Foxcroft, Presque Isle split girls/boys basketball doubleheader

December 16, 2023

The Presque Isle Wildcats made the trip South to Dover-Foxcroft on Saturday afternoon to face the Foxcroft Academy Ponies in a girls/boys Class B basketball doubleheader. The day ended with a win for each school.

In the girls game- Presque Isle got a game-high 17 points from sophomore Jan Curtis and improved their record to 2-1 with a gritty 42-40 win over Foxcroft. The Ponies got off to a good start getting six first half points from Halle Page on a pair of three-pointers, and five points from Allie Smith as they led 19-14 at halftime. The third quarter ended up being the decisive period, as the Wildcats outscored the hosts 16-8 as Marion Young and Jan Curtis both had five points during the eight minutes.

It looked like Presque Isle had put the game away late, but Foxcroft got the benefit of a few turnovers to get back into it helped by three-point baskets by Addie Day, Sam Ossenfort, and Page. After the Ponies cut it to that 42-40 score on a free throw by Smith with eight seconds remaining, the Wildcats were able to inbound it after a timeout to Jan Curtis who dribbled out the clock to ice the win. Jan Curtis also added nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals to her point total including eight of her points in the fourth quarter. Nora Curtis had eight points and nine rebounds, while Addison Clairmont also put in eight points and had five rebounds. Also scoring in the victory was Marion Young with five points, 10 rebounds, and three steals, and Jorja Maynard with four points, eight rebounds, and three steals. For Foxcroft Academy (0-3), who was being coached by Faleesha Gaylord in the absence of Levi Ladd, they were led by Page who had 13 points (three 3-pointers) and three steals. Ossenfort finished with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Also chipping in for the Ponies was Day with seven points, Smith with six points, five rebounds, and three blocks, and Addison Conklin along with Kierstyn Nuite put in two points each. PI won the rebounding battle 41-24. The Wildcats went 10-16 from the free throw line, while FA went just 2-8. Presque Isle will host John Bapst on Tuesday, while Foxcroft plays at home against Hermon on Tuesday in a game that can be seen on Eastern Maine Sports Media with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.

In the boys game- Silas Topolski had 24 points and hit seven 3-pointers, lifting Foxcroft to a 57-40 win over Presque Isle. The Ponies got three 3-pointers in the first half from Shane Birungi off the bench, and would later pull away sparked by the play of Topolski who had 11 points with three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to help his team improve to 2-1 on the season.

Birungi finished with 13 points (four 3-pointers) and three rebounds in the win. Lucas Sands added nine points, five rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Also chipping in for Foxcroft was Jadon Richard with four points and four steals, Jackson Smith with three points and five rebounds, while Wyatt Rafield and Niska Jasovic each had a basket for two points a piece. Jack Buck had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss for 0-2 Presque Isle. Eli Mosher contributed 10 points and nine rebounds, Wyatt Young six points, while Brent Greenlaw had one point but also chipped in six rebounds and six steals. FA was 7-17 from the foul line, while PI went 4-11. Foxcroft returns to action on Thursday when they host Hermon in a game that can be seen on Eastern Maine Sports Media with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. Presque Isle plays next Friday at home against MDI.

Recaps by Chris Lessner