EAST CORINTH- The Dexter Tigers rallied from a 15 point third quarter deficit on Tuesday evening, and stayed unbeaten in the early season with a thrilling 60-57 win over the Central Red Devils in a Class C North boys basketball game at Central High School.
Central (1-4), who was trying to break a three game losing streak, came out hot scoring the first 10 points of the game that included a pair of three-pointers from senior guard Simon Allen, forcing an early timeout from Dexter head coach Peter Murray. The Tigers stopped that momentum and scored the next six points, but the Red Devils held a 14-10 lead after the first eight minutes. The hosts opened the second on a 9-4 spurt building the advantage to 23-14, but a late 6-2 run by Dexter sliced the margin to 28-24 at halftime.
Central increased their lead to the biggest of the night at 15 by scoring the first 11 points of the third quarter, sparked by a Bryce Burns three-pointer, an Allen jumper, and three buckets in the paint by Lucas Gustin. Dexter (4-0) kept fighting back and a three-pointer by Will Kusnierz cut it to 45-39 late in the period, but on a loose ball situation Will Libby knocked in a three for the Red Devils just before the buzzer to push it back to a nine point advantage headed to the fourth. The Tigers would stay within striking distance in the final quarter, forcing a few Red Devils turnovers and taking their first lead 56-55 on a Kayden Kimball basket with 1:35 left. Burns pushed Central back in front with two free throws 27 seconds later, before Avery Gagnon had the eventual game winner for Dexter with a rebound and put back layup with 35 seconds remaining. A Kimball steal on the next defensive possession would lead to a pair of Gagnon free throws and a three point edge with 15 seconds showing on the clock. Allen got off a contested three-pointer to try to tie it in the final seconds, but the shot fell short as time would expire.
Kusnierz led Dexter in the win with 25 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Kusnierz was named the Eastern Maine Sports Media Bangor Savings Bank Player of the Game. Kimball, in his first game action of the season, finished with 14 points (12 in the second half). Gagnon had 12 points and six rebounds, while Bryce Connor added five and both Will Spratt along with Seth Robbins contributed two points each. Allen had 25 points (5 three-pointers) for Central in the loss with 18 of those coming in the first half. Burns had 13 points and seven rebounds, while Gustin added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Libby chipped in seven points and Koby Bean had two. Dexter in their next game will host PVHS on Thursday, while Central will host Penquis also on Thursday night.
DEX 10 14 15 21- 60
CEN 14 14 20 9- 57
DEXTER (60)
Kusnierz 10-3-25, Kimball 6-2-14, Gagnon 4-4-12, Connor 1-3-5, Robbins 1-0-2, Spratt 1-0-2
Rebounds- 27
Free throws- 12-19
Three-point goals- Kusnierz 2
Turnovers- 15
CENTRAL (57)
Allen 9-2-25, Burns 3-6-13, Gustin 5-0-10, Libby 2-2-7, Bean 1-0-2, Willis, Pollock, Schlipstein
Rebounds- 30
Free throws- 10-13
Three-point goals- Allen 5, Burns, Libby
Turnovers- 20
Dexter forward Will Kusnierz had 25 points Tuesday night against Central and was named the Eastern Maine Sports Media Bangor Savings Bank Player of the Game. Photo courtesy of Zach White
