PCHS girls cage Tigers for 29-16 victory

 Game raises over $1,800 for Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation

By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer

GUILFORD — When the girls from regional rivals Piscataquis Community High School and Dexter Regional High School played on Dec. 12, the two squads combined for 40 points as the home Tigers earned a 22-18 victory. During the Jan. 22 rematch the teams — who both entered in the top five in the Class C North Heal Point standings — only added five more points on the scoreboard, but the Pirates held the opposition to a season-low 16 points to earn a 29-16 victory.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

ALL HANDS ON DECK — A quintet of Dexter and PCHS players try to grab a loose ball during the Jan. 22 contest in Guilford, won 29-16 by the home Pirates. From left are Dexter senior Katie Batron, PCHS senior Delanie Bennett, senior Courtney Deane of PCHS, junior Megan Peach of Dexter and PCHS’ freshman Alivia Hunt. To the right is Dexter junior Cidne Pratt. 

The Pirates, who improved to 9-4, held Dexter to just three free throws in the opening quarter while building a 7-3 advantage. Dexter (10-4) would not connect from the floor until junior Megan Peach’s basket in the post with 1:59 to go in the second quarter, two points that would end up as the Tigers’ sole field goal of the first half. Peach had converted the three first quarter foul shots for all five of Dexter’s points in the opening 16 minutes, and she finished with a team-high nine points.

Leading 11-5 after halftime, PCHS would still have twice the scoring output of the Tigers by leading 18-9 after the third. The Pirates used a balanced approach at the team’s end of the court with the points coming from four of the PCHS starting five, seniors Delani Bennett and Jordynne Littlefield, sophomore Erin Speed and freshman Alivia Hunt.

Seven free throws in the fourth quarter, on 10 attempts, helped seal the win for the home team. Speed sank five shots from the charity stripe in the final eight minutes for five of her seven points. Bennett accounted for the other two foul shots and she would lead all players with 11 points, on five three throws and a trio of field goals.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

FILL THE GYM FOR ALIZA JEAN FAMILY CANCER FOUNDATION — Pirate senior Jordynne Littlefield gets ready to inbound the ball in front of a full set of bleaches on the Dexter side of the gym. Fans of PCHS and Dexter were encouraged to fill the gym on Jan. 22 for the Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation, and the third annual event between the Pirates and Tigers raised over $1,800 for the foundation.

Fans of both squads were encouraged to fill the gym for the Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation, an organization named for a 13-year-old girl from Harmony who lost her battle with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer on Jan. 23, 2013. The Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation,  www.alizajeanjustone.org., has a mission to provide financial support for local families who have a child fighting cancer and a goal to spread awareness about pediatric cancer and to advocate for advancements in research and treatment.

The third annual Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation benefit contest between Dexter and PCHS featured both squads wearing foundation warm-up T-shirts with the organization’s namesake’s favorite saying, “Fight Like a Girl.” Before tipoff a moment of silence was held for all children who are fighting or have fought cancer.

Before the fourth quarter, an announcement was made informing the crowd that $1,837 had been raised for the Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

DRIVING ALONG THE BASELINE — Dexter junior Kayli Cunningham looks to get to the hoop around senior Delani Bennett of PCHS.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

A QUICK TWO POINTS — Pirate sophomore Erin Speed had the first two points during the Jan. 22 game between PCHS and Dexter, as senior teammate Jordynne Littlefield (being pursued by Dexter junior Abby Webber) sends her a bounce pass.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

FLOORED — Dexter senior Skyler Theodore and PCHS freshman Alivia Hunt fight for a loose ball during the Jan. 22 contest. The Pirates won as the regional rivals split the two meetings of the 2015-16 regular season. 

GIRLS BASKETBALL

PCHS 29,
Dexter 16

DEX  
3  2  4  7  |  16

PCHS  
7  4  7  11  |  29

Dexter: Peach 9, 
Cunningham 4,
Theodore 2 and 
A. Webber 1.

PCHS: Bennett 11, Speed 7, Littlefield 6 
and Hunt 5.

Records: 
Dexter 10-4, 
PCHS 9-4.