Strong second quarter helps Foxcroft earn a season sweep of the Tigers
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Early in the second quarter the boys from Foxcroft Academy and Dexter Regional High School were tied at 17 points apiece in a Jan. 25 interclass contest between the two regional rivals. From there the Ponies got going on both ends of the court, using a 12-0 run and allowing just one more field goal before the end of the opening half as a springboard to a 57-39 victory.
LATE-SEASON PLAY — Dexter senior Dylan Graffam goes up for a basket during a Jan. 25 contest between the Tigers and Foxcroft in Dover-Foxcroft. The Ponies won 57-39 to earn a season sweep of the neighboring rival. In on the play is Foxcroft freshman Hunter Smith (30), junior Hunter Law (1) and senior Kaleb Smith (22) and Dexter junior Trevor Fogarty (12), senior Matthew Crane (42) and junior Ethan Gould (22).
A shot by Foxcroft junior Kolby Kendall put the team ahead at 19-17 to start the 12-0 run, and give the Ponies (who improved to 5-10 with the victory) a lead the team would never relinquish. Over the next few minutes senior Ryan Rebar had a field goal and a three-pointer — he led Foxcroft with 17 points — and senior Kaleb Smith also connected from behind the 3-point line as the Ponies were up by 10.
Two for junior Sam Keane concluded the 12-0 Foxcroft run, but the home team’s lead stayed at 10 after a basket by Dexter senior Dylan Graffam — who scored a game-high 20 points — made the game 29-19 with the two teams heading to the locker rooms.
THREE THREES FOR NO. 3 — Three shots made from behind the 3-point line helped Foxcroft senior Ryan Rebar lead the Ponies with 17 points. Defending is Dexter junior Trevor Fogarty.
In the third quarter the Tigers (who dropped to 8-6 in 2012-13) chipped away at the team’s deficit and got to within three at 33-30. Soon after Rebar made a steal in the defensive backcourt and he took the ball the other way for a layup and two-possession lead, 35-30.
The Ponies followed with a Kendall field goal, three by Rebar and a fast break layup from senior Caleb Richard to lead by 12 again at the conclusion of the third quarter — 42-30.
Foxcroft upped its lead to 22 points with 2:23 on the clock in the fourth quarter as Smith sank a 3-pointer just over half a minute after Rebar’s third three of the game. Graffam followed with baskets on a consecutive trio of Tiger possessions before Hunter Smith closed out the scoring with two for the Ponies to give him 13 total points off the bench.
DOUBLE THE HANG TIME — Senior Matthew Crane of Dexter, left, and Foxcroft freshman Hunter Smith both take to the air on a Crane shot.
The victory gave Foxcroft a season sweep of Dexter, who entered the Jan. 26 game having won four of five and six of the team’s last eight contests. During a mutual season opener on Dec. 8 the Ponies traveled back up Route 7 with a 67-36 victory.
FEELING JUMPY — Junior Kolby Kendall of Foxcroft and Dexter senior Dylan Graffam, with Pony junior Sam Keane looking on, leap for the opening tipoff during the Jan. 25 contest. Graffam scored a game-high 20 points but Foxcroft defended its home court with a 57-39 victory.
Foxcroft is scheduled to play next on Wednesday, Jan. 30 when the team will travel to Bangor for a 7 p.m. game against John Bapst Memorial High School of Bangor (4-10 as of presstime). The Crusaders won the contest in Dover-Foxcroft, 64-51, on Jan. 12. Dexter will also play on the evening of Jan. 30 with a road game at Bucksport High School. The Golden Bucks won in Dexter, 52-37, on Jan. 11.
1 ON ONE — Foxcroft junior Hunter Law drives to the hoop while Tiger junior Ethan Gould defends.
LET IT FLY — Pony freshman Hunter Smith hoists a jump shot over the reach of Dexter senior Dylan Graffam, while Dexter senior Matthew Crane and Foxcroft junior Sam Keane are positioned for a potential rebound in the low post. Smith would score 13 points for the Ponies, tied for the second highest total on the team.