Grace Phillipon of John Bapst attempts a free throw during the fourth quarter against Presque Isle on Friday, December 23, 2016. Photo by Chris Lessner.
BANGOR- It was the matchup of the top two teams in girls Class B North Friday evening at the Cross Insurance Center. When the dust settled, it was the John Bapst Crusaders staying unbeaten with a 60-51 Big East win over the visiting Presque Isle Wildcats.
A solid start by the hosts John Bapst (5-0), as they built a nine point lead halfway through the first quarter 14-5. But the Wildcats ended the first eight minutes on a 10-2 run, including nine points from sophomore guard Emily Wheaton, to cut the Crusaders lead to 16-15.
Presque Isle (3-2) took their first lead by one early in the second quarter, but John Bapst held a slight edge at halftime 29-26.
The game remained back and forth and nip and tuck in the third quarter, and a late three pointer by Wheaton put Presque Isle up 42-40 headed to the final quarter.
John Bapst opened the fourth quarter on a 12-3 run to build a 52-45 lead, and PI would only get as close as three the rest of the way as the Crusaders knocked down 10-16 from the line in the final stanza in outscoring PI 20-9 in the fourth quarter to earn the win.
Presque Isle got a game-high 23 points from Wheaton, who also had a pair of rebounds and an assist. Emily Lagerstrom added nine points, two rebounds, and an assist. Skylar Vogel also chipped in with eight points, two assists, and a steal.
John Bapst put three players in double figures, led by Grace Phillipon. Phillipon had 17 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, that included 5-6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter. Caleigh Lebel had 11 points and six rebounds, while Crystal Bell also had 11 points and added four rebounds and an assist.
Both teams return to action next week as John Bapst hosts Old Town on Tuesday, and Presque Isle travels to Ellsworth Thursday.
PI (3-2) 15 11 16 9- 51
JB (5-0) 16 13 11 20- 60
Presque Isle 51
Wheaton 8-4-23, Lagerstrom 3-0-9, Vogel 3-2-8, Rodriguez 3-0-6, Kingsbury 1-0-3, Michaud 1-0-2, Skidgel, Boone/3 pt goals: Wheaton 3, Lagerstrom 3, Kingsbury/Free throws: 6-11, 54.5%
John Bapst 60
Phillipon 4-7-17, Lebel 4-2-11, Bell 5-0-11, Higgins 4-0-8, Legasse 2-2-7, Zephir 1-2-4, Cyr 0-2-2, Ellis, Springer/3 pt goals: Phillipon 2, Legasse, Lebel, Bell/Free throws: 15-22, 68.1%
