3-point shooting carries Dexter past Lee Academy
By Joseph Cyr, Bangor Daily News Staff
BANGOR — A 3-point shooting explosion carried the Dexter boys basketball squad to a 67-39 victory over Lee Academy Tuesday in Class C North quarterfinal.
Tiger Will Kusnierz connected on four baskets behind the 3-point arc in the first quarter to help the Tigers (14-5) build a sizable 23-8 lead over the Pandas of Lee Academy. The Pandas (10-6) never recovered.
The Tigers advance to the Class C North semifinals, 7 p.m. Friday at the Cross Insurance Center against No. 1 Fort Kent, a 59-39 winner over No. 8 Calais in Tuesday’s other boys quarterfinal.
Kusnierz finished with a game-high 29 points, including five 3-pointers, to go along with multiple rebounds and blocks as the Pandas had no answer for him.
“Will had a great game and he has been here before,” Dexter coach Peter Murray said. “I am proud of him and all the guys. All we have to do now is beat the next opponent.”
The Tigers’ quick start was augmented by seven points by Seth Robbins, including a 3-pointer. Robbins finished with 15 points, while Avery Gagnon added seven; Kayden Kimball had six; Ben Bourgoin and Bryce Connor each had four; and Will Spratt and Owen Brown both had one.
EYE ON THE BASKET – Dexter’s Kayden Kimball goes in for a layup while guarded by Lee Academy’s Jackson Sabattus in Tuesday’s Class C North quarterfinals, trailing on the play is Bryce Connor. Dexter won 67-39 to advance to Friday’s semifinal round.
That quick beginning did not change Dexter’s plan defensively.
“We are predominantly a man-to-man team,” coach Murray said. “We don’t change unless we have to. We are a patient, methodical team. We just needed to be sure we didn’t get too excited and think we have to hurry our shots.”
For Lee Academy, Andrew Scott had 15 points, while Nick Allard and Jackson Sabattus each had four. Ethan Linscott and Eli Knowles both had three, and Finn Knowles, Andrew Glidden, Zac Holt, Vince Skovronsky and Ethan Allard each had two.
Lining up for a 3-pointer is Dexter’s Seth Robbins as Lee Academy’s Finn Knowles defends on Tuesday afternoon. Robbins finished with 15 points.
Dexter’s coach said whichever team the Tigers face in the semifinals, it will require a big team effort to be successful.
“At this point in the year, everybody is good,” coach Murray said. “It will take a team effort whether it is Fort Kent or Calais. Fort Kent is the deepest team down here, and Calais is tough. It will take almost a perfect game for us.”
A perfect game pretty much describes the Tigers’ quarterfinal as Dexter was able to grow its lead throughout the contest. The Tigers converted 11 of 15 foul shots and controlled the rebounds on both ends of the floor.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class C North
quarterfinal
No. 4 Dexter 67, No. 5 Lee 39
Lee Academy: Trinh, Linscott 1-0-3, E. Knowles 1-0-3, N. Allard 1-2-4, Scott 5-5-15, Knowles 0-2-2, Sabuttus2-0-4, Glidden 1-0-2, Holt 1-0-2, A. Knowles, Lyons, Skovronsky 1-0-2, E. Allard 1-0-2, Noble, Beach
Dexter: Kimball 1-4-6, Bourgoin 2-0-4, Gagnon 2-2-7, Robbins 7-0-15, Allen, Connor 2-0-4, Spratt 0-1-1, Kusnierz 10-3-29, O. Brown 0-1-1, C. Brown, Sinclair
3-point goals: Linscott, E. Knowles; Gagnon, Robbins, Kusnierz 6
Lee 8 14 28 39
Dexter 23 36 53 67