DOVER-FOXCROFT- Filip Brkic had a game high 36 points (21 in the first half) on Tuesday night, leading the Foxcroft Academy Ponies to a 76-62 Class B North boys basketball win over the Orono Red Riots in a matchup of unbeatens at Foxcroft Academy.
Orono (3-1) took an early lead for the only time on the night at 5-1, before Foxcroft came to life in a big time way. Led by a 17 point first quarter by Brkic the Ponies used a 20-0 run to take the lead for good 21-5 and would lead 27-7 after the opening eight minutes. The hosts stretched the advantage to 27 in the second which was the same margin at the half 43-16. A big third quarter by Ben Francis helped the Red Riots pull closer. The sophomore guard put up 15 points in the period, as Orono outscored Foxcroft 24-16 to make it 59-40 headed to the fourth. Two three-pointers each from Ellis Spaulding and Pierce Wahlston in the final quarter did cut the deficit to 12 at one point, but the Ponies held on down the stretch for the 14 point victory.
Brkic added seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals to his point total. The senior forward was named the Eastern Maine Sports Media Bangor Savings Bank Player of the Game for a second time in the early season. Caden Crocker added 20 points and five rebounds, Josh Cornett had six points, Jadon Richard and Jackson Smith had four points each, while Austin Seavey, Adam Connor, and Devin Henderson had two points a piece. Orono was led by Ben Francis who finished with 21 points. Wahlston had 15 points and five rebounds, Spaulding had seven points, Noah Schaff had six points, Lucas Allen added five, Javier-Alicea Santiago had four points, and Caden Gray along with Sebastian Vanidestine chipped in two points a piece. Orono plays host to Bucksport in their next game on Thursday at 7, while Foxcroft (4-0) will host MDI next Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.
ORO (3-1) 7 9 24 22- 62
FOX (4-0) 27 16 16 17- 76
ORONO (62)
Allen 1-3-5, Wahlston 5-2-15, Gray 1-0-2, Spaulding 2-1-7, B. Francis 8-3-21, Alicea-Santiago 2-0-4, Vanidestine 1-0-2, Schaff 3-0-6, Sherman 0-0-0, Kenney 0-0-0
Rebounds- 18
Free Throws- 9-11
Three-point goals- Wahlston 3, Spaulding 2, B. Francis 2
FOXCROFT (76)
Cornett 1-3-6, Henderson 0-2-2, Richard 2-0-4, Seavey 1-0-2, Crocker 8-3-20, Brkic 14-6-36, Connor 1-0-2, Smith 2-0-4, Topolski 0-0-0, Rayfield 0-0-0, Chase 0-0-0
Rebounds- 29
Free Throws- 14-20
Three-point goals- Brkic 2, Cornett, Crocker
