GUILFORD– The Central Red Devils held on for a 52-48 win over Piscataquis Community High School (PCHS) despite Pirates senior Kobe Gilbert reaching the 1000 career point mark with 4:14 remaining in the fourth quarter.
PCHS held the lead until Lucas Gustin put in a basket with 1:14 left in the first quarter. Buddy Hutchins evened the score at 14 for the Pirates, before Simon Allen gave the Red Devils a 16-14 lead to end the first quarter.
Allen scored all 11 of the Red Devils in the second quarter as they held the slim 27-26 lead heading into halftime. Allen scored 18 of his team high 32 points in the first half. Gilbert scored 15 of his 32 in the first 16 minutes.
Allen scored eight points in the third quarter as the Red Devils held a 44-43 lead heading into the final frame. Gilbert put in 12 in the quarter to keep the Pirates very much in the game.
The fourth quarter started with a defensive battle, Central got the lead up to 46-43 on an Allen basket. Gilbert’s bucket that put him in elite company cut the Pirates deficit to 46-45. He joins Ken Thomas (1966), Mike Graf (1983), Buddy Leavitt (2001), and his older brother Bryce Gilbert (2018) as the only players in PCHS history to reach the 1000 point mark.
Allen got four points down the stretch, including two free throws that secured the win for the Red Devils.
Gilbert led the Pirates with 32 points, 16 rebounds, and three assists. Scott Chadbourne had seven points and three rebounds. Christian Easler recorded four points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Matt Chadbourne had three points, while Buddy Hutchins and Matt Robinson chipped in with two points each. PCHS shot 8-9 from the free throw line. PCHS (5-6) will end the regular season on Thursday against Greenville. Eastern Maine Sports Media will have live coverage starting at 4:45 PM. The Pirates will also host Greenville in the opening round of the Penquis League Covid Cup next Monday.
Allen led the Red Devils with 32 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Bryce Burns added 10 points and eight rebounds. Will Libby added seven points and five rebounds. The Red Devils shot 4-9 from the free throw line. Central (5-6) will play Penquis on Thursday. The teams will meet again in a semifinal game next Wednesday, with the winner of Thursday’s game hosting that Covid Cup contest.
