GUILFORD– Bryce Gilbert scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including two free throws with 6.6 seconds remaining to help the Piscataquis Community High School (PCHS) Pirates overcome a 10 point fourth quarter deficit and defeat Dexter 40-38 on Monday evening.
The Tigers outscored PCHS 16-10 in the third quarter to take what looked like a comfortable 32-22 lead with eight minutes to play.
Gilbert cut the deficit to 32-24 early in the fourth quarter. Jason Campbell gave the Tigers a 34-24 lead with six minutes remaining. Eben Cooley made his only shot of the game at the perfect time for the Pirates. Cooley sunk a three pointer to cut the deficit to 34-27 with 5:30 remaining.
Campbell gave the Tigers a nine point (36-27) advantage with 4:50 remaining. PCHS took over from that point. They went on a 10-0 run to take a 37-36 lead with 2:10 remaining. Gilbert had six points and an assist during the run. Jarrod White made a basket and Damyan True made 2-2 from the free throw line. Gilbert capped the run with a coast to coast layup.
The lead didn’t last long as Brayden Miller gave the Tigers a 38-37 lead with 1:45 remaining. True made 1-2 from the free throw line with 45 seconds left, while Gilbert capped the comeback with 6.6 seconds remaining.
Gilbert only scored five points in the first half as he was limited because of foul trouble. Gilbert picked up his fourth foul late in the third quarter. Pirates coach Jamie Russell made it clear to his team that it was important to get a win against a Dexter team they lost 38-36 against on December 22nd.
“Coach (Russell) said to us that he didn’t really want to lose to them again. We lost by two last time,”Gilbert said. “He just kind of pumped us up and told us this would put us up pretty high in the heal points from where we are. A big victory for us”
Dexter and PCHS know each other well. They faced each other three times last season, including a preliminary round game that Dexter won. This year they have played two games, with both teams winning one game and both teams scoring 76 points in the two games. Dexter has four seniors and one junior in the starting lineup. PCHS has four juniors and one senior in the starting lineup.
“We have been playing against that group of seniors (from Dexter) all growing up, because they are only one year ahead of us. A lot of our guys are juniors,”Gilbert said. “It has always been tough competition with them. We know a lot of them, we are all good friends.”
Gilbert recorded a game high 21 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists. True scored eight points and pulled down nine rebounds. White added four points and seven rebounds, while Cameron Kane put in four points and Cooley three. PCHS (5-6) will host Penquis on Thursday.
Foul trouble was a factor for both sides. Each team had three starters in foul trouble for the majority of the second half. The Tigers missed six consecutive free throws in the fourth quarter. The Pirates went 5-6 from the line in the final quarter.
Zach White led the Tigers with 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Campbell recorded eight points, four rebounds, and three steals. Miller added seven points, four rebounds, and two assists. Jacob Bickford came off the bench to score seven points, while William Strauch put in five points. Dexter (8-4) is scheduled to host Bangor Christian on Tuesday night.
The Tigers shot 8-20 from the free throw line, while PCHS shot 12-19. The Pirates out rebounded Dexter 30-19.
