At Lee Saturday night, Penobscot Valley used a 16-2 run in the third quarter to overcome a hungry Lee Academy squad.
The Howlers jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead off a pair of Elijah Wood buckets and a 3-pointer from Grant Kidon. The Pandas responded by catching fire from deep. Four different Lee players nailed threes in quarter, including two by Sophomore Eain Allard. The teams battled to a 15-15 tie after the first, and then a deep contested 3 pointer by Lee’s Willie Hsu at the buzzer knotted the score up at 22 apiece at the half.
After a slow start for both teams in the third quarter, PVHS’ offense started clicking as they went on a 16-2 run, led by Kidon’s seven points. With a 14-point lead the game was anything but decided though, as Lee came out with intensity and a tough trapping defense in the fourth that kept them right in it. Hsu and Allard did their parts, scoring a combined 12 points in the quarter. It wasn’t enough however, as the Howlers got enough stops and made enough free throws down the stretch to secure the victory. Senior Brad Mckechnie knocked down 6 foul shots during the final frame.
Kidon led all scorers with 16 points and fellow Senior Wood tallied 11. Penobscot Valley had pretty good balance with their scoring in Bradon Blish (9), McKechnie (8), and Reece Carter (7). Carter also had 10 rebounds in the contest. The Howlers improve to 10-2 on the year, and currently sit in 6th place in the competitive Class C rankings. They will host Greenville on Tuesday.
Lee Academy was led by Allard’s 14 points and Hsu’s 13 points. The Pandas drop to 2-8, and have a 3-game home stretch starting with Penquis Valley on Monday.
