PCHS boys improve to 4-0 with victory over Central
Pirate girls fall vs. Red Devils
GUILFORD — Piscataquis Community High School split a girls/boys basketball doubleheader on Friday, Dec. 15 vs. Central High School of Corinth in a pair Class C North/Penobscot Valley Conference matchups. The girls fell by a score of 55-42 to Central while the Pirate boys won 64-49 to improve to 4-0 at the start of the season.
The PCHS boys (the team now has four wins after going 6-12 and earning the 13th and final spot in the Class C North tournament last season) broke the game open with a 20-8 second quarter to go from leading 19-15 after the opening eight minutes to 39-23 at the half.
Four of the Pirates’ starting five reached double figures in scoring. Sophomore Noah Kain led his team with 17 points in the game, including five shots from behind the 3-point line. He connected on two of these in the second quarter and had another shot from the low post for eight of his 17 points in the second quarter to pace the 20-8 advantage which had point contributions from all five who together accounted for all 64 PCHS points.
CRASH LANDING — PCHS freshman Chase Lander and Central senior Ethan Ladd dive for a loose ball in the corner, with Pirate sophomore Brady Gaw looking on, during a Dec. 15 game in Guilford. PCHS won 64-49 to improve to 4-0 on the young season.
Senior Scott Chadbourne recorded 15 points for the Pirates and sophomore Brady Gaw was right behind with 14. Freshman Chase Lander had 12 with these all coming on four 3-pointers. Senior Ben Higgins added six points as PCHS kept Central winless at 0-3.
Red Devil junior Jakson Pollock led all players with 24 points, nearly half of his team’s 49 total, with 14 of these coming in the second half. He had 15 more than the next closest Red Devil.
In the girls’ contest Central — coached by PCHS Athletic Hall of Famer Jamie Russell — built a 31-17 lead at the half to help earn the 55-42 victory. Red Devil sophomore Mary Allen led everyone between both games at 26 points with nine shots from the floor and she had a 7-of-9 free throw shooting performance as her team improved to 2-1.
18-POINT PERFORMANCE — PCHS sophomore Ava Goulette shoots over Central freshman Kaitlyn McCorrison (2) and sophomore Bayleigh Irish (3) during a Dec. 15 contest. The visiting Red Devils won 55-42. Goulette led the Pirates with 18 points.
PCHS fell to 0-3 on the young season. The team started five underclassmen from a roster featuring one senior and just two upperclassmen. Pirates would score a 2023-24-high in points as PCHS edged the Red Devils in second half scoring at 25-24.
Sophomore center Ava Goulette led the team with 18 points, having 12 in the opening half and picking up her nine field goals on either shots from the low post or on offensive rebounds. Goulette grabbed nine total rebounds.
Sophomore Brookie Hunt got to double figures with 11 points as she and Goulette accounted for 29 of their team’s 42. Freshman Reese Starbird had eight points with all coming in the second half, while also picking up 14 rebounds, and sophomore Hope Hunt added five points.
OFF THE GLASS — Senior Ben Higgins puts up a layup over Central junior Nicholas Master during the third quarter of a 64-49 PCHS victory.
The teams are scheduled to play again with a doubleheader on Tuesday, Jan. 18 down Route 15 in Corinth as the girls are set to tip off at 5 p.m. with the boys game to follow.
HER BEST FOOT FORWARD — Sophomore Brookie Hunt gets ready to shoot in the Dec. 15 game vs. Central.
BOYS BASKETBALL
PCHS 64, Central 49
CENT 15 8 16 10 — 49
PCHS 19 20 14 11 — 64
Central (0-3): Pollock 24, Ladd 9, Masher 8, Gregory 4, Butler 2, LePage 2
PCHS (4-0): Kain 17, Chadbourne 15, Gaw 14, Lander 12, Higgins 6
EASY BUCKET — Sophomore Noah Kain has an easy basket during the second quarter. Kain led the Pirates with 17 points including five 3-pointers.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Central 55, PCHS 42
CENT 17 14 10 14 – 55
PCHS 9 8 11 14 — 42
Central (2-1): Allen 26, Gray 18, McCorrison 6, Irish 3, Graham 2
PCHS (0-3): Goulette 18, B. Hunt 11, Starbird 8, H. Hunt 5
LOOKING TO PASS — Sophomore Hope Hunt looks to get the ball around Central sophomore Mary Allen.