Ellsworth spoils opening night for the Ponies

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A 16-4 scoring advantage in the third quarter helped Ellsworth High School break open the 2015-16 mutual season opener at Foxcroft Academy on Dec. 4. The visiting Eagles went from having a 21-19 lead to a 14-point, 37-23 advantage at the quarter’s end to help the team earn a 53-39 victory in the two Class B North schools’ sole meeting of the regular season.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR THE DEFENSE — Foxcroft Academy junior Alli Bourget sets a screen for her twin sister Abbi Bourget during the Ponies’ 2015-16 opener vs. Ellsworth on Dec. 4. The visiting Eagles left Dover-Foxcroft with a 53-39 victory in the only regular season meeting between the Class B North schools.

In the third quarter Ellsworth limited the Ponies to just a pair of shots from the floor with junior Abby Simpson connecting from down the low post during the opening minutes and senior Madison Chadbourne hitting a jumper near the end of the 8-minute session. Chadbourne would end up leading her team with 10 points, on three field goals and four free throws

Ellsworth Katie Whitney paced her team with a game-high 23 points and she picked up 10 of these during her team’s 16-point third quarter with a 3-pointer, trio of other shots from inside the arc and one foul shot.

In the first quarter of regular season play, the Foxcroft led for most of the eight minutes. The Ponies won the opening tip and junior Abbi Bourget had the first official points of 2015-16 by driving to the hoop for a lay-up.

After an Ellsworth free throw, sophomore Avery Nelson received a pass near the basket and her shot went up and in. Nelson was fouled on the play, and she sank the resulting shot from the line to give Foxcroft a 5-1 edge in the early going.

The Ponies closed out the game on a 16-10 run after Ellsworth was 41-23 with six points to open the fourth quarter. Chadbourne had two field goals and a pair of free throws to pick up six of her 10 points. Junior Grace Bickford had all five of her points during this stretch as five Ponies contributed on the scoring sheet in the final quarter.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

MID-AIR COLLISION — Foxcroft junior Grace Bickford scored five points in the fourth quarter for the Ponies during the Dec. 4 contest vs. Ellsworth. Right behind her and a pair of Eagles is teammate freshman Mackenzie Beaudrey.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

OBSTRUCTED VIEW — Sophomore Avery Nelson eyes the basket around Ellsworth senior Caitlin Bean on Friday night.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

NOT LETTING HER PASS — Senior Madison Chadbourne, left, and junior Abbi Bourget press Ellsworth senior Madison Card. The game was the first for the two programs in what is now known as Class B North under the five-class system.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Ellsworth 53,
Foxcroft 39

ELL  8  13  16  16  — 53

FA  9  10  4  16  — 39

Foxcroft: Chadbourne 10, Beaudrey 8, Al. Bourget 6, Bickford 5, Simpson 4,  Nelson 3,
Ab. Bourget 2 and Ewer 1.

Ellsworth: 
Whitney 23, Card 11, Sargent 9, Colby 5, Bean 3 and Omler 2.

Records: F 0-1, E 1-0.