BANGOR— The Dexter Tigers got to be the second seed, thanks to their defense. That defense was on full display in the Tigers 39-32 Maine Principals’ Association class C quarterfinal victory over Stearns in Tuesday morning.
The Tigers held Stearns to five first half points, as Dexter held a 13 point halftime lead. They held the two (Jess Girsa and Emma Alley) leading scorers for the Minutemen to two first half points.
“At this point, you need to hang your hat on what you did all year long. I told them in the locker room, you guys have been doing these things since day one. Just execute and make things happen, thankfully they didn’t shoot the ball as well as they can in the first half,”Dexter coach Jody Grant said. “Our focus should always be on the best players. They are the two best players, try to make it as difficult as you can in them.”
Megan Peach led the way for the Tigers with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and two blocks. Peach had two baskets after offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter. She also went 5-5 from the free throw line in the second half.
“She (Peach) was active, didn’t give up on the play.,”Grant said. “We always tell her to assume they will miss it.”
Stearns went on a 12-0 run in the second half to cut the deficit to 23-29 early in the fourth quarter.
Peach said, “We knew we weren’t going to walk all over them.”
Peach score eight points in the fourth quarter, Abi Webber went 3-4 from the line in the quarter, and Katie Batron made two key baskets down the stretch to seal the victory.
Peach said, “Katie (Batron) had a few big ones down the stretch.”
The Tigers will take on Narraguagus in a semifinal game on Friday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. Narraguagus defeated PCHS 61-50 earlier Monday morning.
“I was very impressed with their (Narraguagus) performance this morning. They have very good perimeter players, Kennedy and Osgood are very good. “Toppin made every shot she took today. More sleepless nights for me, the next few days.”
Peach added, “I know Kelli Kennedy is pretty good. That is going to be tough. There guards are pretty good.”
Batron scored eight points and pulled down four rebounds, Webber added seven points, Skyler Theodore recorded four points, four rebounds, and two steals, while Cidney Pratt chipped in with three points, seven steals, and four assists for the Tigers.
Mackenzie Carter led the Minutemen with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Alley scored seven points, while Girsa and Peighton Ingersoll scored six points each, Mariss Marter made a fourth quarter three pointer. Stearns finishes the season with a 13-7 record.
