Wiscasset Middle High School put on a successful five-team junior varsity basketball tournament Saturday. Jan. 11. The 16-minute games were well played, exciting to watch and drew many enthusiastic fans to Stover Auditorium and the Wiscasset Community Center gymnasium.

The Jayvee Jamboree had a last-minute scheduling change after an influenza outbreak forced Temple Christian to pull out. There was also an unforeseen change that necessitated Monmouth Academy play all of its games first. But once the tournament got started, things ran smoothly until its conclusion.

In one of the games in Stover Auditorium, the Boothbay Region High School girls hung on to defeat Monmouth 19-18. Then Wiscasset took the court, played well but lost to Monmouth, 11-7. The Wolverines and Mustangs struggled to put points on the scoreboard. With five minutes gone by, Monmouth was on top 4-0. Maddy Carrier netted the Wolverines’ first points, swishing a basket from a step inside the three-point arch at 9:26. Monmouth answered by netting five unanswered points to go up 9-2.

With 90 second left to play, Brianna Colson-Orr hit a Wolverine trifecta making it a 9-5 ballgame. The Mustangs turned the ball over on their next possession. On the inbounds pass that followed, Zoe Waltz found Kylie Peoples open underneath the basket. Peoples banked the ball into the basket and it was a 9-7 ballgame. In the final seconds, Monmouth added an insurance basket. The Wolverines later played Boothbay and lost by seven points, and then to Buckfield by 10. The Wolverines played Hall-Dale tough right to the closing buzzer. They lost by two after a final shot that would have tied the game rolled off the rim.

Bob “Radar” Applebee called the tournament. It was a learning experience for the players and a lot of fun, too. “Because we don't have a junior varsity team this year, it gave our younger players a chance to get on the court in game situations,” he said. “All of the other coaches told me how much they appreciated us facilitating this tournament. Like us, they used it as a learning experience.”

Next door in WCC, the Wolverine boys lost their first game 30-15 to Monmouth. The Mustangs led from the opening tap but Wiscasset stayed close. Cory Ricker’s fast break basket at 10:34 made it a 10-8 ballgame. The score was 14-12 following a three-pointer banked in by Brett Osmond with 8:39 left on the clock. After the Mustangs scored again, a field goal by Osmond kept it a two-point contest. The Mustangs then took charge, scoring 10 unanswered points to put the game away.

WMHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Warren Cossette said afterwards, he hopes to make the tournament an annual event. “All of the coaches involved promoted skill development, healthy competition and good sportsmanship. I think everyone had a lot of fun and a lot of the games were pretty exciting to watch.”

On behalf of WMHS’s student body and all the participating high schools, Cossette wanted to express thanks to Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Director Duane Goud and his staff for being an “outstanding” partner in this event.

“We would also like to thank Maxwell’s Market on Gardiner Road, Wiscasset for their help in providing the concessions at both venues. Their help was very much appreciated by the student body and the fans,” he added.