Gilbert’s 35 points help Pirates sink Penquis

GUILFORD — A 19-8 first quarter advantage and a 14-point effort by junior Bryce Gilbert in the opening eight minutes helped propel Piscataquis Community High School to a 60-39 victory vs. regional rival Penquis Valley High School on Jan. 26.
The Pirates earned a season sweep with the victory — the team won in Milo 57-48 on Dec. 27 — and improved to 6-6 at the two-thirds mark of 2016-17.
With the score 3-2 in favor of the home squad during the preliminary moments of play, PCHS went on a 16-4 run as Gilbert picked up 14 of these 16 Pirate points. Gilbert twice connected from behind the 3-point line and he had four other shots from the floor on three lay-ups — twice taking steals the other way for two — and a jumper.
Gilbert would hit two more 3-pointers and seven other field goals — coming on four jump shots and a trio of lay-ups — and one free throw across the later three quarters for 21 more points as he nearly outscored the Patriots on his own with a 35-point effort.
Penquis (the team dropped to 4-8 after Thursday evening) would get within nine to start the second quarter at 19-10, but a lay-up by PCHS junior Damyan True extended the team’s lead to 11 and the Pirates would have a double digit advantage the rest of the way. True would join Gilbert in double figures as he scored 10 points.
Senior Devon Cuthbertson picked up a team-high 12 points for Penquis as nine Patriots would connect on shots from the floor to get on the scoring sheet.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
35-POINT NIGHT — PCHS junior Bryce Gilbert bounces a lay-up off the glass over the reach of Penquis senior Devon Cuthbertson on Jan. 26 in Guilford. Gilbert scored 35 points to help the Pirates earn a 60-39 victory vs. the team’s regional rival.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE THE REST — Senior Charles Artus hoists a shot over extended arm of PCHS senior Jarrod White (32) during the third quarter of Thursday evening’s contest. Looking on are, from left, Pirate junior Damyan True, Penquis senior Devon Cuthbertson, PCHS junior Cameron Kane and sophomore Jeremy Martin of Penquis.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
EASY BASKET — Pirate junior Cameron Kanem, with Penquis senior Devon Cuthbertson running in, has an uncontested two during the second quarter to give PCHS a 25-10 advantage.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
POSITION IN THE PAINT — Penquis senior Dereck Thomas, right, looks to impede the drive of PCHS junior Damyan True during the second quarter. To the left is Penquis sophomore Kenny Cail.