BAR HARBOR, Maine — Rossalyn Buck was making just her second career start Thursday, but her spectacular performance helped carry the Presque Isle Wildcats to a victory on the road over one of the strongest teams in the Big East Conference.
The junior was 9 for 14 from the floor, including 5 of 9 from 3-point land, scoring 23 points to go along with six rebounds and four blocked shots. The effort helped Presque Isle to a 54-46 win over the Mount Desert Island Trojans.
“It was a huge win for us on the road two days before Christmas,” Presque Isle coach Jeff Hudson said. “You never know how kids will play at that time and we showed up ready to prove a point.”
The Wildcats, now 2-1, next play home games against Bucksport (Tuesday at 3 p.m.) and Ellsworth (Saturday at 3 p.m.) sandwiching an away contest at Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference opponent Winslow Thursday at noon.
Presque Isle’s Faith Sjoberg (right) guards against MDI’s Olivia Gray (left) during a basketball game on Tuesday. Presque Isle won 54-46. (Courtesy of Walter Churchill)
Against MDI, junior Anna Jandreau contributed 11 points and senior Faith Sjoberg added 10 to complement Buck’s performance. As a team, PI was a scorching 10 of 21 from 3-point land.
“Rossalyn played the game of her life and Anna and Faith had their usual steady contributions,” Hudson said. “But we also received key performances from the other starters – Jorja Maynard (6 points and 2 steals) and Courtney Kane (4 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals) – so it was a great team win.”
Elizabeth Jones scored 12 points and Mollie Gray added 11 for the Trojans, who suffered their first loss after a 3-0 start. The PI defense held MDI’s top scorers, Olivia Gray and Elena Alderman, to a combined 12 points.
“Hopefully we have some confidence going forward,” Hudson said. “We have a lot we can get better at, but that was a big win.”
Presque Isle’s Jorja Maynard prepares to take a shot during a basketball game against MDI on Thursday. Presque Isle won 54-46. (Courtesy of Walter Churchill)
