BANGOR, Maine- They say it is hard to beat a team three times in one season. But the Caribou Vikings did just that Saturday afternoon when it mattered most in impressive fashion. Three starters scored in double figures led by Parker Deprey with 21 points, as Caribou built a 17 point halftime lead and went on to defeat the Ellsworth Eagles 62-40 in a Maine Principals’ Association Class B boys regional final game at the Cross Insurance Center.
The defending state champions led from start to finish. Deprey had six in the opening eight minutes as they held a 12-6 lead. Ellsworth cut it to four early in the second quarter, before Deprey went off. With the score 18-14, Caribou went on a 17-0 run with Deprey scoring 11 of those points with three straight three-pointers and a fast break layup for a 21 point advantage. Jackson Curtis scored the last four points of the first half for the Eagles and it was 35-18 at the break.
Ellsworth never was able to get back into the game in the second half. Isaac Marker had nine third quarter points and the lead went to as many as 24 in the fourth quarter. The Eagles only got as close as 15 in the second 16 minutes of action.
Parker added 11 rebounds to his game high point total in the Caribou win. Sawyer Deprey had 14 points and three assists. Marker finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Also chipping in was Jacob Berkoski with five points, Joey Gregson with three, and Alex Bouchard, Ethan Holdsworth, and Michael Brigman all had two points each. The Vikings outrebounded the Eagles 26-18 and shot 7-8 from the foul line.
J’Von James led Ellsworth in the loss with 12 points and four rebounds. J. Curtis ended up with 11 points and nine rebounds. Also contributing was Eamon McDonald with six points, Hunter Curtis with five, and Darby Barry, Adam Inman, and Brady Mercier each had two points a piece. The Eagles shot 7-11 from the line and finish their season at 17-4.
Caribou will look for back to back state titles next Friday night at 8:45 p.m. against Maranacook in Bangor, after not winning any in 50 years.
