In a rematch of the 2022 Class D boys basketball final, the result was the same on Monday night as Southern Aroostook overwhelmed Forest Hills in a 83-56 victory and won its second gold ball in a row.
The Class D North champs finished off their undefeated 22-0 campaign in front of a solid Southern Aroostook contingency in the stands.
Dylan Burpee exploded for 15 of his 36 points in the second quarter to help the Warriors grow their lead and never look back.
Forest Hills (18-4) relied on Mason Desjardins to make play after play for the Tigers. Desjardins scored 10 points in the first quarter and hit two more 3-pointers in the second, but in the third the Warriors’ defense clamped down and held the high-scoring senior to just two free throws.
After Southern Aroostook won the first quarter 19-15 thanks in part to 10 points in the paint from Graham Siltz, the Warriors outscored Forest Hills 24-9 in the second and held a 43-24 lead at halftime.
Desjardins couldn’t get anything going on offense in the third. When the senior guard would cross halfcourt, his defender was forced into a double team, which most of the time would either result in a turnover or force Desjardins to pass out of the play.
With three minutes left in the third, Desjardins grabbed a steal and found Cooper Daigle for a layup that made it 46-32. Daigle then took back-to-back charges and the Tigers had some momentum. Over the next two minutes, Burpee helped the Warriors on a 9-0 run to put any comeback to rest.
In the fourth, Desjardins and Siltz battled basket for basket with the Southern Aroostook big man scoring seven of his 21 points in the period while Desjardins added 14.
Desjardins ended with 33 points.