Ponies roll past Central for fourth straight win
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Under the revised high school basketball classification system for 2025-26, Foxcroft Academy shifted from Class B North to Class C North. The adjustment has worked out very well so far for the Pony boys as the team picked up its fourth consecutive victory (4-1) with a 67-31 win vs. Central High School of Corinth on Dec. 18.
Foxcroft just missed matching its high point total of the young season, the team had 68-47 win vs. John Bapst Memorial High School of Bangor the week prior. The 31 points yielded against the Red Devils (2-3) are the fewest of five games and the 36-point differential is another best so far in 2025-26 as the Ponies more than doubled up the opposition.
With play tied at nine points apiece early on, Foxcroft closed out the first quarter on an 8-0 run to go ahead 17-9.
TWO OF 14 — Foxcroft Academy senior Ivelin Dinev shoots over Central junior Alex Withee for two of his game-high 14 points in the Ponies’ 67-31 victory on Dec. 18. The win moved Foxcroft to 4-1.
Central had a 3-pointer early in the second quarter but then the Ponies held the visitors to just one point the rest of the way with a 15-1 run for a 32-13 halftime lead.
Senior Ivelin Dinev picked up five points in the second quarter for a third of the 15 for his team. Dinev ended the night with a game-high 14 points.
Foxcroft had a 26-12 point differential in the third quarter.
LOOSE BALL — Pony junior Hunter Stevens and Central junior Alex Withee go for a ball rolling on the court during the fourth quarter. Stevens had 10 points for the Ponies.
Junior Hunter Stevens made three field goals in the post for six of the 26 third quarter points as he finished with 10 points off the bench.
Seven Ponies picked up points in the third quarter, including two from senior Lennon McAfee to put him at double figures with 10 in the game.
Sophomore Miles Luellen had a 3-pointer and free throw in the third quarter to help give him eight points, the fourth most for Foxcroft. These four players all had more than anyone from Central as Red Devil juniors Isaiah Allen and Daniel Dyer tied for the team lead with six points apiece.
JUMP BALL — Senior Bechham Ade and Central junior Aiden Gregory get tied up during the third quarter of the Dec. 18 contest. Looking on, from left, are Central junior Daniel Dyer, Pony senior Lennon McAfee, junior Hunter Stevens and senior Ivelin Dinev.
Foxcroft and Central are set to play in Corinth at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 15.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Foxcroft 67, Central 31
CEN 9 4 12 6 – 31
FOX 17 15 26 9 – 67
Central (2-3): Allen 6, Dyer, 6, Kneeland 5, Gregory 4, Sheaff 4, Withee 3, McIntrye 2, Anderson 1
Foxcroft (4-1): Dinev 14, McAfee 10, Stevens 10, Luellen 8, Ade 7, White 5, Hutchinson 4, Ugburo 4, Haack 2, Sands 2, Nkwanzi 1
LET IT FLY — Sophomore Preston Hutchinson sinks a 3-pointer during the first quarter in Foxcroft’s 67-31 victory vs. Central.
AROUND THE SCREEN — Senior Landon Smith dribbles as sophomore Miles Luellen breaks after setting a screen.