PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Julianna Morningstar was a key component in the Presque Isle girls basketball team’s undefeated regular season, providing plenty of scoring off the bench in helping her team to the top seed in the Aroostook League Class B/C playoffs.
On Friday, in the semifinals against Fort Fairfield, the senior once again gave the ‘Cats a much-needed lift.
The Tigers built a 14-8 lead after a strong first quarter, with sophomore Kassidy Gorneault hitting on a couple tough drives to the basket and senior Kourtney West also contributing a pair of layups as FF displayed a patient offense and took advantage of PI’s cold shooting.
Enter Morningstar, who sparked an 18-2 run the following period with nine points as PI grabbed a 26-16 lead and came away with the 57-41 triumph.
The Wildcats are now 14-0 on the season and faces No. 2 Houlton (8-4) Monday in the Division I championship at Presque Isle High School. The Shires had moved on following a 56-22 home victory over Central Aroostook Friday. Three of the Shires four losses on the year are to Presque Isle.
“I thought Julianna making shots in the second quarter was key,” said Wildcat coach Jeff Hudson. “We were struggling making anything, but she came through.”
Morningstar, playing her first season on the varsity squad, finished the game with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.Junior Sadie LaPointe, another PI reserve, turned in a strong outing with nine points and Hudson said LaPointe and senior guard Jenna Sargent (six points) played important roles in the third quarter when Fort Fairfield cut the margin back to five points (30-25) on a Gorneault hoop with 4:40 to play.
“Those two gave us a lift both on offense and defense,” Hudson said. The Wildcats scored the final eight points of the quarter to stretch the lead to 13 and were never threatened in the fourth.
Presque Isle junior Faith Sjoberg netted 11 points as the focal point of the Tigers’ defense, with FF junior Eva Callioras excelling in her assignment of covering PI’s top scorer in the box-and-one defensive alignment.
Coach Larry Gardner’s Tigers, who finished with a 7-7 record, were led by West, who provided 15 points and 14 rebounds in the final game of her career. Gorneault tallied 10 points and Camryn Ala posted eight.
“It was a tough, tough win and we are glad to survive and advance,” said Hudson.
