Postgame interviews – Caleb Wheaton, Terry Cummings, and Toby Nelson
DOVER-FOXCROFT– There is a chance Caleb Wheaton and the rest of the seniors on the Presque Isle boys basketball team only have two games remaining after today.
On Saturday afternoon, Wheaton did everything he could to make it so the season goes longer than the next five days. Wheaton scored 12 of his game high 27 points in the fourth quarter in a 63-54 victory over Foxcroft.
The teams had five lead changes in a first quarter that ended 12-12. Presque Isle started the second quarter on a 17-2 run to take their biggest lead at 27-14 (13) with 2:15 left in the first half. The Ponies responded with a 7-0 run. The Wildcats held a 31-26 intermission lead behind 18 combined points from Wheaton (10) and Nathan Willett (8).
Presque Isle started the second half on a 7-0 run to expand the lead to 38-26. With the Wildcats leading by 11 (40-29), Caleb Crocker got a steal, layup, and converted a free throw. That play sparked a 13-0 Ponies run that extended into the fourth quarter and was capped by a Crocker three pointer.
With the score even at 47 with 4:20 remaining, freshman Malachi Cummings gave the Wildcats a lead they wouldn’t give back. Mason Fletcher got his only field goal of the game to give Presque Isle a 51-47 advantage. The Wildcats would end up scoring 10 straight points to take a 57-47 lead. Wheaton and Cummings combined to make five free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
Wheaton led the Wildcats with 27 points (4 three pointers), five rebounds, and three assists. Cummings added 12 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and two assists. Willett had eight points and four rebounds, Xavier McAtee had seven points and four rebounds, Connor Albertson added four points, while Fletcher scored three points and pulled down eight rebounds, Connor Rideout chipped in with two points. Presque Isle (7-9) currently sits in the 12th and final tournament spot in class B. They finish the regular season with a game at Houlton on Tuesday and they host Caribou on Thursday. They win one of the last two they will clinch a tournament spot.
Caleb Crocker scored a team high 25 points (3 three pointers) and also had six rebounds and two steals for the Ponies. Logan Martin added 13 points (2 three pointers), four rebounds, and three steals. Jed Dean added six points, Lucas Ames added five points, while Caden Crocker and Ethan Doore scored three and two points respectively. Foxcroft (5-12) has clinched a tournament spot and will play a road prelim game. They will finish the regular season at Orono on Tuesday night.
Presque Isle out rebounded Foxcroft 39-30. The Wildcats shot 10-19 from the free throw line, while the Ponies shot 12-13.
