Bucksport boys earn first tourney win in 14 years with victory over Dexter
By Ryan McLaughlin
BDN Staff
BANGOR — Generations have come and gone in the 14 years since the Bucksport boys basketball last won a tournament game in Bangor. Now, a new generation of Golden Bucks is looking to carve their own niche as third-ranked Bucksport won its first tourney game since 2002 with a 47-28 Class C North quarterfinal victory over No. 6 Dexter on Feb. 17.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
TOUGH SHOT — Lofting a shot is Dexter’s Brayden Miller as Bucksport’s Tyler Pye converges during a Feb. 17 Class C North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. The No. 3 Golden Bucks won 47-28.
It was offensive efficiency and strong interior defense that were the keys to victory for coach Larry Deans’ club, which gradually pulled away after an 8-8 tie after the first quarter. “It takes a while offensively, it’s tough for us at times,” said Deans.
Senior guard Kyle Jackson proved to be the offensive catalyst for Bucksport, scoring a game-high 16 points, including 11 in the second and third quarters during which the Bucks outscored the Tigers 27-15 to assume command.
“He’s led us in scoring several games this year,” said Deans. “I think we’ve had six or seven different high scorers this year. Tonight it was his turn. Friday night it could be somebody else’s.”
Jackson would jumpstart Bucksport’s second-half surge with a driving shot followed by a 3-pointer from the right side, and Riley Macleod and Tyler Pye contributed four points apiece during the Bucks’ third-quarter charge.
The interior presence of 6-foot-5 center Macleod made things tough for the Tigers, forcing them to settle for perimeter shots. Macleod would pull down 15 rebounds to go with his eight points.
“He’s a force in the middle, at 6-5, he takes up a lot of space,” said Deans.
Hayden Craig was Bucksport’s other double-figures scorer with 10 points.
The Bucks’ defense limited Dexter to four second-half field goals while forcing the Tigers into many hurried shots.
Brayden Miller’s 10 points led Dexter.
Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Joseph Cyr
BUCKSPORT TRYING TO MAKE THE STOP RIGHT HERE — Bucksport’s Tyler Pye plays tight defense as Chandler Perkins of Dexter looks for a passing lane during their Class C North quarterfinal game.
Class C North quarterfinal
Bucksport 47, Dexter 28
No. 6 Dexter (13-7)
Allen 0-1 0-0 0, Strauch 0-1 0-0 0, Perkins 0-1 0-0 0, Campbell 2-9 0-0 4, Cooper 2-3 0-2 4, Simcock 1-8 0-0 3, Miller 5-12 0-0 10, White 2-10 2-2 6, Bickford 0-1 0-0 0, Boudreau 0-1 1-2 1; Totals: 12-7, 1-8 28
No. Bucksport (15-4)
Carmichael 0-2 0-0 0, Mason 1-3 0-0 3, Craig 3-8 3-4 9, allan 0-0 0-0 0, Stegner 1-1 0-0 3, Pye 2-5 2-2 6, Larsen 0-0 0-0 0, Jackson 6-10 2-3 16, Macleod 3-9 0-0 6, Cunningham 0-1 0-0 0, Gray 0-0 0-0 0, Donnell 0-0 2-4 2; Totals: 15-39 9-13 47
Dexter 8 16 23 28 Bucksport 8 20 35 47
3-point goals: Dexter 1-18: Simcock 1-4, Campbell 0-5, Allen 0-1, Strauch 0-1, Perkins 0-1, Cooper 0-1, White 0-3, Bickford 0-1, Boudreau 0-1; Bucksport 4-12: Jackson 2-5, Mason 1-2, Stegner 1-1, Carmichael 0-2, Cunningham 0-1