Following two losses to Orono during the regular season, the Presque Isle Wildcats got a third chance to finally get a victory Tuesday — this time with a trip to the tournament on the line.
The hosts took advantage behind a defensive scheme that bewildered the Red Riots throughout, and it added up to an impressive 43-30 triumph in the Class B North preliminary playoff round.
The Wildcats played a 1-1-3 zone to cover up the high post and limit the touches of center Ellie Sockabasin. She was held to four points, all coming in the third quarter. Presque Isle also rebounded well on the defensive end to prevent second chance opportunities.
PI jumped out in front 10-0 on a pair of 3-pointers by Madison Jandreau and a couple inside hoops by Madison Michaud. Orono’s Lauren Melanson hit a 3 for her team’s first points just before the first period ended. Michaud’s pesky defense created some early turnovers and set the tone for the remainder of the game.
“I was really happy with the way we worked on defense and executed,” said PI coach Jeff Hudson.
Orono made a couple of runs, but PI was able to stay in front throughout. Michaud scored 13 points as the Wildcats’ leading scorer, while Jandreau netted four 3-pointers for 12 more points.
Presque Isle, the seventh seed, improved to 11-8 and now matches up with No. 2 Hermon in the quarterfinal round on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 9:05 a.m. at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
Orono, ranked 10th in the division, ended up at 5-14. Melanson and Izzy Baker scored seven points each for the Red Riots.
In other girls’ prelim action involving teams from the region, host Fort Fairfield outscored Penquis by a 23-10 margin in the second quarter and went on to pick up a 62-58 win.
Three players reached double figures for the Tigers, the seventh-ranked team in Class C North. Cammi King-DeMerchant led the way with 19 points, while Kourtney West posted 13 and Riley Clough tossed in 10 more.
Fort Fairfield’s record improved to 15-4 and the No. 7 Tigers now face No. 2 Dexter in the quarterfinals at 11:05 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20.
Katelyn Bolstride led Penquis of Milo, which wrapped up its season at 10-9 as the 10th seed, with 18 points. Camryn Rolfe netted 13 points and Sydney Fowles 11.
The Washburn girls also used a big second quarter in their 43-35 triumph over Wisdom in a Class D prelim. The eighth-Beavers, which hosted the game, broke a tie game after the first period by outscoring the Pioneers, 13-5, heading into halftime.
Kassandra Farley was the leading scorer for No. 8 Washburn with 18 points, while Emma Johnston, Kyli Farley and Raegyn Chavez tallied six apiece.
“We went 11 for 16 on free throws and kept our composure down the stretch,” said second-year coach Jon Poisson, whose team was eliminated in the prelim round last year by Jonesport-Beals. “It feels amazing to be honest. These girls worked so hard all year and they deserve it.”
Wisdom, ranked ninth, completed the season with a 6-13 mark. Emma Chamberland and Abigail Lermon led the Pioneer attack with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Washburn will now play Southern Aroostook, the top seed, on Monday, Feb. 18 at 8:35 p.m. in the tourney quarterfinals.
