GUILFORD- Kobe Gilbert went off for 44 points on Monday afternoon, including a game winning three-pointer with 43 seconds left to lift the Piscataquis Community High School (PCHS) Pirates to a 50-49 schoolboy basketball win over Dexter.
Gilbert, who had 7 three-pointers in the game, was hot early with five of them from long range in the first quarter as PCHS (5-4) broke off to a 12-2 lead and was up 15-9 after the opening eight minutes with all 15 coming from the senior guard. Eight second quarter points from Parker Ponte sparked Dexter (8-2) to gain a little control and take a 25-24 halftime lead. Gilbert was back at it in the third quarter with 14 points, and the Pirates took a 42-39 lead to the final quarter. With PCHS leading 47-45, Jacob Campbell scored on a layup on a Robbie Dorman miss to tie it with just over three minutes left. The score stayed the same until the last 43 seconds when Gilbert hit a long contested three-pointer that turned into the game winner. A Bryce Connor layup cut it to a point for Dexter with 2.8 seconds left. The guests then fouled Gilbert who missed the front end of a 1 and 1 with 1.8 seconds remaining, but the rebound was knocked away from the Tigers as time expired.
Kobe Gilbert (#10 in white) hits a three-pointer in the final minute Monday afternoon to lead the PCHS Pirates to a 50-49 win over the Dexter Tigers. Gilbert had 44 points in the game. Video courtesy of Eastern Maine Sports Media
Gilbert matched his career-high in points set last year against Mattanawcook Academy. He added 10 rebounds and also added an assist, a steal, and a block. Christian Easler added four points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Buddy Hutchins rounded out the scoring with two points and seven rebounds. Will Kusnierz, Brett Kusnierz, and Avery Gagnon had nine points a piece for Dexter in the loss. B. Kusnierz added five rebounds and three blocks, W. Kusnierz had four rebounds and two steals, while Gagnon added five rebounds. Ponte finished with eight points, Dorman had six points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Rounding out the Tigers scoring was Campbell with four points and Connor and Seth Robbins with two a piece. Gilbert was the Our FAMBily Restaurant Player of the Game, while Easler was named The Jersey Sub Unsung Hero of the Game.
