State champs have dominant debut
Boys barely hold off Hawks
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE — The defending state champs made it look easy and the boys survived a late scare, but both Wildcat basketball teams came away with victories over the visiting Hermon Hawks in their season-opening contests Saturday afternoon.
SENIOR KARLEE BERNIER 
of the Presque Isle Wildcats sees an opening to the basket past Hermon’s Jenna Crouse during Saturday’s home contest. Bernier was one of five PI players in double figures with 12 points as the ’Cats defeated the Hawks, 82-43.
Five players hit for double figures in points as the PI girls bolted out to a 29-point halftime lead en route to an 82-43 win.
“We talked about game one being a message maker, either good or bad, and I think we certainly sent one to the rest of Eastern Maine that we are still here,” said Wildcat coach Jeff Hudson. “Hermon is a good team that played pretty well offensively, but they were no match for us.”
The Hawks’ Raychel Alley, last year’s co-player of the year in the Big East, scored the game’s first points, but PI went on a 16-4 run over the next 4:26 to take control. Four different players contributed to the run, with sophomore Hannah Graham taking advantage of her first start with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, Karlee Bernier nailing a three and a layup, Chandler Guerrette scoring on a pair of drives to the basket and Megan Ireland scoring on a fast-break layup.
Graham finished with 12 points in the quarter as PI led 26-15 after eight minutes. The ’Cats broke the game open by scoring the first 11 points of the second quarter. Frontcourt players Krystal Kingsbury, Regan Nelson and Meredith Stewart, were all part of the flurry.
“We had too many weapons,” said Hudson, whose 11 players all saw action in both halves. “I thought we moved the ball really well on offense and made shots.
“Our guards set the tone on both ends of the court and we got contributions from players off the bench.”
Graham finished with 19 points, Guerrette had 15, Bernier 12 and Stewart and Kingsbury 11 each for the winners, who next play at home against Fort Kent Thursday.
Hudson said Tuesday afternoon that Stewart, who broke her nose in practice last Wednesday, is having surgery and could be out until after Christmas.
Alley had 16 points to lead Hermon.
The second game of the doubleheader was more of a grinder, but coach Terry Cummings’ Wildcats took advantage of a 32-15 run which began early in the second quarter and ended earlier in the fourth which turned a one-point deficit into a 16-point lead. The team settled for a 54-49 win.
Keying the rally was the play of 6-foot-8 junior center Bradley Shields, who dominated with his interior defense, strong offensive play on the low post and accurate foul shooting en route to a 17-point, seven-rebound performance.
Also playing a part was the defense played by PI’s guards. Ben Nickerson made a big steal at the end of the first half, while Jacob Williams collected three thefts over the first few minutes of the third quarter. The Wildcats scored 10 unanswered points during a 1:36 stretch just after intermission. Shields and Jonah Stephenson each converted conventional three-point plays as part of the run.
BIG MAN — Presque Isle Wildcats’ junior center Bradley Shields prepares to go up for a shot during the third period of the game held at Presque Isle High School Saturday afternoon. 
The hosts prevailed over the Hermon Hawks, 54-49, behind Shields’ 17-point effort.
“Our guys rose to the challenge and opened up the lead,” Cummings said.
It was important as the Wildcats struggled against Hermon’s full-court pressure in the fourth quarter. Facing their largest deficit at 44-28 with 7:50 to play in the game, the Hawks cranked up the defense and found themselves trailing by just four with 2:30 to play.
Hermon had a chance to draw even closer, but Cody Lyford, another one of PI’s young guards, picked up a big steal and made the ensuing layup to increase the lead to six. Corey Willette, Stephenson and Lyford combined to hit four of six foul shots over the final two minutes to hold off the Hawks.
“It was definitely a little dicey at the end, but a great learning experience for our guys,” Cummings said.
Tyler Brooks had 12 points and six rebounds, Willette six rebounds and Stephenson six assists for the winners. Tyler Thayer and Fritz Marseille netted 13 points each for the Hawks.
The Wildcats face Cummings’ alma mater and the defending EM Class C runners-up Houlton Shiretowners at home tonight beginning at 7 p.m.
