BANGOR, Maine- Trevor Richards scored six of his team high 13 points in the fourth quarter, including four clutch free throws to push the Dexter Tigers to a 39-36 win over the Central Red Devils in a Maine Principals’ Association Class C boys North quarterfinal at the Cross Insurance Center on Wednesday.
Robbie Dorman opened with a three-pointer for 19-0 Dexter, followed by a Parker Ponte basket to make it 5-0 Tigers early. Scottie Ferrie got Central on the board four minutes in, but Dexter was able to push out to an 8-2 advantage. The Red Devils responded with baskets from Chandler Willard, Ferrie, and Bryce Burns to tie it 8-8. Willard then made 1-2 at the foul line and Burns hit a three-pointer and Central had the last 10 points for a 12-8 lead after the opening eight minutes. The Devils extended the run to 12-0 when Ferrie opened the second with a hoop for a six point lead. An 11-3 Dexter run put them up for the last time in the first half 19-17, before Simon Allen had a pair of baskets wedged around another score from Willard and the Red Devils led 23-19 at intermission.
Central held the lead the entire third quarter by two to four points. Richards hit two late free throws for Dexter, and it was 28-26 Red Devils headed to the fourth quarter. Dexter took their first lead since that midway point of the second quarter at 31-30 when Haedyn Guenther hit 1-2 from the line with 4:41 remaining. Allen gave the lead back to Central with a three-pointer 1:19 later, before Richards evened it 33-33 with a perfect 2-2 from the charity stripe. The Tigers took the lead for good when Richards knocked down two more at the line with 2:01 left. Dexter went up four before Ferrie cut it to two 38-36 scoring inside with 40.6 seconds showing on the clock. Richards missed two free throws with 23.3 seconds to go, but a jumpball on the ensuing rebounding action gave it back to the Tigers. Richards hit 1-2 with 15 seconds left for a three point lead. Central had one more chance with nine seconds to play, but a well defended desperation three-pointer by Alex Hewitt fell well short as time expired.
Richards had 11 of his 13 points in the second half in the Dexter win. Dorman finished with 10 points and five rebounds. Ponte added six points, Brett Kusnierz five, William Kusnierz four, and Guenther one free throw for one point. The Tigers shot 12-20 from the foul line including 7-12 in the fourth quarter.
Ferrie had 15 points and seven rebounds in the loss for Central. Burns chipped in eight points, Allen seven, Willard five points and 11 rebounds, and Zachary Williams added a free throw for one point. The Red Devils managed 13 second half points after a 23 point first half. Central did outrebound Dexter 28-19, and shot 6-11 from the foul line. They finish their season at 13-7, with three losses coming to the Tigers.
Dexter advances to a Friday semifinal to face Fort Kent at 8:30 p.m.
