By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
The Presque Isle Wildcats’ basketball teams had a successful homestand Thursday and Saturday as they collected sweeps over both John Bapst and Foxcroft Academy. The victories were especially important for coach Terry Cummings’ boys, who entered the contests with an 0-3 record. The two wins by the PI girls ran their season record to 6-0 and increased their overall winning streak to 50 games.
Both squads will take an overnight trip this weekend, with games Friday at Ellsworth and Saturday at Mount Desert Island.
Summaries of games involving local teams played Dec. 17-21 are as follows:
Presque Isle girls 75, Foxcroft 35 — Six players scored seven points or more as the Wildcats grabbed a 17-3 lead at the end of the first quarter and cruised past the Ponies Saturday afternoon.
Hannah Graham drained four three-pointers and had a game-high 18 points, while Krystal Kingsbury, despite sitting out most of the first half due to foul trouble, netted 15 more. Regan Nelson (11), Olivia Hudson (nine), Emma Kinney (eight) and Taylor Williams (seven) also figured heavily in the PI attack.
Brianne Skolfield was Foxcroft’s lone double-figure scorer with 12 points.
Presque Isle boys 65, Foxcroft 49 — Karson Eaton and Bradley Shields turned in solid all-around performances to lift PI past Foxcroft Saturday.
Eaton posted 16 points, eight rebounds and six assists and Shields had 15 points, nine blocked shots and eight boards to lead the Wildcats. Drew Bates (nine points and seven rebounds), Cody Lyford (nine points and six boards) and Michael Boone (nine points and six assists) were other Wildcat statistical leaders.
Hunter Smith scored 33 points as the Ponies’ primary offensive weapon.
Presque Isle girls 79, John Bapst 29 — The Wildcats prevailed with ease Thursday as well behind Kingsbury’s 19 points, Williams’ 14 and Graham’s 11. Nelson added nine for the victors.
Presque Isle boys 54, John Bapst 40 — Presque Isle earned its first victory of the season Thursday behind a balanced offense. Boone scored 11 to lead the charge, with Bates contributing 10 and Shields nine to go along with nine rebounds and nine blocked shots. Lyford netted eight points to go along with five assists.
Cody Lyons scored 15 points to pace the winless (0-4) Crusaders.
Ashland girls 48, Wisdom 25 — As part of a Saturday doubleheader at home against the Pioneers of St. Agatha, the Hornets picked up their second consecutive victory after an 0-3 start, with Marissa Chasse’s 22 points leading the way.
Caitlin Paradis had 13 for the Hornets, which used a 14-2 run in the second quarter to grab a comfortable lead at halftime.
Fort Fairfield girls 43, Easton 31 — In a defensive struggle Friday at Fort Fairfield, the Tigers proved to be a little too much for the Bears, stopping Easton’s three-game winning streak.
Teresa Maynard was the lone player in the game in double figures in scoring as she totaled 11. Whitney McNamee added eight for Fort.
Mariah Cyr, Kalie Ward and Cassandra Buck scored seven points apiece for Easton.
Washburn girls 67, Wisdom 11 — The Beavers, still without junior standout guard Mackenzie Worcester, made easy work of the Pioneers Thursday with Carsyn Koch scoring a season-high 15 points and Carmen Bragg putting in 14 more to lead the way.
The stifling Beaver defense kept Wisdom off the scoreboard until 2:55 left in the first half. Nicole Olson had nine points and Emilia Churchill eight for the winners.
Fort Kent girls 45, Central Aroostook 41 — The Warriors held off a late charge by the Panthers to record the road win Thursday.
Chelsey Plourde scored 13 points and Lauren Doak had 11 for FK.
Molly Anthony notched a game-high 14 to pace the Panthers, while Karli Levesque and Marissa Anthony added 11 and eight, respectively.
Ashland girls 51, Madawaska 43 — The Hornets provided Whitney Flint with her first career varsity coaching victory last Wednesday, led by the tandem of Paradis (19 points) and Cassidy Pelletier (14).
Fort Kent girls 32, Fort Fairfield 26 — In a defensive struggle at Fort Fairfield last Tuesday, the Warriors outscored the Tigers as Plourde was the lone player in double digits in points with 11. Megan Jellison’s six was tops for FF.
