ELLSWORTH – Championships aren’t won in December, but the Caribou boys basketball team took an important step toward securing a better long-term future this weekend.

The Vikings surged past Ellsworth 49-43 on Saturday afternoon to complete the sweep of a two-game weekend trek to Hancock County.

Caribou (4-0) bused down from Aroostook County on Friday and rallied past Mount Desert Island 59-56, and that coupled with Saturday’s victory marked the first time the Vikings have swept this weekend series during Chris Casavant’s seven-year coaching tenure.

“We only play these teams once a season now, so it’s not like the old days when if you get beat you get a chance to get those points back when you play them again,” said Casavant. “We stressed all week that coming home 4-0 would be a huge boost because both Ellsworth and MDI are good clubs, they’re going to win a lot of games and wins against them can help us come tourney time.”

Senior guards Jarryd Rossignol led Caribou against Ellsworth with a game-high 18 points, including 11 during the first half when the Vikings struggled at the outset of their second game in 18 hours – against a rested Eagles team that was idle Friday night.

But Caribou regrouped after intermission, shored up its inside game and took the lead for good at 33-31 on a fast-break layup by junior Eric Brown early in the fourth quarter.

“At the beginning of the game we were quick to shoot, we were jacking 3s and they weren’t falling,” said Rossignol. “In the second half we were more patient, drove to the hole and got foul shots, and that’s what really brought us back. We were more under control, we slowed the game down and weren’t running and gunning.”

Ellsworth (1-2) stayed within 36-35 on a 3-pointer by junior guard Patrick Kelley with 4:36 left before Caribou ran off seven straight points. Senior forward Ben Rosser made two free throws, then Rossignol cut to the basket and took a Brown feed for a layup before senior guard Kyle Corrigan made it 43-35 with a steal and drive for a three-point play with 3:19 left.

Kelley responded with a tough, step-back 3-pointer and senior forward Sam Coombs followed with a layup to again narrow the gap, but Caribou preserved its lead at the free-throw line, where it made 10 of 15 in the fourth quarter.

“We had to get the ball inside and get to the free-throw line,” said Corrigan, who finished with 11 points despite facing constant in-your-face, man-to-man defensive attention. “We only got to the free-throw line [six] times in the first half, but we got there 18 times in the second half, and it showed because we outscored them.”

Sophomore guard Cameron Anderson added eight points – seven in the second half – for Caribou, which now is idle until another major test at home Friday against Mattanawcook Academy of Lincoln. Rosser contributed seven points and 10 rebounds, while Brown came off the bench to chip in five fourth-quarter points.

“I told the guys after the game that last year’s team probably wouldn’t have won these games,” said Casavant. “It wasn’t a knock against the guys coming back or against the people who have graduated, but to win on the road back-to-back while being down most of both games is a severe gut check and character check, and I don’t think we were ready to do that last year.”

Ellsworth, which has a different look this winter after graduating star guards Corey DeWitt and Dem Katsiaficas from last season’s team that reached the Eastern B semifinals, got 14 points from senior forward James Doe and eight points from Kelley, while Coombs grabbed 10 rebounds.

GAME FACTS

. Senior guard Jarryd Rossignol led Caribou with a game-high 18 points, including 11 in the first half.

. Caribou preserved its fourth-quarter lead at the free-throw line, where it made 10 of 15 attempts in the fourth quarter.

. Caribou sophomore guard Cameron Anderson scored eight points – seven in the second half.

Ernie Clark may be reached at eclark@bangordailynews.net or 990-8045.

VIKINGS 49, EAGLES 43

Caribou (4-0) Ellsworth (1-2)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Corrigan 3 13 4 7 11 Doe 6 15 14

Schuster 0 0 0 0 0 Folmer 2 4 4

Rosser 2 6 3 4 7 Emeigh 1 2 2

Rossignol 6 13 4 4 18 Austin 0 3 0

Anderson 2 4 4 7 8 Kelley 3 10 8

Brown 2 6 1 2 5 Dugas 1 3 4

St. Peter 0 4 0 0 0 Tracy 0 0 0

Petros 3 15 0 6

Vachon 0 0 0 0

Coombs 2 7 1 5

Berry 0 0 0 0

Haass 0 0 0 0

Totals 15 46 16 24 49 Totals 18 59 43

Caribou 11 22 31 49

Ellsworth 13 27 29 43

3-pt. goals – Caribou (3-9): Rossignol 2-4, Corrigan 1-3, Anderson 0-2; Ellsworth (3-16): Kelley 2-8, Doe 1-3, Emeigh 0-1, Folmer 0-2, Austin 0-2

JV: Ellsworth 55-46

Attendance: 300 (est.)