Tigers upset top-ranked Fort Kent in physical semifinal
By Joseph Cyr, Bangor Daily News Staff
BANGOR — A staunch defense and strong offense carried the No. 4 Tigers of Dexter to a 58-48 upset victory over top-ranked Fort Kent Saturday evening at the Cross Insurance Center.
The Tigers (15-5 overall) advance to the Class C North championship, 7:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, at the Cross Insurance Center against the winner of No. 11 Central-No. 2 George Stevens Academy.
In Saturday’s semifinal, Will Kusnierz poured in a game-high 22 points, including seven of nine from the foul line, to lead all players. Avery Gagnon chipped in 19 for the Tigers, while Seth Robbins added 10; Bryce Connor, five; and Kaydon Kimball, two.
WIN OVER NO. 1 – Dexter’s Will Kusnierz dribbles around a Fort Kent defender during Saturday night’s Class C North semifinal. The fourth-seeded Tigers defeated top seed Fort Kent 58-48 to advance to the regional final.
Dexter played with great intensity throughout the contest, building leads of as much as 16 early in the second quarter. But time and time again, a gritty Fort Kent team rallied back in Saturday’s game.
“The two teams are really kind of built the same and neither was going to back down,” Dexter coach Peter Murray said. “Our goal was to deal with their two scorers (Austin Delisle and Ethan Daigle) and I think we did an excellent job on them.”
Daigle was held to 12 points, while Delisle was limited to just four for the Warriors. Keagan Cyr added nine for Fort Kent, while Drew Deschaine had eight; Collin Bennett added six; Evan Deschaine, four; Lance Gagnon, three; and Ethan Raymond, two.
“That was far from our best game and I am sure we can play a little better than we did tonight,” coach Murray said. “We have a few things to work on.”
Play from both teams became physical, especially late in the second half as the Warriors desperately tried to rally against Dexter. The Warriors cut the lead to six with 2:22 to play (50-44), but Dexter converted numerous free throws down the stretch to preserve the win.
The Tigers made 6 of 8 free throws in the final two minutes. The Warriors converted seven of nine free throws for the game, while Dexter made 15 of 20 foul shots.
“That is what it is all about at this time of year,” coach Murray said. “You have to be able to hit your free throws. If you don’t make them, you go home.”
Fort Kent and Dexter did not meet during the regular season. The Warriors of Fort Kent end their season with a 19-2 overall record.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Class C North semifinal
No. 4 Dexter 58, No. 1 Fort Kent 48
Dexter: Kimball 1-0-2, A. Gagnon 7-4-19, Robbins 3-3-10, Connor 2-1-5, Spratt, Kusnierz 6-7-22
Fort Kent: Cyr 4-1-9, Daigle 4-4-12, Raymond 1-0-2, Deschaine 1-2-4, Gagnon 1-0-3, Deschaine 4-0-8, Delisle 2-0-4, Bennett 2-0-6
3-point goals: A. Gagnon, Robbins, Kusnierz; L. Gagnon
Dexter 18 25 41 58
Fort Kent 4 20 32 48