A passion in local barns, potato houses DOVER-FOXCROFT — A generation ago, before travel teams began attracting young basketball players of all skill levels, those who hoped to star for their high school teams one day were left much more to their own devices to develop the talent required for success.

By Ernie ClarkStaff Writer DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Foxcroft Academy girls basketball team has shaken off a slow start to its season to emerge right in the middle of the Class B North playoff race as the midpoint of its regular-season schedule approaches.

By Ernie ClarkStaff Writer GUILFORD — The Piscataquis Community High School girls basketball team hopes a combination of good health and a busier schedule will spur improved performance in the new year, Not that the start of the season has been terrible for coach Brian Gaw’s club, though that phase of the campaign ended on a disappointing note Monday night with a 44-32 loss to Central of Corinth.

What were the top sports stories of the region over the past year? Our staff reviewed the past 12 months as documented by the Observer and came up with the highlights from 2015.

schedule subject to change   Wednesday, Dec.

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Joseph Cyr        Houlton’s Jake Worthley, left, dribbles to the baseline while guarded closely by Foxcroft Academy’s Hunter Smith during Monday night’s game.

  through Dec.

LAGRANGE — Zak Mills probably could have provided any college sports fan all he or she needed to know about the Duke University men’s basketball program long before his excellent adventure with the Blue Devils this month.

By Stuart HedstromStaff Writer   GUILFORD — After being tied at halftime at 20 points apiece, the Piscataquis Community High School boys used a 12-5 scoring advantage in the third quarter to help defeat regional rival Penquis Valley High School, 41-30, in a Class C North matchup on Dec.

HOWLAND — The Foxcroft Academy wrestling team continued its strong early season performance Saturday, besting a field of 18 schools to win the annual Penobscot Valley Holiday Tournament.

schedule subject to change   Wednesday, Dec.

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ORONO — The Foxcroft Academy indoor track and field team began the 2015-16 Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League season with a Dec.

Basketball Heal Point standings through Dec.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom   PCHS WRESTLING — Front, from left, Ethan Moulton, Jeffery Whitney, Cahrey Harris, Catherine Rocha, Dastan Orozbekov and Matthew Griffith.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom   DEXTER BOYS BASKETBALL — Front, from left, Jacob Bickford, Chandler Perkins, Zach White, Brayden Miller, Nathan Bourdeau and Brandon Allen.

By Stuart HedstromStaff Writer GUILFORD — A Dec.