Quick start keys PI girls to win
By Joseph Cyr
Sports Editor
BANGOR — After watching the Presque Isle boys get eliminated from the tournament with an upset to Gardiner the night before, the Wildcat girls were not about to let a similar feat take place Saturday afternoon at the Bangor Auditorium.
Staff photo/Joseph Cyr
OFF BALANCED SHOT — Presque Isle’s Chandler Guerrette, left, goes in for an off-balanced layup as Gardiner’s Taylor Bannister defends.
Wildcats 48
Tigers 27
No. 1 Presque Isle (18-1 overall) scored early and often as the Wildcats defeated No. 8 Gardiner (12-7) 48-27 in a game that was essentially over in the first quarter. With the win, Presque Isle advances to the semifinals where it will face No. 4 Nokomis (17-2) Wednesday at 3:35 p.m. Nokomis beat No. 5 Mount Desert Island 69-33 in the quarterfinals.
The Wildcats do not play Nokomis during the regular season, nor do they share a common opponent. However, it was Nokomis who knocked top-ranked Presque Isle out of the tournament in the semifinals a year ago, 41-35.
“I thought the whole first half we played awesome,” Presque Isle coach Jeff Hudson said. “We were very quick and attacked the basket when we needed to. I thought Gardiner looked a little nervous early and we took advantage of that.”
Hudson said his team is extremely focused, having been to the Auditorium before, and was eager for the chance to face Nokomis again.
“We’ll show up and be ready for them,” he said. “We have to finish the game. You can’t shoot 12 for 29 from the line [like the Wildcats did against Gardiner] and expect to beat Nokomis. They are the best team in the tournament.”
Against Gardiner, Meredith Stewart led the Wildcats with 12 points, most of which came in the first two quarters. Karlee Bernier added 11 points; Chandler Guerrette and Kayla Richards, each had nine; Megan Ireland, five; and Liza Buck, two.
For Gardiner, Jenna Moore had eight points; Kate McAllister, six; Carly Pelletier, five; Kylee Graham, four; and Taylor Banister and Camden Cone, each had two.
EYES ON THE HOOP — Wildcat Chelsea Nickerson drives to the basket during Saturday’s quarterfinal win over Gardiner.
“I thought Meredith played big today,” Hudson said. “She drew a lot of fouls and took the ball to the basket.”
Presque Isle roared to an 8-0 lead in the first 2:30 of the game, prompting a quick timeout from Gardiner coach Mike Gray. That mattered little to the Wildcats who finished out the first quarter on top 20-3, including a pair of 3-pointers from Bernier, that set the tone for the rest of the game.
In the second quarter, the Wildcats kept up their defensive pressure, causing numerous Gardiner turnovers and converting them into open layups. Presque Isle led 33-8 at the half.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Wildcats suffered a brief scare as Guerrette came down gingerly on her ankle. She hobbled off the court and did not return, but Hudson said he expects her to be ready to go come Wednesday.
Assistant coach Ralph Michaud echoed those sentiments.
“You would have to cut her leg off to get her not to play,” Michaud said. “She is a true gym rat.”
Presque Isle made just 12 of 29 free throws (41 percent), while Gardiner converted one of five foul shots (20 percent).
TIGERS 3 5 9 10— 27
WILDCATS 20 13 11 4— 48
