Page 6 - Newsletter_Summer_2018

“We didn’t make enough plays down the stretch in regulation,” said Dexter coach Jody Grant, Peyton’s father. “There
were probably some decisions we’d like to have back, even in overtime. We should have fouled them but, being young,
sometimes you’ve got to learn how to win.”

The defending regional champion Tigers (17-4) started three freshmen.

“One of the good things about this team is, a lot of nights, teams take Kolleen away a bit and we’ve had some good
players step up and make big shots. Tonight, our role players struggled to make shots so we went right to Kolleen and allowed
her to take over,” said Graham, who was pleased with his team’s defense.

“I definitely would have given my teammates opportunities but I had a lot of open shots so I took them when I did my moves,”
said Bouchard, who was closely guarded but was able to cleverly knife her way through a forest of defenders en route to the
basket or hit from the outside.

“I’m taller than them so I was looking to shoot over them,” Bouchard added.

Aspen Flewelling grabbed five rebounds for Houlton and Worthley pulled down four. Freshman Cheyenne Beem provided six
points and five rebounds for Dexter, Becca Batron had four rebounds and Herrick had two steals. Senior guard Kristen Graham
went down with an injured right knee during the regional game which proved to be a factor in the State Championship game
on March 3rd at the Augusta Civic Center against the Monmouth Academy Mustangs.

Despite a late flurry by Houlton as the Shires nearly wiped out an 11-point, fourth quarter deficit in the game’s final
minutes, they ended their season as State Runners Up in Class C being defeated by repeat champs Monmouth Academy.
Houlton made things interesting late in the game, outscoring the Mustangs 10-5 in the final six minutes. Kolleen Bouchard
led all players with 35 points as she carried the Shires in the fourth quarter scoring all 10 of the Shires’ points by slashing to the
basket or pulling up for jump shots. The eventual Miss Maine Basketball winner got her team within four points (54-50) with
25 seconds to play, but Monmouth was able to hold on for the win.

Monmouth coach Scott Wing said, “There is no doubt in my mind, after playing against her (Bouchard), that she is the best
player in the state. What she showed in the fourth quarter with guts, both offensively and defensively, was very impressive.”

The Shires got off to a slow start in the contest, missing the first six shots before Bouchard finally made a nifty
turnaround jumper with 6:05 to play in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Shires did the bulk of their damage from
the foul line with Bouchard making all four of her free throws, while Teagan Ewings and Tessa Solomon each added a foul shot.
It was on the defensive end that the Lady Shires really missed Kristen Graham. “We struggled to get stops defensively,” coach
Shawn Graham said. While Graham had hoped to play, the coach felt it was too much of a risk for the knee. Graham suffered a
similar fate a year ago, missing the State game when her left knee was injured.

Houlton was 19-for-46 for the game which ended with a 56-50 win by Monmouth. The Shires ended their season as
State Runners Up with a 21-1 record … the State game being their only loss.

The members of the Lady Shires team were as follows: Kolleen Bouchard ’18, Aspen Flewelling ’18, Kristen Graham ’18, Carolyn Mooers
’18, Jamie Brown ’19, Tessa Solomon ’19, Kennedy Buzzeo ’20, Samantha Condon ’20, Teagan Ewings, GHCA ’20, Amelia Ivey ’20, Abbie
Worthley ’20, Emma Ardell ’21, Morgan Graham ’21, Becca Howe ’21; Managers Rebecca Mooers ’18 and Rhetta Vega ’19; Coach Shawn
Graham, Assistant Coaches Clyde Warman and Jon Solomon, and Athletic Trainer Chris Rines.

www.houltonalumni.com PAGE 6