DEXTER, Me- Sophomore guard Peyton Grant knocked down two key jumpers in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, as the Dexter Tigers slipped past the Penobscot Valley High School Howlers 27-24 in a Maine Principals’ Association Class C North girls basketball game at Ed Guiski gymnasium.
In a battle of unbeaten teams, the two squads battled closely all evening with neither team holding more than a two point lead in the first half. The score was tied 9-9 after the opening eight minutes, and PVHS held an 18-16 halftime lead behind 13 first half points from Lexi Ireland. Dexter (4-0) held down Ireland in the second half however, and also scored the first seven points of the third quarter on a three pointer by Grant and buckets for both Avery Herrick and Abigail Wakefield for a 23-18 lead, which was the largest lead of the entire ballgame. The Tigers held the visiting Howlers to just one point in the third to take a 23-19 lead to the final stanza.
PVHS (4-1) tied the game in the fourth quarter on the strength of a Laney Harding three pointer, before the two baskets from Grant proved to be the difference with the Howlers also shooting 2-6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter and 3-10 in the second half. Two late turnovers by Dexter in the final 30 seconds of the game still gave PVHS a chance, but a three pointer with 1.5 seconds left came up short and the Tigers remained unbeaten.
Ireland finished with 14 points (1 pt in second half) and also grabbed 14 rebounds for PVHS. Grant had 13 points for Dexter, while Herrick added 12 points and seven rebounds. Both teams return to action with home games on Friday, as Dexter hosts Mattanawcook Academy while PVHS welcomes in Lee Academy.
Box score:
PVHS 9 9 1 5- 24
DEXT 9 7 7 4- 27
PVHS (24)
L. Ireland 4-6-14, King 1-0-3, Harding 1-0-3, St. Cyr 1-0-2, E. Ireland 0-1-1, McKechnie 0-1-1, Carson
3 pt goals: Harding, King
Dexter (27)
Grant 5-1-13, Herrick 3-6-12, Wakefield 1-0-2, Beem, Mountain, Cummings, Deering
3 pt goals: Grant 2
Free throws: PVHS 8-16, Dexter 7-9
Rebounds- PVHS 25, Dexter 15
Turnovers- PVHS 15, Dexter 13
