourth quarter. Marker finished with eight points, and also had five steals to help the defensive effort. Hermon was led by Hawes who had 14 points. Varney finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Trask added 10 points. The loss ends a 42 game winning streak for the Hawks, who end up with a record of 20-1.
Caribou will play for the gold ball in the Class B state title game next Saturday at 2:45 pm in Portland against Cape Elizabeth. The Vikings haven’t been in a state title game since 1983 in Class AA when they lost to South Portland, and haven’t won it since Mike Thurston hit the famous half court buzzer beater to lead them to the Class LL crown in 1969 over Westbrook.
Caribou forward Sawyer Deprey grabs a rebound as Hermon forward Cody Hawes (22 in white) tries to defend in the Class B North regional title game on February 23, 2019. Also looking on is Parker Deprey (22 in maroon) and Alex Bouchard (5 in maroon). Photo by Lisa Prescott (click to enlarge)
CAR 13 12 5 13- 43
HER 11 4 13 12- 40
Rebounds- Caribou 12 Hermon 16
Free throws- Caribou 10-12 Hermon 4-5
Turnovers- Caribou 10 Hermon 12
