BANGOR– Jason Campbell went 10-10 from the free throw line, including 8-8 in the fourth quarter in lifting the Dexter Tigers boys basketball team to a 58-45 win over Lee Academy in a Maine Principals’ Association class C boys basketball quarterfinal game at the Cross Insurance Center on Tuesday evening.
Campbell said, “more into the game, you are more comfortable. All you have to do is stay calm and make them.”
The Tigers went on a 14-1 run after falling behind 4-0. Brayden Miller scored 12 first half points as Dexter held a 30-17 halftime lead. The Pandas were looking to run, the Tigers were hoping to slow the game down. They did just that as the Pandas only got the deficit into single digits twice in the second half.
“We identified who the three-point shooters are for them. We were not helping off of them. A lot of times, they penetrate for a layup, or penetrate and kick it to a three-point shooter. We stayed with the kick, they were going to have to make two’s,”Dexter coach Peter Murray said. “We were going to help off the people who are not three-point shooters. I think that helped slow them down.”
Tigers senior forward said Zach White said, “they (Lee) like to run, we knew coming in that they were going to try to speed us up, because we don’t play like that. We knew we had to break the press effectively and not turn the ball over. At the same time, even though they are pressing us, we couldn’t allow that to speed up our style of play. We have to stay true to who we are and what we do well. That is what we did tonight, and that is why we got the win.”
Campbell recorded 24 points, nine rebounds, and three steals to lead the Tigers. Miller added 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Campbell, Miller, White, and William Strauch are a senior group that starts along with junior Joshua Simcock for Murray and the Tigers. This is the first Dexter boys basketball team to win a tournament game at the Cross Insurance Center.
“That is four seniors that log a lot of minutes. It is one of those groups where there is not any one kid who is going to stand out and awe you. When you put it all together, it works,”Murray said. “We kind of have a motto within the team, our strength is our togetherness. We are strong together. Individually we are not strong, together we are. It works, it is a group that had grown up together. They have been together for 18 years. They play for each other.”
Miller added, “we have played together since we were in the fifth grade. This was always a dream. To be the first to win a game at the Cross Center is awesome.”
While Campbell and Strauch combined for 40 points and 14 rebounds. The Tigers are confident in anyone on any given night.
“Jason (Campbell) was phenomenal tonight. Brayden (Miller) is phenomenal every night. We are just a close group that any given night, someone could do that,”White said. “Next game it could be William Strauch, it could be Josh Simcock, it could be Jake Bickford. It is not just one guy on this team. That is what I love about is team. We are so close, but at the same time we are very balanced.”
Strauch put in five points, while Bickford and CJ Cooper put in four points each. Bickford also had three assists and three rebounds. Simcock chipped in with three points, while White recorded two points, five assists, and two steals. Dexter (16-4) will take on undefeated and defending state champions George Stevens in a semifinal game on Friday, February 24th at 3:35 PM.
“George Stevens is a very impressive team. They play a different style of basketball than we do. What they do, they do it well,”White said. “They are state champs, they are an incredible team. We know that, coming into a game we know that we have to respect any opponent we play, but you don’t have to fear them.”
Tony Chu led the Pandas with 18 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Lee finishes the season with a record of 14-5.
Thank you to the following businesses for sponsoring Eastern Maine Sports coverage of Tourney 2017.
