Buckfield’s Ethan Jackson drives to the basket past Rangeley’s Leonardo Perez during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
BUCKFIELD — The young Bucks got off to a stumbling start, but Buckfield still managed to defeat Rangeley, 42-35, in boys’ basketball action Friday.
“Everyone was really nervous because it was the first game of the season. We have a young team, too,” Buckfield senior Ethan Jackson said. “We have a saying, ‘Don’t get too hyped for games,’ and in the first half, we were all a just a little too hyped.”
Kyle LaRochelle scored six early points to give Rangeley and early lead, which it held until Jackson took the ball coast to coast and scored a layup to give Buckfield a 13-12 lead with two minutes left in the first half.
At halftime, the score was 14-12 in favor of the Bucks. Yes, only 14-12, because both teams struggled with shooting.
“First game at home, we were nervous. And we were forcing everything,” Buckfield coach Kyle Rines said.
“It was tough for both teams,” Rines added. “But it’s going to be a tough game against Rangeley any time we play.”
The Lakers suffered through a drought that lasted longer than a quarter’s worth of game time. Nolan Boone’s 3-pointer made it 12-7 for Rangeley in the first minute of the second quarter. The Lakers were held scoreless until LaRochelle’s corner trey in the third period.
“It wasn’t because we didn’t have the shots, we just didn’t knock them down,” Rangeley coach Jeff LaRochelle said.
Despite the Lakers’ shooting struggles, they remained close because the Bucks’ shots weren’t dropping, either. When LaRochelle drained a 3-pointer early in the fourth period, Buckfield’s lead was down to 26-22.
“I thought they held it together, where it didn’t get up to, like, 20,” Jeff LaRochelle said.
The Bucks (1-1) responded with a 9-0 run that essentially put the game away.
Tobias Worthley hit a 3 and Zack Grover turned a steal into a layup to make it 31-22. Jackson finished the run with a pair of baskets near the hoop.
Jackson finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, several coming on the offensive end.
“Offensive rebounding gives you another chance for two points,” Jackson said.
Added Rines, “We rebounded the heck out of the ball.”
Grover added 12 for Buckfield, and Noah Wiley had seven.
“I’m just pleased,” Rines said. “It was a good team win. Everyone contributed. We played smart, too.”
LaRochelle scored a game-high 26 points, including four fourth-quarter treys.
“That LaRochelle kid can really shoot,” Rines said.
The Lakers’ (0-2) other nine points came on 3-pointers: two by Boone and one by Kenny Thompson.
Buckfield’s Noah Wiley drives to the basket at Rangeley’s Leonardo Perez approaches to block him and Ian Lillis gets a hand on the ball during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Rangeley’s Nolan Boone shoots the ball past Buckfield’s Tobias Worthley during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Buckfield’s Ethan Jackson shoots the ball as Rangeley’s Kyle Larochelle, William Brey and Nolan Boone play defense during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Buckfield’s Ethan Jackson shoots the ball as Rangeley’s Kyle Larochelle, William Brey and Nolan Boone play defense during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Buckfield’s Ethan Jackson looks for a temmate to pass to from inside a crowd of Rangeley players during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield. From the left, Rangeley Callahan Crosby, Kyle Larochelle, and William Brey play defense.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
Buckfield’s Zach Grover and Rangeley’s Hunter Lowell look to a loose ball during Friday night’s basketball game in Buckfield.(Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)
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