March 5 and 6, Lincoln Academy hosted its 8th Grade Invitational All Star basketball games. The Boothbay Wildcats played Tuesday, March 5 against the Camden Windjammers and lost, 56-26. On Wednesday, March 6 the Wildcats went up against LA’s Eagles and won 45-26.

Starting with the Wildcat win, the Eagles were strong competitors, but like the Wildcats the night before, they could not stop the tight, determined play of the Wildcats who, after the previous night’s game, were in this one to win it.

The Wildcats played one of their finest games March 6. Boothbay supporters in attendance let the girls know just how proud they were. Top scorer was Eleanor Erwin with 17 points; Addie Barter scored 10 points; Moriah Smith, nine points; Xavi Hall seven points; Arabella Hodgdon, four points; and Ari Gray and Lilly Brown, two points each. Zuri Smith didn’t score but had a fine night on the court.

Wildcat player Hall was awarded the Most Valuable Player trophy at the end of the game – and she couldn’t have been more surprised or happy about it.

“In our second game the girls seemed to have a different sort of outlook from the start, and it carried throughout the entire game,” Coach Bruce Orne said. “The energy was great and they all worked well together. Sort of a foreshadow of what’s to come in terms of players and the potential they have. I was happy for the team overall; they’re a great group of kids, and I think we’re all excited to see them grow and continue on their athletic careers.”

Eagles coach Anthony Anderson was not available for comment.

The Wildcats’ March 5 game against the Camden Windjammers ended quite differently with the Windjammers cruising past Boothbay. The Wildcats, minus Ari Gray, had Xavi Hall with 14 points, including four 3-pointers; Addie Barter, four points; and Eleanor Erwin, seven points.

Said Coach Orne of this matchup, “Camden is a well rounded and disciplined team. I felt like the girls learned a bit about themselves in that game. Against tough opponents strengths and weaknesses show so players and coaches can learn from those types of matchups. We threw in a practice Monday (the night before the tournament). It wasn’t horrible on our end.”