ORONO- Ben Francis and Pierce Walston combined for 18 points in the third quarter on Friday night finishing with 24 and 22 points respectively, as the Orono Red Riots would score 29 points in total in a decisive third period in pulling away for a 74-52 victory over the Foxcroft Academy Ponies in a Class B North boys basketball matchup played at Orono High School.
Foxcroft (9-4) had one lead in the game very early on. After Walston opened things up with a basket, Caden Crocker hit a three-pointer for the only Ponies advantage. Orono went on an 8-0 run on a layup and three-pointer by Ben Francis, and then a Walston three to make it 13-5 as they led 17-13 after one quarter. The Red Riots extended their lead to 25-15 in the second, but seven points in the period by Adam Conner kept the guests within striking distance at 32-26 at the halftime break.
Fernando Oliveira got Foxcroft the closest they would be the rest of the way by opening the third quarter with a basket on a nice move down low to slice the deficit to four. Orono exploded after that, as Walston and Ben Francis scored nine points each and Ellis Spaulding added five more as the advantage would grow to 22 late in the period as the Red Riots outscored the Ponies 29-16 and led by 19 heading to the final eight minutes. The lead would go to as much as 29 in the fourth quarter, as Orono (13-2) bounced back after John Bapst upset them in overtime on Tuesday.
Ben Francis finished with a game high 24 points in the win (4 three-pointers). Walston filled up the stat sheet with 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Spaulding also finished in double figures with 10 points and five rebounds. Also in the scorebook for Orono was Brady Hews with six points, Will Francis with five points and seven rebounds, Noah Schaff, Mason Kenney, Sebastian Vanidestine with two points each, and Luke Soctomah had a free throw for one point. The Red Riots next game is a road trip Wednesday to Houlton to battle the Shiretowners. Foxcroft was led by Jaden Richard and Crocker who both had 11 points and five rebounds. Conner finished with nine points, while Oliveira, Wyatt Rayfield, and Silas Topolski all had five points. Rounding out the scoring for the Ponies was Devin Henderson with three points, Cameron Chase with two, and Ivan Mutafchiev who had a free throw for one point. Foxcroft next plays on Monday on the road at the Cross Insurance Center against John Bapst.
Recap/photos/videos by Chris Lessner
FOX (9-4) 13 13 16 10- 52
ORO (13-2) 17 15 29 13- 74
Rebounds- Foxcroft 27, Orono 32
Free throws- Foxcroft 10-21, Orono 12-21
Three-pointers- Foxcroft: Crocker 2, Richard, Conner, Topolski, Henderson/ Orono: Ben Francis 4, Spaulding 2, Hews 2, Will Francis, Walston
Video- Orono head coach Ed Kohtala and players Ben Francis along with Pierce Walston postgame interview after a 74-52 win over Foxcroft Academy on Friday night
