PCHS girls and boys earn wins over Greenville
GUILFORD — Playing back to back, the Piscataquis Community High School girls and boys basketball teams each won the 2022-23 home openers vs. Greenville High School on Monday evening. The Pirate girls tripled up the opposition with a 39-13 victory and the PCHS boys held off the Lakers 38-27 as all four teams now stand1-1 a few days into the season.
In the first of the two interclass matchups between the host Class C North team and Class D South visitors, the PCHS girls jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter on four combined field goals from seniors Brylee Ricker and Kendall Kimball and freshman Brooke Hunt.
Greenville would get on the scoreboard in the second quarter as senior Alex Bjork picked up all five — she would finish with seven points to tie PCHS freshman Ava Goulette for the game-high — but the Pirates extended the advantage on the scoreboard to 15-5.
KEEP IT IN — PCHS freshman Brady Gaw avoids the end line while passing to senior Ty Cobb over the reach of Greenville senior Dale Turner (34) and sophomore Ocean Turner (11) during a game on Monday evening. The Pirates won the team’s 2022-23 home opener 38-27.
After the break PCHS put away the Lakers with a 17-0 third quarter. Goulette put back a pair of offensive rebounds for four and added a jumper to pick up six of her points during this run. Five other Pirates added points in the third quarter for what was a 32-5 advantage heading into the final 8-minute session.
Greenville sophomore Maddison Clukey connected twice from behind the 3-point line in the fourth to give her six points as she and Bjork accounted for all 13 of their team’s offensive output.
The boys game would end up being closer than the girls and during the third quarter Greenville took the lead for the first time on a jump shot by senior Dominick Murray for a 17-16 advantage. Murray finished the night with a team-high 13 points.
PIRATE SWEEP — Senior Brylee Ricker shoots over Greenville Alexa Bjork during PCHS’ 39-13 win on Monday evening, with Pirate freshman Brooke Hunt (9) and senior Kendall Kimball (1) and Laker sophomore Maddison Clukey running in. The host Pirates won both games in a girls/boys doubleheader.
From there PCHS closed out the third quarter with a 10-2 run behind shots from the floor from four different players.
In the fourth a layup by Greenville sophomore Liam Mason cut the deficit to one at 26-25. Mason had 12 points as he and Murray combined for 25 of the 27 Laker points.
PCHS junior Scott Chadbourne responded with a 3-pointer to give his team a multiple possession lead at 29-25. Chadbourne led all players with 17 points with seven of these coming in the final quarter.
LAY IT UP FOR TWO — Sophomore Liam Mason scores two on a fourth quarter layup over PCHS senior Dawson Simpson, with Pirate senior Ty Cobb (11) and freshman Brady Gaw (2) positioned nearby.
A technical foul on the Lakers gave the home team a chance for two free throws and Pirate freshman Brady Gaw sank both of these to extend the lead to 31-25.
The PCHS foul shot advantage made a difference in the outcome. The squad was 11-of-15 from the line – including Gaw’s 5-of-6 performance — while Greenville was 2-of-10 on its free throw attempts.
The teams are scheduled to play again in another doubleheader at Greenville, with the girls again tipping off first at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10.
TOUGH DRIBBLING — Laker junior Jaydyn Boone tries to get around PCHS senior Abbey Ricker, as Pirate senior Brylee Ricker and Greenville senior Alexa Bjork watch. The host Pirates won 39-13 in the season’s home opener.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
GRVL 0 5 0 8 — 13
PCHS 8 7 17 7 — 39
Greenville (1-1): Bjork 7, Clukey 6
PCHS (1-1): Goulette 7, Hunt 6, Channon 5, Ke. Kimball 4, A. Ricker 4, B. Ricker 4, White 4, Crosby 3, Kh. Kimball 2
BOYS BASKETBALL
GRVL 2 10 7 8 — 27
PCHS 2 14 10 12 — 38
Greenville (1-1): Murray 13, Mason 12, O. Turner 2
PCHS (1-1): Chadbourne 17, Gaw 14, Simpson 5, Kain 2