On Thursday evening at a raucous Howland gym, the Mattanawcook Academy Lynx boys basketball team moved to 2-0 on the young season with a 57-53 victory over a tough, scrappy Penobscot Valley Howlers team.
The Lynx came out hot taking a 22-12 first quarter lead thanks to the hot perimeter shooting (7-10 on three-pointers) of sophomore forward Andrew Oliver. Oliver paced the MA attack with 23 points on the evening. The Howlers fought back occasion after occasion to keep the score within a close margin.
The Lynx were able to keep separation throughout the contest paced by balanced scoring from freshman guard Kooper McCarthy’s solid all-around performance (13 points/three rebounds/six assists/four steals), James Trott (eight points) and the work on the glass by Carter Milner (six points/six rebounds). McCarthy hit three key free throws in crunch time. Avery Jordan added four points, and freshman forward True Weatherbee had three to round out the scoring.
For PVHS (1-2), Colin Harding was a tough inside presence with 16 points and Colin Dunn added 12.
In the junior varsity contest, the MA squad of Coach Brett Crocker also moved to 2-0 with a solid 54-31 victory.
Lynx standouts were True Weatherbee with an efficient 19 points, and freshman Jacoby Savage with 11 points (three 3-pointers) and solid floor leadership.
The Lynx host Penquis Valley High School of Milo on Saturday, December 16th (12/1:30 JV/V) start times. PVHS also plays Saturday at Calais (12 JV/1:30 V).
