The Wildcats varsity boys basketball team had a momentous win against the Caribou Vikings on Wednesday January 5, with a score of 41 to 57. The atmosphere of a packed gym and lively fans set the scene for the team’s first head-to-head matchup of the 21-22 season. Head coach Terry Cummings said, “As a coach, I’ve always said when you walk into a locker room before a Caribou and Presque Isle game you shouldn’t really have to say anything.”

The Wildcats scored 57 points against the Vikings, with a lot of contributors to that tally.Dawson Beaulieu 23’ had 3 points, Noah Yarema 22’ had 12 points, Jackson Maynard 22’ had 2 points, Malachi Cummings ‘23 had 13 points, Xavier McAtee 22’ had 18 points.

Coach Cummings and players especially applauded junior Jack Hallet for his game. Hallet contributed 9 points, 8 rebounds, and quite the assist to Cummings, as well as shooting five for five from the free throw line. “I thought Hallet played absolutely amazing, especially at the free throw line,” said Yarema. Hallett, to his part, gave credit to the opposing fans for motivating him. “I will give the Caribou student section all the credit because they were chirping hard, and I said to myself halfway through my shots ‘I’m not missing these,’” said Hallett. 

The Wildcats were up the whole game until the fourth quarter when they were down by one point. They came back to win the game with a 20 to 3 run in the remaining minutes. 

McAtee and Maynard explained why they believe they were able to walk away with the win. McAtee said, “Our defensive intensity in the fourth quarter made a huge difference, we were playing a little slow at first but then we picked it up in the second half and we were able to pull out the win.” Maynard added “In the fourth quarter we started working as a team more, and we were able to slow down and get good shots.”

The environment in the hometown gym on a January night amplified the intense and successful game. “You could see even some of our upperclassmen weren’t quite on their game tonight, but in the fourth quarter when it mattered most – they stepped up,” said Coach Cummings.