The Penobscot Valley boys went into their Friday night contest not exactly pleased with their performance in their game two days prior. In a nine point road loss on Wednesday, they committed 28 turnovers and allowed 16 offensive rebounds which combined to led to 25 points for their opponent.
Friday they came out with a renewed focus and energy, and it showed from the opening tip-off as the Howlers raced out to a 30-2 lead en route to a 56-31 win against Stearns.
Balanced scoring in the first quarter gave PVHS a 14-2 cushion, with four points a piece from Gabe Reed, three from Nate Scharff, two from Caleb Moon and Kaden Loring, and a free throw by Colin Harding. Jack Morris got Stearns on the board with a basket. Scharff had six points in the second quarter to help extend the lead, as did four from Reed and Moon and two from Harding which brought the score to 30-2 with about a minute left. It was 30-6 at the half.
There was no let down in the 3rd for Penobscot Valley as the senior Reed led the charge with seven points, including a traditional 3-point play. Isaac Doore, Loring, and Scharff also scored during the quarter. Caleb Shearer hit 2 three’s, while Ethan Plourde and Aidan Sanders chipped in with four and two respectively. The fourth quarter saw the Minutemen outscore the Howlers by three, with Shearer leading the way once again with eight points. Freshman Ryan Dawson closed out the scoring on the night for PVHS with a pair of free throws and his first varsity points.
The Howlers saw three players reach double figures in points with Reed and Scharff scoring 15 each, and Moon netting 10. Scharff also hauled down eight rebounds, as did Loring who also contributed six points. Other scorers on the night included Harding (5), Doore (3), and Dawson (2). PVHS now sits at 3-5 on the season, and hosts 5-1 Schenck on Monday who is currently in second place in Class D North.
The Minutemen were paced by the junior Shearer who had a game-high 18 points, and also received scoring from Plourde (6), Sanders (5), and Morris (2). Stearns heads to East Corinth to face Central on Monday.
Recap by Chris Lessner with information provided by PVHS coach Jeremy Durost
Gabe Reed goes up for a shot in a PVHS win over Stearns on Friday night in Howland. Photos are all courtesy of Feldmus Photography
