Big second quarter helps Ponies top Hermon

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — With the regular season winding down, basketball teams across the state are jockeying for spots and/or higher positioning in the playoffs. Both the girls’ squads from Foxcroft Academy and Hermon High School are among the teams looking to play beyond the first week of February and the winner of the Jan. 24 contest was poised to receive a boost in the Class B East Heal Point standings.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    THIRTY FOR COILEY — Foxcroft Academy senior Mackenzie Coiley had a big night during the team’s 70-57 victory over Hermon on Jan. 24. Coiley scored 15 points in the second quarter and 30 total to help her team improve to 9-6 on the season and stand in fourth place in the Class B East Heal Point standings after the win.

    The Ponies avenged a Dec. 17 loss at Hermon, 57-51, by using a 28-11 scoring advantage in the second quarter to help down the Hawks 70-57. The victory, the team’s third in a row, improved Foxcroft to 9-6 on the season and fourth in the Heal Point standings, which would have the team host the 13th seed in the preliminary round for a trip to the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor mid-February.
    In the opening quarter the Hawks (who fell to 6-8 and 14th in the standings) led by as many as seven before being up by the slimmest of margins at the quarter’s end, 15-14.
    The advantage would be the last of the entire contest for Hermon, as Foxcroft senior Brittany Dyer connected on a shot from beyond the 3-point line 31 seconds into quarter No. 2. Dyer gave her team a 17-15 lead as she made the first of her three second-quarter 3-point shots, which combined with another in the first quarter gave her 12 total points.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    SOARING PAST THE HAWKS — Freshman Grace Bickford looks to pass around Hermon junior Katie Corey on Jan. 24. The Ponies avenged a road defeat at Hermon by besting the Hawks in Dover-Foxcroft.

    The Hawks would later tie the game at 17, but Foxcroft went on top again as senior Mackenzie Coiley had nothing but net from beyond the 3-point line. Hermon head coach Amanda Gifford then immediately called a full timeout to settle her squad.
    The break in the action did not have the intended effect for Gifford as, after a stop on the defensive end of the court, Coiley again sank a 3-pointer for a 23-17 lead. Coiley would tally 15 points in the second quarter for half of her game-high 30.
    A half dozen points for the opposition tied the game 23-23 with just under four minutes remaining before the half. But just like a few minutes earlier a tie was quickly vanquished on a Coiley 3-pointer.
    Her third 3-pointer of the quarter started a 19-3 run to close out the first half. Coiley had nine of the points, Dyer made the other two of her trio of shots from behind the 3-point line and junior Julia Annis added four as Foxcroft took a 42-26 lead into the locker room following the 28-11 edge in second-quarter points.
    The 16-point lead gave the Ponies some breathing room in the second half as Hermon had a 16-14 point advantage in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 14 at 56-42.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    TRIO OF THREES — Three times in the second quarter, senior Brittany Dyer connected on shots behind the 3-point line. She also had a three in the first quarter for 12 total points.

    In the game’s closing minutes the Hawks did get within 10 at 66-56 with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing possession Pony junior Brianna Skolfield was fouled and she was awarded a pair of free throws with Foxcroft in the double bonus.
    Skolfield converted a foul shot to make the lead 67-56 at the 1:22-mark. Skolfield ended up with 10 points to join Annis, Dyer and Coiley in reaching double figures.
    At the other end of the court Skolfield grabbed the rebound to prevent any second-chance opportunities for Hermon. Shortly thereafter Coiley was fouled as the Hawks tried to steal the basketball, and she made the team pay with a free to make the score 68-56.
    Freshman Grace Bickford snagged the offensive rebound after the second shot bounced off the rim and, after a Hermon miss at the other end Skolfield rebounded to enable a Pony possession. Coiley soon was fouled and she made both shots for points 29 and 30 for the last of her team’s 70.
    Next up for Foxcroft is a game on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 1 vs. Old Town High School, in what is scheduled to be the seniors’ final regular season home game. Whether the contest is the final game on campus for the four — Coiley, Dyer, Amber Anderson and Amber Chadrawi — is to be determined.
    The matchup vs. Old Town could also be a playoff preview as the 4-11 Coyotes stood in 13th place at presstime. On Dec. 27 the Ponies won 76-34 in Old Town.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    NOWHERE TO GO — Hermon junior Kailee Dunton looks to get around Foxcroft junior Brianna Skolfield, as senior Brittany Dyer looks on. Skolfield and Dyer were two of four Ponies to reach double figures vs. the Hawks.