At Calais Tuesday, Penobscot Valley led only twice in the entire game and one of those times was 2-0 in the early going. Luckily for them the second and final time they had a lead in the contest was during the final 4.7 seconds, as they came back to top the Blue Devils 35-33.
It was a very deliberate game offensively by both teams early on as PVHS bided their time on one end, while the Blue Devils spaced the floor and held the ball near the division line at times to try and spread the defense out on the other end. With a 9-4 lead, Calais waited for the last shot of the first quarter and Chayden Newell knocked down a corner three-pointer for a 12-4 advantage. Even though the Howlers outscored the Blue Devils 13-9 in the second, they found themselves in a four point deficit at the break.
After playing even in the third, Penobscot Valley made just enough plays in the fourth to get within striking distance. Down by two, Drouin Brochu hit a pull-up 15 foot jumper to tie the game. After a few empty possessions by both teams, Ryan Dawson caught a pass at the high post, took two quick dribbles to back down his defender, and finished his shot while being fouled with 4.7 seconds left for the 35-33 lead. After the missed free throw, the last second shot attempt by Calais from halfcourt fell short.
In this low-scoring game, Dawson led all scorers with 10 points on the night. Chase Osgood finished with eight points while going 5-6 from the free throw line. Other PVHS scoring came from Darius Miranda with seven, Noah Austin with six, and Brochu and Aiden Champion with two each. The Howlers have won five in a row and have a record of 9-6 with Class C powerhouse Mattanawcook Academy coming to Howland to face them on Thursday.
The Blue Devils had seven players record points. Newell and Zach LaCoote scored six a piece, five each from Issac Downing, Parker Cole and Frank Miliano, four from John Bassett, and two from Liam Travis. Calais dropped to 5-9 and will travel to Washington Academy Thursday.
Photo from a PVHS game earlier this season courtesy of Stacey Feldmus Photography
