Dexter upsets Calais in girls C North quarterfinal
By Joseph Cyr, Houlton Pioneer Times Staff
BANGOR – The No. 7 Dexter girls pulled off a 37-24 upset in a defensive battle against No. 2 Calais Tuesday morning in a Class C North quarterfinal.
The Tigers (12-6) used their speed and quickness to create turnovers that were then turned into points on the scoreboard.
With the win, the Tigers advance to the Class C North semifinals 2 p.m. Friday, at the Cross Insurance Center against No. 3 Penobscot Valley, which beat No. 6 Fort Kent, 38-24, in the morning’s other quarterfinal.
ON TO THE SEMIFINALS – Dexter’s Jozlynn Paige snags the ball as Calais’ Kate McPhee closes in during Tuesday’s Class C North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center. The No. 7 Tigers upset second-seeded Calais 37-24.
“I think our schedule really benefited us,” Dexter coach Jody Grant said. “We played Stearns, Penobscot Valley, Foxcroft Academy and Central twice. I think that really prepared us for this (tournament) experience. The better competition you play, the better you are.”
Both squads struggled early in Tuesday’s contest as Dexter clung to a slim 4-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The shots finally started to fall in the second quarter as Dexter outscored Calais 14-10 to take an 18-13 lead into the break. Jozlynn Paige was essential in that quarter for Dexter, tallying half of the team’s points (seven).
ON THE BALL – Lunging for the ball is Calais’ Mercedes Owen while Dexter’s Jillean Poloquin (10) and Elizabeth Kinney defend during a Class C North quarterfinal in Bangor.
Calais cut the lead to just six (26-20) when Mercedes Owen drained a 3-pointer, but that would be as close as the Blue Devils would get.
Hannah Dean scored 10 points to lead the Tigers to victory. Abilene Corson chipped in with eight points; Jozlynn Paige added seven; Elizabeth Kinney had five; Cally Gudroe added four and Jillian Poliquin had three.
Sage Phillips led the Blue Devils with eight points, while Kendra Stevens added six and Neveah Thomas and Owen each scored five.
BOXING OUT – Hauling in a rebound is Dexter’s Mazie Peach. In the back is Calais’ Sage Phillips.
Coach Grant said keeping the game low-scoring was not necessarily the game plan coming into Tuesday’s contest.
“We want to play to our strengths, whatever those happen to be on that given night,” he said. “There are night’s we have been able to run and put the ball in the basket. Other times we have had to slow down and make good decisions.”
Calais finishes with a 15-4 overall record.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class C North
quarterfinal
No. 7 Dexter 37, No. 2 Calais 24
Dexter: Gudroe 2-0-4, Poliquin 1-1-3, Bennett, Corson 3-0-8, Kinney 1-3-5, Brown, Paige 3-1-7, Dean 5-0-10, Peach
Calais: Jones, Lombardo, Thomas 2-1-5, Farrar, Critchey, Stevens 3-0-6, McPhee, Owen 1-2-5, Donahue, Scott, Phillips 3-2-8
3-point goals; Corson 2; Owen
Dexter 4 18 28 37
Calais 3 13 20 24