Dexter boys pull away in second quarter to defeat Schenck
DEXTER — During the first quarter of a Jan. 12 interclass contest between Class C North Dexter Regional High School and Class D North Schenck High School of East Millinocket the two teams traded the lead a dozen times. Once the host Tigers went ahead at 15-14 the team would lead for good with a 14-7 advantage in the second quarter and 16-4 edge in the third quarter to follow.
Dexter won by a final score of 60-44 to improve to 7-2 at the midway point of the 2017-18 season. The victory gave the Tigers a season sweep of the Wolverines (who fell to 3-7) as Dexter won in East Millinocket 56-43 on Dec. 15.
Late in the first quarter freshman Brett Kusnierz went to the free throw line for the first Dexter foul shots of the contest. Kusnierz converted his first attempt to tie the game at 14 and his second free throw gave the Tigers the lead once again at 15-14.
On the next Dexter possession senior Jacob Bickford connected from beyond the 3-point line as the Tigers began to expand the team’s advantage. Bickford finished the evening with a game-high 20 points, spurred by four 3-pointers.
At the end of the opening quarter Dexter was on top 22-16 and the Tigers’ lead more than doubled after the second quarter. The team had a balanced scoring attack in the second quarter with five players combining for the 14 points to have a 13-point advantage at 36-23 heading into the locker rooms at halftime.
Bickford had eight of his 20 points in the first half and his next dozen all came in the third quarter to help Dexter outscore Schenck 16-4 during this quarter. Bickford sank a pair of 3-pointers, made two layups and had a field goal in the paint for 75 percent of his team’s scoring output in the quarter No. 3.
Senior Matthew Hanscome would put an offensive rebound back up for two during the third quarter for his ninth and 10th points of the game. Hanscome had another field goal from the post in the fourth quarter to finish with 12 points, joining Bickford in double figures.
The 14 points between Bickford and Hanscome and a shot from the inside by sophomore Cameron Paige helped Dexter lead 52-27 after three quarters.
Schenck had a 13-0 run during the final quarter, which made the score 58-42 with just under a minute to go, but the Wolverines would not get any closer than 16 points.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Dexter 60,
Schenck 44
SCHK 16 7 4 17 | 44
DEXT 22 14 16 8 | 60
Schenck: Dionne 13,
Thompson 13, Hannon 10
and Davis 8.
Dexter: Bickford 20,
Hanscome 12, Kusnierz
8, T. Richards 7, Paige 4,
Pillsbury 4, N. Richards
3 and M. Richards 2.
Records: Dexter 7-2,
Schenck 3-7.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
WINNING THE TIPOFF — Dexter senior Matthew Hanscome tips the ball away from Schenck freshman Tyrone Davis to start the Jan. 12 home game. Hanscome got the ball to classmate Matthew Richards and Richards scored on a layup for the first field goal of the Tigers’ 60-44 victory. The other three Dexter starters pictured are junior Kobe Pillsbury (34), senior Jacob Bickford (32) and freshman Brett Kusnierz (40).
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TWENTY-POINT NIGHT — Senior Jacob Bickford hauls in a rebound during the fourth quarter of a Jan. 12 contest vs. Schenck. Bickford led all players with 20 points, which included four 3-pointers and 12 points in the third quarter.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
GOING UP FOR TWO — Tiger sophomore Trever Richards gets the ball up and over Schenck senior Dylan Danforth. Richards would score seven points off the bench in the first half to help his team win 60-44 and improve to 7-2 on the season.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ALL THEY CAN DO IS WATCH — Senior Matthew Hanscome leaps over the defense for a basket during the opening quarter against Schenck. On the perimeter is fellow senior Matthew Richards (22) and junior Kobe Pillsbury (34).