DEXTER– Alivia Hunt scored 13 points, including five in the third quarter to lift the Piscataquis Community High School (PCHS) Pirates girls basketball team to a 32-28 win over Dexter on Friday evening. It is the ninth straight win for the Pirates.
The Tigers scored the first four points of the game. That would be their last lead of the contest. PCHS scored the next eight points to take an 8-4 lead. The Pirates went on a 6-0 run to take a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The defense of both teams was the highlight of the second quarter. PCHS took an 18-12 lead into halftime,
The Pirates built the lead to double figures in the third quarter behind Hunt’s offense and the tenacious defense of Lexi Harris. She had the responsibility of guarding the Tigers top scorer Megan Peach. Harris held Peach to 12 points on six field goals, while also scoring eight points of her own, six in the first quarter.
“I can’t say enough about Lexi. She came out and hit some huge shots for us. She is not our first option or even second option (on offense). She forced them to guard her, that set the tone,”PCHS coach Brian Gaw said. “It is easy to say she is a good defender, her fitness is unreal. She is a track star, she can run all day long. It is easy to say go guard that person. You have to have the fitness to do it and she does.”
Hunt added, “He (Gaw) told Lexi (Harris) to pick up (Megan) Peach again and find out what she had for breakfast. Pick it up and keep the same intensity.”
The Tigers did cut the deficit to 31-28 on a Rebecca Batron basket with 1:40 remaining. Erin Speed made one of two free throws for PCHS with 28 seconds remaining, and the Pirates held on.
Hunt had the game high in points and also pulled down six rebounds. Harris had two assists to go along with her eight points. Speed filled up the stat sheet with seven points, seven assists, three rebounds, and three steals. Sara Almirante added four points, four rebounds, and two assists. Olivia Riitano came off the bench and had three blocked shots. PCHS (11-2) will travel to Stearns on Tuesday. The Minutemen and Pirates are each in the top three in the Maine Principals’ Association class C North heal point standings.
Peach led the Tigers with 12 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Batron recorded five points, four rebounds, and three steals. Kaitlyn Webber and Kayli Cunningham finished with four points each, while Abby Webber had three points. Ashley Reynolds recorded three assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Dexter (7-5) will travel to Penquis on Monday.
Dexter shot 3-13 from the free throw line, while PCHS shot 2-6.
