Foxcroft boys earn home victory over Dexter
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Foxcroft Academy boys overcame an early second quarter deficit with a 10-0 run during a Friday, Jan. 10 interclass boys basketball game vs. Dexter Regional High School. The Class B North Ponies would nearly double the point total of the Class C North Tigers in a 60-31 win, improving to 2-6 and snapping a 3-game losing skid while dropping the visitors to 6-3.
Just over a minute into the second quarter Dexter junior Kody Kimball’s layup put his team ahead 9-8, the second Tiger lead of the contest (the team was up 5-2 in the first).
Foxcroft senior Silas Topolski stole the ball and went the other way for two as the Ponies retook the lead at 10-9, a scoring advantage the team never surrendered. Foxcroft had four other unanswered shots from the floor for the rest of the 10-0 run to build an 18-9 advantage over about three minutes of game time. The score would be 22-14 at the half.
FINDING AN OPENING — Foxcroft Academy Shane Birungi gets around Dexter senior Ethan Doherty to find Pony junior Hunter Stevens open under the basket in front of Dexter senior Cole Doherty during a Jan. 10 game in Dover-Foxcroft. Foxcroft won 60-31 with Birungi scoring a game-high 17 points.
In the second half Foxcroft picked up 19 points in both the third and fourth quarters while holding Dexter to just 17 points over these same 16 minutes. The 31 points are the fewest allowed by the Ponies in the team’s eight games of 2024-25. The 31 points are also the second fewest scored by Dexter, two more than the 29 in a 51-29 loss vs. Schenck High School of East Millinocket on Dec. 30.
Foxcroft senior Shane Birungi led all players with 17 points as he connected on a pair of field goals in each quarter (including a 3-pointer in the first). Topolski was next with 14 points, including eight in the second half with a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. Junior Lucas Sands also reached double figures with his 11 points.
PATH TO THE HOOP — Pony senior Silas Topolski dribbles down the side of the court away from Dexter senior Jason Bowden during the Jan. 10 contest. Topolski scored 14 points in his team’s 60-31 win.
Dexter senior Cole Doherty led his team with eight points, all coming in the first three quarters. Junior Isiah Robinson was next with six points, all coming in the second and third quarters.
The two teams are scheduled to play again in Dexter at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23.
LOW POST — Senior Ethan Doherty looks to shoot over Foxcroft junior Lennon McAfee with Dexter junior Isiah Robinson and Pony sophomore Aiden Sickler on the other side of the low post.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Foxcroft 60, Dexter 31
DEX 5 9 9 8 — 31
FOX 8 14 19 19 — 60
Dexter (6-3):C. Doherty 8, Robinson 6, Cooper 4, E. Doherty 4, Kimball 4, Simpson 3, Pratt 2
Foxcroft (2-6): Birungi 17, Topolski 14, Sands 11, Stevens 7, McAfee 4, Bryant 3, Hutchinson 2, Luellen 2
FIRST POINTS OF THE GAME — Tiger senior Cole Doherty sinks a 3-pointer on the opening possessions of the Jan. 10 game between Dexter and Foxcroft Academy.
ALL EYES ON THREE — Foxcroft junior Aiden Bryant connects on a 3-point shot in the fourth quarter over the reach of Dexter junior Bryce Cooper in view of the Pony bench and student section.