BANGOR- Megan Peach and Kayli Cunningham combined for 32 points and 30 rebounds in leading the Dexter Tigers to a 50-26 win over Madawaska in a Maine Principals’ Association class C North victory on Tuesday afternoon at the Cross Insurance Center.
Peach came out of the game after committing her second foul with 4:26 remaining in the first quarter. Tigers coach Jody Grant kept her on the bench until the second half. He was able to do that, banks to Cunningham, Becca Batron, and Abby Webber coming up big. Dexter held a 19-15 halftime lead.
“We kept talking about it on the bench. We were convinced that even if we were within striking distance, I was okay, because I felt like she (Peach) could come back (in the second half) and not lose anything. She could still exert herself,”Grant said. Cunningham had a couple of big baskets. Webber had a big three in that stretch. Batron had a big basket on a side play we ran. As little as Megan played to go into the locker room with a four point lead.”
Cunningham added, “I was actually very nervous, because she is my go to person. I didn’t know what was gong to happen.”
Dexter scored the first six points of the second half and the lead didn’t get lower than six the rest of the way. Peach scored 10 points in the third quarter as the Tigers outscored the Owls 16-7 to take a commanding 35-22 lead. Dexter closed out the victory by not allowing a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Peach dominated play when she was in the game. She finished with 19 points, 19 rebounds, and three blocks. Peach had 12 points and 13 rebounds in the second half.
The Tigers needed someone to step up with Peach limited to 3.5 minutes in the first half. Cunningham did just that. She recorded 13 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists.
“The last few games of the regular season she (Cunningham) really inserted herself. She started to realize this is her senior year and this is it for her” Grant said. “She has always been a good player. We put her on (Jenna) Dugal today. That is a tough matchup, because she is giving up a little bit of size. She fought and scrapped, I was very pleased.”
Peach added, before every game I tell her, we need her to have a game tonight. She does every night, I don’t even need to say it anymore. She was guarding their best post player. She did a great job, I don’t think that girl scored on her once. I think she scored later on, but not on her.”
Cunningham stands at only 5’6″, while most players she goes against are five or six inches taller.
“I have to work harder than people that are taller than me,”Cunningham said. “If I work harder I know I will get the ball and they will go over my back, because I am so short.”
Batron scored six points and pulled down five rebounds for the Tigers. Abby Webber scored five points and dished out two assists. Kaitlyn Webber put in four points, while Addyson Herrick chipped in with three. Dexter (14-6) will play a semifinal game on Friday, February 24th at 7:05 PM.
The Tigers out rebounded Madawaska 42-23, Dexter shot 16-25 from the free throw line, while the Owls shot 7-12.
Desiree Belanger led the Owls with 13 points. Dugas scored six points and pulled down six rebounds. Hannah Nadeu added five points and nine rebounds, while Brianne Thibeault chipped in with five points and nine rebounds. Madawaska finishes the season with a 17-2 record.
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