GUILFORD– In some ways 2018 seems like 2017 for the Piscataquis Community High School (PCHS) Pirates boys basketball team. The Pirates defeated Bucksport 59-55 in a class C preliminary round game on Wednesday night. PCHS also defeated the Bucks in a prelim game last season.
There were four lead changes in the first quarter with the Pirates holding a 17-16 lead after the first eight minutes. Bryce Gilbert (7) and Damyan True (7) combined for 14 points in the quarter. The Pirates held the lead the entire second quarter, but that lead didn’t get higher than four during the quarter. Tyson Gray scored 12 of his team high 20 points in the first half.
“He (Gray) is a great player. We knew they were going to go to him,”PCHS coach Alden Gregory said. “We put a great defender (Cam Kane) on him and said we will see what happens. I think Cam did a good job, Tyson did a good job.”
Gilbert added, “I play AAU with Tyson, we are good friends. We knew they were going to go heavy to him.”
The Bucks held the lead twice in the third quarter, but the Pirates maintained a 43-41 heading into the final quarter. Adam Bagley scored his only basket of the game at the perfect time for PCHS. Bagley took an inbounds pass from Gilbert and converted a layup to give the Pirates a lead (49-47) they wouldn’t give back. That basket started an 8-0 run, with an Intentional foul on the Bucks being a key play during the stretch.
Gilbert scored a game high 28 points for the Pirates. He went 11-13 from the free throw line, including 8-10 in the fourth quarter. Gilbert also recorded 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and two blocks. True put in 15 points. Eben Cooley and Kane each made two 3 pointers. Caleb Willis made two free throws in the fourth quarter. The Pirates shot 18-20 from the free throw line. PCHS (12-7) will take on second seed Fort Fairfield in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday, February 21st at 11:05 AM. The Pirates fell to Fort Fairfield in a quarterfinal game last season.
“I expect them (Fort Fairfield) to be well coached and work real hard. It is not going to be an easy game by any means,”Gregory said. “They are number two for a reason. We are going to have to match their intensity and their defensive strength.”
Tanner Stegner recorded 18 points and five rebounds for the Bucks. Chase Carmichael scored 12 points and dished out six assists, while Jakob Donnell added six points. Gray had a double-double, pulling down 11 rebounds to go along with his team high point total.
- Bucksport 16 28 39 55
- PCHS 17 29 41 59
3 point FG- Bucksport – Stegner (3), Carmichael (3), Donnell (2): PCHS – Cooley (2), Kane (2), GIlbert
FT: Bucksport 6-11 PCHS 18-20
Rebounds: Bucksport 25 PCHS 25
