Dexter holds off Penquis on 2023-24 opening night
DEXTER — The host Dexter Regional High School boys and visiting Penquis Valley High School were among teams across the state tipping off the 2023-24 regular season during opening night on Friday, Dec. 8. The Tigers held off the Patriots in a low scoring 33-24 contest.
New Tiger head coach Matthew Bartlett won his first game leading his alma mater. He succeeds Peter Murray who had served as head coach of the Dexter boys for 30 years and more than four decades coaching in the program.
Dexter (1-0) led for all 32 minutes but during the fourth quarter Penquis (0-1) got to within four at 28-24, the closest since a 19-16 score in the third quarter.
WHERE ONLY HE CAN GET IT – Dexter junior Ethan Doherty snags an offensive rebound inbetween Penquis senior Dylan McKenzie (30) and freshman Brodie Lovejoy (40) during the 2023-24 opener on Dec. 8, a 33-24 victory for the host Tigers. Also pictured are Penquis senior Damion Drake (42) and Dexter senior Kellen Peavey (3).
Patriot junior Brenan Grant attempted his team’s first and only two free throws of the game in the final 8-minute session and he made both foul shots as part of his game-high 18-point night. Grant doubled the output of the next leading scorer and he accounted for 75 percent of his team’s offensive output with seven shots overall from floor to go along with 2-of-2 free throw shooting.
The Tigers responded with a 3-pointer by sophomore Bryce Cooper to go up by three possessions again at 31-24. After a defensive stop, sophomore Kody Kimball followed with a lay-up to make the score 33-24 with 4:17 remaining. This would end up being the game’s final score with neither team making any more shots from the floor or free throws.
The 9-point lead was the second largest for Dexter, as the team was briefly up by 10 at 17-7 in the second quarter. Here the two squads combined for just six points as the Tigers went from leading 13-7 after the first quarter to having a 17-9 advantage heading into halftime.
18-POINT NIGHT — Junior Brenan Grant dribbles along the sideline while being guarded by Dexter sophomores Kody Kimball (10) and Bryce Cooper (1) with Penquis sophomore Mickey Hager looking on, Grant led all players with 18 points, scoring 75 percent of his team’s 24.
Senior Will Spratt led Dexter with nine points while Cooper and junior Ethan Doherty each added six as the starting Tiger five picked up a combined 29 of the 33 points.
The two teams are scheduled to play in Milo at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan 16.
CORNER SHOT – Sophomore Bryce Cooper shoots a 3-pointer over Penquis freshman Brodie Lovejoy during a Dec. 8 game in Dexter.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Dexter 33, Penquis 24
PEN 7 2 11 4 – 24
DEX 13 4 8 8 – 33
Penquis (0-1): Grant 18, Drake 4, Lovejoy 2
Dexter (1-0): Spratt 9, Cooper 6, Doherty 6, Adams 5, Kimball 4, Peavy 3
TUG OF FLOOR — Penquis senior Damion Drake, right, and Dexter junior Ethan Doherty, left, and sophomore Kody Kimball (10) tie up for a jump ball.
BACK UP FOR TWO — Senior Zakary Adams scores after grabbing an offensive rebound during the opening quarter vs. Penquis on Dec. 8.