Penquis boys silence the Howlers to earn a season sweep
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
MILO — On Dec. 13 the boys from Penquis Valley High School earned a 49-33 victory at fellow AOS 43 member institution Penobscot Valley High School of Howland. The Patriots ended up with a similar result during the second meeting between the two squads, pulling away in the second quarter on the way to a 49-25 victory.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
NOT TOO MUCH NOISE FOR THE HOWLERS — Penquis senior Justin Larry shoots over Penobscot Valley senior Bryce Carter during the Jan. 23 contest in Milo. The Patriots won 49-25 to earn a season sweep of the Howlers. Looking on are, from left, Penobscot freshman Jonathan Littlefield, Penquis senior Phillip Cook, Penobscot junior Jarrett Priest and Penquis sophomore Charles Artus.
While Penquis (3-11) never trailed in the game, and the score was only tied in the opening minutes at 2-2, the team’s lead was at three points, 8-5, after a quarter of play. Early in the second quarter a basket by Penobscot freshman Jonathan Littlefield cut his team’s deficit to one point at 10-9 at the 5:58-mark.
The Patriots got a point back on a free throw by senior Justin Larry, which began an 8-0 run. On the next two possessions junior Noah Allen connected from beyond the 3-point and inside the line respectively to up the lead to 16-9. Allen picked up eight points in the second quarter — he had another 3-pointer in the final seconds of the opening half — and he tallied a game-high 19 points or more than double the total of anyone else.
A basket by sophomore Charles Artus capped off the 8-0 scoring streak, and the 18-11 advantage grew to 23-13 by quarter’s end.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
19 FOR ALLEN — Junior Noah Allen led all players in the Jan. 23 contest with 19 points. Allen picked up all of his points in the first three quarters. Also pictured is senior Phillip Cook.
A 15-8 scoring advantage for the home team in the second quarter was surpassed slightly in the third, 18-8 as in the second half Penquis picked up 26 points and yielded just 12 with nearly the entire roster getting on to the court.
Allen added to his 12 points in the first half with seven more in the third, on a 3-point shot and two others from the floor, to pick up all 19 of his points in under 24 minutes. Sophomore Clayton Preble had four third quarter-points, for half of the eight he would finish with.
Also in the third quarter senior Clayton Tarnoczy had three points, on a field goal and foul shot, and Larry and sophomore Devon Cuthbertson each picked up a pair.
The eight points in the fourth quarter were divided among five players, on three shots from the floor and two different Patriots connecting from the free throw line. The field goals came from Preble, Tarnoczy and senior Philip Cook, while juniors Josh Martin and Dillon Nickerson had the foul shots.
The victory snapped a 7-game losing streak for Penquis, and was also the team’s first home victory after falling in the first seven. The Patriots dropped the Class D Howlers to 2-12, and extended Penobscot’s losing skid to five of its last six.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
CLEAR PATH UP TO THE BASKET — Sophomore Devon Cuthbertson goes up for a layup away from Penobscot junior Jacob Whitten. In the paint is Patriot junior Dillon Nickerson.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
TOUGH UNDERNEATH SHOT — Junior Josh Martin looks to get off a shot away from the reach of Penobscot junior Jacob Whitten. Near the top of the key is Penquis sophomore Colin Beckett.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
LONG SHOT — Hoisting a corner jumper from just inside the line during the first half is sophomore Charles Artus over Penobscot freshman Jonathan Littlefield.
BASKETBALL
BOYS
Penquis 49,
Penobscot 25
PNB 5 8 8 4 — 25
PNQ 8 15 18 8 — 49
PENQUIS: Allen 19, Preble 8, Cook 6, Larry 5, Tarnoczy 5, Artus 2, Cuthbertson 2, Martin 1 and Nickerson 1.
PENOBSCOT: Doane 7, Spencer 7, Carter 6, Folster 2, Littlefield 2 and Priest 1.
Records: Penquis 3-11, Penobscot 2-12.