PI knocks off state champions

PI knocks off state champions

    BANGOR — For about a week, Presque Isle coach Jeff Hudson wondered how his young squad would handle the pressure of playing at the Bangor Auditorium. 

    Would the Wildcats with their mostly freshmen and sophomore lineup be able to handle the jitters of playing on the big stage? Could Presque Isle find a way past a team that had won three consecutive state titles?
    If Saturday’s performance was any indication, Presque Isle answered those questions and also sent a message to the rest of the Eastern Class B playoff squads that these Wildcats are the real deal.
    No. 1 Presque Isle (18-1 overall) dominated on both ends of the floor Saturday en route to a 52-37 victory over No. 8 Waterville (12-8).
    Presque Isle plays No. 4 Nokomis (15-4) Wednesday (tonight) at 8:30 p.m. That game will be televised on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network (PBS). Presque Isle did not face Nokomis during the regular season, nor did the two teams play a common opponent.
    In Saturday’s game, Wildcat freshman Chandler Guerrette poured in 26 points to lead the Wildcats to victory. Guerrette’s points came in all fashions as she showed she could drill shots from the perimeter or just as easily take the ball to the hoop against much taller opponents.
    Jen Nale paced Waterville with 14 points, while Taylor Frame added 13.
    Despite coming in as the No. 1 seed, Presque Isle was viewed by some as underdogs going into Saturday’s game with Waterville.
    “We were tired of hearing we were underdogs,” coach Hudson said. “Everyone would tell us, ‘Oh too bad you have to play Waterville.’ Well, we took it to them. We played to win. Right from that first quarter, we set the tone.”
    Guerrette opened the scoring for the Wildcats when she drove to the basket for a layup after Presque Isle recovered the opening tip. Waterville, which never held a lead in Saturday’s game, quickly answered and the two teams went on a furious scoring pace in the opening quarter, closing out the period with Presque Isle on top 18-12.
    The scoring pace slowed considerably in the second quarter, but still swung in favor of PI as the Wildcats outscored Waterville 5-4. The only field goal for PI in the quarter came when fellow freshman Meredith Stewart spotted Guerrette streaking to the basket for a back-door layup. PI’s other three points came via free throws.
    Leading 23-16 at the break, Presque Isle came out red hot to start the second half, outscoring Waterville 15-4 to take a commanding 38-20 lead. The bulk of that scoring came from Guerrette, who tallied 12 of her 26 points in the quarter as she connected on a pair of 3-pointers, two jumpers and two free throws. Elizabeth Kofstad also knocked down a 3-pointer in the period.
    “After halftime, we realized we were not attacking the basket enough,” Guerrette said. “Coach says to always look to score first. So I try to drive to the basket for a layup, and if I can’t get that I try to kick it out.”
    Waterville was never able to mount a run at Presque Isle in the final quarter as the Wildcats held a comfortable lead.
    Earlier in the week, Hudson admitted his team seemed nervous in practice. But as the week progressed, his squad seemed more comfortable with its role coming into the game.
    “I don’t think they looked scared once,” Hudson said.
    “I was anxious at first, but it got better once I got on the floor,” Guerrette said. “It was pretty intense.”
    Hudson said his game plan was simple. Try to stop Nale from getting easy baskets.
    “She’s a great player, but I thought Chelsea Nickerson did a great job on her,” he said. “I thought we did a great job defending her.”
    Saturday’s game marked the first time this season that Presque Isle used a box-and-one style defense, instead of its typical man-to-man sets.
    Presque Isle made 10 of 21 free throws (48 percent), while Waterville converted just one of six foul shots (17 percent).

Staff photo/Joseph Cyr

    PRESQUE ISLE’S Kayla Richards drives to the baseline past Waterville’s Cara Rousseau during Saturday’s Eastern Class B quarterfinal. The Wildcats rolled to a 52-37 victory. 

Staff photo/Joseph Cyr

    TOUGH FROSH – Chandler Guerrette tallied 26 points in PI’s win over Waterville Saturday.