DEXTER- All five Dexter starters scored on Friday night, culminating in a 33-24 Class C boys basketball win for the Tigers in the regular season opener over Penquis at Ed Guiski Gymnasium. It also marked a change on the sidelines, as Matt Bartlett coached his first game since taking over for Peter Murray who retired in the offseason. Bartlett becomes just the third boys basketball coach in the history of Dexter Regional High School.
Dexter never trailed, and used a 7-0 first quarter run to take a 10-3 lead capped off by a three point play by Zak Adams and had a 13-7 advantage after the opening eight minutes. A very low scoring second period saw just a total of six points, as the Tigers took a 17-9 lead into halftime. Junior guard Brenan Grant tried to keep Penquis in the game, as he scored nine of the Patriots 11 points in the third quarter including a three-pointer to keep them within striking distance at 19-16. Two big baskets by Will Spratt pushed the Dexter lead back to seven, and the Tigers led 25-20 heading to the fourth. Grant hit a pair of free throws to cut it to 28-24 with six minutes to play, but a three-pointer by Bryce Cooper with 4:50 remaining and a fastbreak layup by Kody Kimball put it away for the hosts.
Spratt led Dexter in the win with nine points. Ethan Doherty had six points, eight rebounds, and two blocked shots. Cooper also had six points and added three rebounds and four steals. Also scoring for the Tigers was Adams with five points, Kimball with four, and Kellen Peavey with three points. They shot 3-9 from the foul line. Grant led Penquis in the loss with a game-high 18 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Damion Drake chipped in four points, and freshman Brodie Lovejoy had two points and five rebounds. They shot 2-2 from the line. The Tigers outrebounded the Patriots 24-14. Dexter returns to action on Tuesday when they host PCHS (Guilford), and Penquis plays at home on Thursday against Lee Academy.
Recap by Chris Lessner/File photo courtesy of Lisa Prescott
