Semifinal exit for Presque Isle boys
By Jon Gulliver
Staff writer
BANGOR — The Presque Isle Wildcats’ season came to an end in the semifinal round of the Eastern Maine Class B Tournament with a loss to the MDI Trojans on Wednesday.
The fifth-seeded Wildcats gave the top-ranked, and at the time undefeated, team in EM B all it could handle for much of the game, but in the final three minutes the Trojans took command and got Presque Isle out of sync to collect the win, 55-49. It was MDI’s third win over Presque Isle this season.
“We gave it our all and MDI was just a little bit better,” said first-year Wildcat coach Terry Cummings.
In the first half, Presque Isle’s 6-5 junior forward Tyler Brooks provided much of the team’s offense with a collection of baseline jumpers and spin moves in the lane. Brooks would score a game-high 21 points.
Bangor Daily News photo by Gabor Degre
IN A CROWD — Presque Isle’s Tyler Brooks looks to make a pass against MDI on Wednesday. Brooks was the leading scorer in the semifinal game with 22 points, but the Wildcats fell to the Trojans, 55-49. 
MDI senior forward Jason Burke was the spark that fueled the Trojans. He scored 18 points and also provided some strong defense and rebounding.
The Wildcats (15-6) actually took the lead, 42-40, on a short jump shot in the lane from Brooks with 6:40 left to go in the contest. Two buckets by Burke and one by MDI’s Ben Wall put the Trojans up for good.
“We missed a couple of free throws late and they took advantage,” said Cummings. “They didn’t panic.”
Presque Isle’s Wilder York added 13 points and Andrew Kofstad had eight points. Matt Eager, who was one of the Wildcats’ leading scorers this year, was held without a point until the final eight seconds of the game.
Cummings said, despite the loss, this season exceeded his expectations.
“To get to the semifinals this year is a tribute to a group of guys that came together and always gave their all in every game,” he said. “The improvement from the beginning of the season until the end was very evident to all Wildcat fans and to many others throughout eastern Maine.”
The coach also thanked his six seniors — York, Eager, Kofstad, Cole Richards, Logan Good and Andrew Cash, for their hard work this season.
Cummings added he is already excited for next basketball season.
“The nucleus we have coming back next season, led by Brooks, promises to provide Wildcat fans with another exciting year of basketball,” he said.
PRESQUE ISLE (49)
Richards 0-1 0-0 0, York 4-12 2-2 13, Stephenson 1-2 0-0 3, Good 1-2 0-0 2, Eager 1-5 0-2 2, Brooks 8-13 5-7 21, Kofstad 3-11 0-0 8. Totals 18-49 7-11 49.
MDI (55)
Phelps 0, Shaw 2-8 1-4 6, Mooers 1-1 0-0 2, MacDonald 2-4 0-1 4, Walls 4-8 3-4 13, Gray 5-7 2-2 12, Burke 9-15 0-0 18. Totals 23-43 6-11 55.
Presque Isle 13-13-14-9 — 49
MDI 17-11-13-13 — 55
