GUILFORD- With the season on line for the Penobscot Valley High School (PVHS) Howlers girls basketball team, a freshman put the team on her back.
Alexis Ireland recorded 17 points, 17 rebounds, and five steals to lead the Howlers to a 39-38 win over the Piscataquis Community High School on Friday night.
The Howlers needed a win to qualify for the class C North tournament. It didn’t look good when they were down 30-18 late in the third quarter. PVHS (8-10) scored the last six points of the third quarter. They kept the momentum into the fourth quarter.
Ireland scored 12 points in the fourth quarter, including giving the Howlers their only lead with 4.2 seconds remaining, when she made one of two from the free throw line. PCHS had a shot before the final buzzer, but their three pointer missed.
Erin Speed led the Pirates with 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Alivia Hunt recorded nine points, five rebounds, and two assists. Sara Almirante added nine points, eight steals, four rebounds, and two assists. Bailey Lemieux and Olivia Riitano scored two points each. PCHS (14-4) finishes as the number three seed in class C North. They will play a quarterfinal on Wednesday, February 22nd at the Cross Insurance Center at 9:35 AM.
Judy King scored nine points (3 three pointers) for the Howlers, Leine Mckechnie added seven points (all in the second half), Brianna Moon put in four points, while Elizabeth McKinnon chipped in with two points. PVHS will travel to Calais for a prelim game on Tuesday.
