PCHS and Greenville come together to raise $2,000 for Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation

GUILFORD — While the four teams from Piscataquis Community High School and Greenville High School competed intensely on the court, the two programs worked as one during the fourth annual “Fill the Gym For Childhood Cancer” event to benefit the Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation (http://www.alizajeanjustone.org and on Facebook) on Jan. 20.
The girls/boys doubleheader raised a record $2,000 for the organization with a mission to provide financial support for local families who have a child diagnosed with cancer, and a goal of spreading awareness about pediatric cancer and to advocate for advancements in research and treatment. During warm-ups all four teams wore event T-shirts over their uniforms, with the shirts adorned with the words “Fight Like a Girl” — the foundation namesake’s favorite saying — and yellow ribbons in honor of the late Aliza Jean Herrick Stutzman who lost her battle with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer on Jan. 23, 2013 at age 13.
Last year the Aliza Jean Family Cancer Foundation helped 13 families with over $25,000 in support. Since 2013 nearly 30 families have been assisted by the organization.
The Class C Pirate girls and Class D Greenville girls played in the opening contest as host PCHS jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter and would never trail by less than four the rest of the way. The Lakers would cut the deficit to four in the second quarter at 15-11, but PCHS would go on a 6-3 run to close out the opening half and win by a final score of 45-28.
Junior Erin Speed led her team with 13 points and sophomore Sara Almirante would also reach double figures with 10 points.
The Pirates were playing the team’s first game in six days, but the layoff did not hamper the squad as PCHS won its eighth consecutive contest to improve to 10-2. Just over a month before the team won on the road at Greenville 53-39.
Freshman Halle Pelletier led the Lakers with 13 points. The team fell to 5-7, having dropped four of five but during the ensuing afternoon Greenville would defeat Class D North Machias Memorial High School 47-21.
The starting five for the Greenville boys would score 42 of 46 points in a 46-36 victory as the two schools split the Friday evening doubleheader. Junior Nick Foley led the Lakers with 15 points and classmate Devin Boone added 12 as the team led 15-6 after the opening eight minutes and would never trail again.
After falling in the 2016-17 season opener at Machias — the top team in the Class D North Heal Point standings — Greenville won eight in a row heading into the contest at Guilford. One of the wins came in Greenville against the Pirates, 68-60 on Dec. 15. The victory over the Pirates upped Greenville’s win streak to nine and the Lakers got some revenge by defeating Machias at home, 49-47, the next day for the team’s 10th straight win as of presstime.
The 36 points for PCHS (who fell to 4-6) came from four of the team’s five starters (for 78 of the combined 82 points being scored by those on the court at tipoff). Pirate junior Bryce Gilbert led all players with 22 points.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
JUMPING LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER — Greenville senior Matt Mendes hoists a shot over the reach of PCHS junior Bryce Gilbert (22) and senior Jarrod White (32) while Pirate junior Cameron Kane (12) looks on during the Jan. 20 contest in Guilford. The visiting Lakers won 46-36 to earn a sweep of the regional rival, winning the team’s ninth game in a row. A victory during the next day vs. Machias would up the streak to 10 games for the 10-1 Lakers.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
SEEKING ANOTHER OPTION — Sophomore Alivia Hunt decides to pass out of the post away from the reach of Greenville freshman Halle Pelletier during Friday evening’s contest — to the right is Laker freshman Bianca Breton. Host PCHS won 45-28 to capture the team’s eighth victory in a row.

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Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
DRIVING AGAINST TWO — PCHS junior Bryce Gilbert, who recorded a game-high 22 points, looks for a path to the basket vs. Greenville juniors Connor DiAngelo, left, and Noah Pratt.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TUG OF WAR — Junior Erin Speed of PCHS and Greenville freshman Tiegan Murray tussle for possession on Friday evening as Laker freshman Bianca Breton looks on.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ON THE REBOUND — Pirate junior Dillon Drew brings a rebound back to the wing away from Greenville senior Matt Mendes, left, and junior Connor DiAngelo.