PCHS boys run away from Penquis
MILO — A big second quarter helped the Piscataquis Community High School boys break open a Jan. 16 Class C North contest at regional rival Penquis Valley High School. During the second eight-minute session the visiting Pirates had a 23-12 scoring advantage to extend a narrow 9-6 lead to 32-18 and help propel the team to a 62-43 victory.
PCHS improved to 6-5 with the win over the Patriots (1-10) and the Pirates earned the team’s sixth victory in the last seven games after an 0-4 start — a run that began with a 79-69 win over Penquis in Guilford on Dec. 22.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
AHEAD OF THE CROWD — PCHS sophomore Kobe Gilbert puts a layup in for two late in the first quarter of a Jan. 16 Class C North game at Penquis, a contest the Pirates won 62-43 for the team’s sixth victory in seven games with Gilbert scoring a game-high 18 points. Looking on is Patriot senior Jeremy Martin (34), Alvin Robshaw (40), and sophomore Zak Mills (22) along with Pirate senior Eben Cooley.
With the score 9-6 in favor of the visitors to start the second quarter, a lay-up by Penquis freshman Cayden Cyr cut the deficit to one at 9-8 (Cyr would score a team-high 10 points). From there PCHS used a pair of 3-pointers from junior Caleb Crocker to quickly go ahead 15-8.
The Pirates were not done as the team followed with a 13-4 run lasting into the late minutes of the opening half for a 28-12 lead. Sophomore Kobe Gilbert paced PCHS with all 10 of his points in the second quarter coming during this stretch (junior Caleb Bailey would also connect from beyond the 3-point line). Gilbert scored on a trio of layups and four free throws to pick up 10 of his game-high 18 points.
After coming back from the locker room, the Pirates had a 15-7 scoring advantage in the third quarter to remain ahead 47-25 after the three sessions and play the fourth quarter with a double-digit lead. Sophomore Chris Easler had a half dozen points in the third quarter and sophomore Caleb Willis had four for a portion of his 16 points on the evening. Crocker would also reach double figures with 11 points.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
HOOK SHOT — Penquis junior Camron Bailey shoots over PCHS senior Eben Cooley during the Jan. 16 contest in Milo. With a 62-43 win, the Pirates earned a season sweep of the Patriots.
BOYS BASKETBALL
PCHS 62
Penquis 43
PCHS 9 23 15 15 | 62
PENQ 6 12 7 18 | 43
PCHS: Gilbert 18,
Willis 16, Crocker 11,
Easler 8, Bailey 6,
Cooley 3
Penquis: Ca. Cyr 10,
Bailey 7, Mills 6,
Martin 5, Co. Cyr 4,
McComb 4, Waterhouse 4,
Baker 3
Records: PCHS 6-5,
Penquis 1-10
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
BALANCING ACT — Sophomore Caleb Willis gets a shot off in the paint over the reach of Penquis senior Jeremy Martin. Willis ended the evening second on the scoring sheet with 16 points.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
UNDER PRESS-URE — PCHS used a full-court press during the Jan 16 game at Penquis, as Pirate junior Caleb Bailey pressures Penquis freshman Corbin Cyr while he brings the ball up.