Varney Helps Hermon Boys Halt Caribou’s 27-game Basketball Winning Streak

When the two most recent Class B boys basketball state champions clashed at Hermon High School late Saturday afternoon, the full house on hand could see why each participating school boasted a championship pedigree. Few turnovers, few fouls, streaks ended and streaks extended, some big shots and a milestone moment all were elements of Hermon’s 46-42 victory over previously undefeated Caribou. The win was the Hawks’ 31st straight on their home court, and it ended the defending state champion Vikings’ 27-game winning streak. Hermon (11-2) received its go-ahead shot from a somewhat unlikely hero, as junior point guard Wyatt Gogan’s 3-pointer from the left wing gave the Hawks a 43-42 lead with 1:31 left in the contest. “It wasn’t really intended for me, but I got off a flare and just caught it and I was open so I hit it,” Gogan said of his only points of the game. Senior forward Isaac Varney, who scored his 1,000th career point early in the third quarter, soon added two free throws and Jaeden Henderson made 1 of 2 from the line to make it a two-possession game with 23.8 seconds left. Caribou looked for a quick shot, but Hermon junior Eli Reed twice tipped passes by the Vikings, leaving the clock to wind down until Parker Deprey launched a desperation 3-pointer that missed in the final seconds. “We couldn’t get into the flow of our offense.