Terry Cummings went into the second half of the season figuring his Presque Isle boys’ basketball team was going to have to pull off an upset or two in order to secure a playoff berth.
Mission accomplished.
The Wildcats won three games last week, including one over the No. 6-ranked team in Eastern Maine Class B, Old Town.
Presque Isle is now 6-6 and at presstime Tuesday was in ninth place in the Heal Point rankings.
PI also recorded wins over Fort Kent and Foxcroft Academy and is now getting ready to a big weekend of basketball which includes home games over Mount Desert Island and Ellsworth Friday and Saturday.
In the win over the Coyotes, the Wildcats jumped out to an 11-3 lead and were up by 13 entering the fourth quarter before Old Town made its run. The Coyotes actually took the lead late when PI senior forward Drew Bates was fouled with 2.3 seconds showing on the clock. He proceeded to sink both free throws to send the game into overtime.
With the score tied, senior Karson Eaton of the Wildcats then hit a shot from the paint as time expired to give PI the 62-60 victory.
“We never gave up,” Cummings said. “I’m so proud of the guys.”
Four players reached double figures in scoring for the Wildcats, with Saul Nunez leading the way with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists. he also drew the defensive assignment on Old Town’s Garvey Melmed and held him without a field goal and to a total of three points.
Mike Boone was the offensive star two days later as PI won at Foxcroft Academy, 47-37. Boone had 23 points to lead the way.
The Washburn Beavers came through with a big win Friday as they stopped Hodgdon at home, 46-44.
The Beavers had lost to Hodgdon in early December, 70-43, but were without two starters in Jarrett Olson and Cameron Preston. The team was at full strength in the latest meeting and used a 2-3 matchup zone to hold the Hawks to just six fourth-quarter points.
Olson scored 14 points, including four three-pointers, to lead Washburn in scoring. Noah Caron added 13 as part of a balanced attack.
The Central Aroostook boys welcomed back Chandler Brewer from an injury and he helped the team best Fort Fairfield and Wisdom. The Panthers improved to 6-5.
Easton stayed undefeated at 13-0 after victories over Katahdin, Madawaska and East Grand.
In girls’ basketball, Presque Isle is also unbeaten at 14-0 after topping Fort Kent and Old Town easily. They lead the standings in EM Class B and have a big game coming up Saturday at home against MDI.
Easton hit double figures in victories by besting East Grand Monday. Last week, the Bears were trounced at home by Washburn, 70-29. The Beavers have now won four straight and are up to seventh place in the Class D standings.
Fort Fairfield is currently in fourth at 7-4 and Easton is in sixth at 10-4.
