Dexter closes out the Ponies to win home opener
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DEXTER — The even-numbered quarters would not be as such on the scoreboard during a Dec. 11 girls’ contest between Dexter Regional High School and Foxcroft Academy. The Tigers (2-0) scored 15 unanswered points to conclude the second quarter and then had a 17-4 point advantage over the entire fourth quarter to earn a 48-30 victory in the team’s first 2014-15 game at Ed Guiski Gymnasium.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
MA(Y) KING HER WAY TO THE HOOP — Dexter Regional High School senior Christine May goes up for a lay-up during a Dec. 11 game against regional rival Foxcroft Academy, a contest the Tigers would win at 48-30. Looking on, from left, are Pony sophomores Grace Bickford and Abby Simpson, senior Liz Richard and sophomore Kendra Ewer.
About 1:20 into the second quarter Foxcroft (0-2) extended its lead to 16-8 as Pony junior Madison Chadbourne had her second field goal in just over a minute of play. She and sophomore Grace Bickford both recorded 14 points to account for 28 of their team’s 30 points, over 93 percent.
The Foxcroft side of the scoreboard would stay frozen at 16 for the remainder of the first half as the Tigers more than doubled its point total behind the 15-0 run. The scoring spree saw five different players contribute with sophomore Megan Peach and Christine May leading at four points apiece. Peach hit a shot from the floor and converted two free throws to get the run started in the second quarter, as part of her game-high 18-point night.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
EIGHTEEN FOR PEACH — Sophomore Megan Peach gets to a loose ball before Foxcroft sophomore Abby Simpson and Tiger junior Katie Batron during the Dec. 11 contest. Peach would lead all players with 18 points, picking up 11 in the second half.
Senior Abbey Jordan would sink a long jumper to tie the game 16 apiece at the 2:12 mark, and a pull up jump shot by May in the lane gave Dexter the lead for good, 18-16, with 1:40 to play in the first half.
In the fourth quarter, after the two squads traded baskets, Dexter had a 33-28 lead with 5:37 left in regulation. The Ponies went into a full-court press but with the Tiger starters — seniors Tasha Pratt, Peyton Watson, Michaela White and Jordan as well as Peach — on the court the Dexter five passed the ball around the perimeter to run off clock and seek out a good shot.
Peach caught a pass on the right block and she was able to turn and bounce the ball off the glass and in to give Dexter a 35-28 advantage at the 2:59-mark. After a stop on defense a Jordan layup increased the lead to nine with just over two and a half minutes to go.
These four points began a 15-2 advantage for the Tigers, who during this run held Foxcroft to just a pair of foul shots from Chadbourne.
The two teams are scheduled to play again, in Dover-Foxcroft, on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ELBOW ROOM — Snagging the rebound is Dexter senior Peyton Watson, away from Foxcroft sophomore Abby Simpson and Tiger sophomore Megan Peach.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
DEFENDING THE HIGH POST — Looking to pass is Dexter senior Abbey Jordan as Foxcroft sophomore Abbi Bourget applies the pressure.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
A TALE OF TWO QUARTERS — The Dexter girls would have a 15-0 run in second quarter and 17-4 advantage in the fourth to defeat Foxcroft, 48-30, and move to 2-0 in 2014-15. Here Tiger senior Michaela White shoots over Pony sophomore Abby Simpson as Foxcroft sophomore Kendra Ewer awaits a possible rebound.
BASKETBALL
GIRLS
Dexter 48,
Foxcroft 30
FA 12 4 10 4 — 30
DEX 8 15 8 17 — 48
DEXTER: Peach 18, Jordan 11, Watson 6, Pratt 5, May 4 and White 4.
FOXCROFT: Bickord 14, Chadbourne 14 and Richard 2.
Records: Dexter 2-0, Foxcroft 0-2.