The Katahdin boys basketball team from Stacyville fell just one win short of a Class D North championship last year. And now the Cougars are looking to track down a title in the newly-created Class S for small schools.
They started things off on the right foot with a 54-42 first round win over Van Buren on Thursday night. And like last year, they got a big performance from talented guard Calvin Richardson.
Richardson had 26 points, 11 rebounds, six steals and five assists in the win. And he said afterward that his team has its sights on the regional title game.
“We want to get back there,” Richardson said. “This new class gives us an opportunity, so we’re just going to push for gold.”
Defense ultimately made the difference for his team in the opening round, according to the senior star.
“We work on it all the time,” Richardson said about the Cougars defense. “Just trusting in our offense, and defense makes offense.”
Katahdin coach Geg Bivighouse called the initial tourney victory a “good win” and agreed that Richardson is a big part of his team’s efforts.
“He’s the true meaning of the senior captain,” Bivighouse said about the senior guard. “He does everything.”
The coach added that it’s easy to build a team around Richardson and fellow captain Bryten Hartsgrove.
Hartsgrove, a junior, had 18 points and eight steals in the win over Van Buren.
Next up for Katahdin in the Class S North tournament is a 9 a.m. matchup against Easton on Tuesday at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
