Ponies overcome early deficit to defeat Presque Isle
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — In the opening minutes of a Dec. 20 boys’ contest between Foxcroft Academy and Presque Isle High School, the visitors raced out to an 11-4 advantage. The Wildcats’ lead would be short-lived as the Ponies closed out the quarter on a 13-1 run and, once taking the lead, kept the advantage for good on the way to a 54-38 victory.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CLAWING HIS WAY THROUGH THE WILDCAT DEFENSE — Foxcroft freshman Nick Clawson goes for a layup during the second quarter of a Dec. 20 game vs. Presque Isle, as classmate Drew Dankert looks on. Clawson had 12 points off the bench to help the Ponies earn a 54-38 victory.
After Presque Isle senior Andrew Prescott connected on a shot from beyond the 3-point line, his team had its 11-4 lead halfway through the opening quarter. The points would be the last for the Wildcats, playing for the second time in less than 24 hours after defeating John Bapst at home in overtime the night before, until the very end of the eight-minute session.
Senior Sean Cody got the baker’s dozen run started by sinking two free throws and then scoring on a shot put up from in the paint on the next Foxcroft possession. The Pony defense made another stop, and at the other end of the court freshman Drew Dankert’s 3-pointer tied the game at 11 points apiece at the 1:23-mark. Dankert would make shots from behind the line in all four quarters, helping him tally a game-high 18 points.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
18-POINT NIGHT — Freshman Drew Dankert led all players with 18 points during the Dec. 20 game. Dankert connected from behind the 3-point line in each of the four quarters.
Presque Isle’s lack of point production continued, and Foxcroft junior Hunter Smith gave the home team its first lead on a jump shot with 50 seconds to go in the first. Freshman Nick Clawson — who joined Smith in recording 12 points — made a steal in the backcourt and he took the ball the other way for the layup and a 15-11 advantage.
The shift on the scoreboard continued with a pair of Smith free throws, making the score 17-11 behind 13 unanswered points. Wildcat senior Cody McGlinn sank one free throw just before the buzzer, but by this time a seven-point lead had changed to a five-point deficit.
The Foxcroft advantage remained in place, falling to as little as three in the third quarter and then growing to 37-30 at the start of the fourth. The Ponies then doubled up the Wildcats 17-8 in the last eight minutes. Smith led with six of these points, on a field goal and 4-for-4 shooting on free throws, and Dankert added his fourth 3-pointer and another shot from the floor.
Foxcroft improved to 2-3 with the victory, while Presque Isle fell to 1-2. The two teams are scheduled to meet again, in Aroostook County, on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 4:30 p.m.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CORNERING THE BASKETBALL — Senior Sean Cody and Presque Isle senior Andrew Paterson get ready to fight for a loose ball falling back to the floor during the second half.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
FANCY FOOTWORK — Cutting past Presque Isle freshman Ryle Mortland is Pony junior Hunter Smith. Smith picked up 12 points in the win, one of three Foxcroft players to reach double figures.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ACROSS THE LINE — Junior Dylan Harmon-Weeks brings the ball up the court through the defensive pressure.
BASKETBALL
BOYS
Foxcroft 54,
Presque Isle 38
PI 12 9 9 8 — 38
FA 17 11 9 17 — 54
FOXCROFT: Dankert 18, Clawson 12, Smith 12, Cody 8 and Harmon-Weeks 4.
PRESQUE ISLE: Norton 10, Paterson 9, Buckley 7, McLaughlin 5, Guerrette 3, Nortland 3 and McGlinn 1.
Records: Foxcroft 2-3, Presque Isle 1-2.