The John Bapst High School girls basketball team unveiled a relentless full-court press under first-year head coach Chris Woodside and it paid huge dividends in their mutual season opener against Class B North runner-up Foxcroft Academy. The Crusaders forced 17 first-half turnovers which helped them build a 33-15 halftime lead and they withstood a second-half rally by the gritty and youthful Ponies to earn a 58-42 victory at the Cross Insurance Center Saturday, Dec. 9.

Foxcroft Academy quarterback-safety Nick Clawson is among 12 semifinalists for the 47th James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy, presented annually to the state’s top high school senior football player-sportsman.

After 32 years and over 340 wins coaching boys teams at Central, Penobscot Valley High School of Howland and Piscataquis Community High School of Guilford, Jamie Russell has taken over for Diane Rollins, who left after 16 seasons and over 200 victories at Central.

Foxcroft Academy senior quarterback/defensive back Nick Clawson led the way as members of the Foxcroft and Dexter Regional High School were among the honorees during the 31st annual Little Ten Conference (LTC) All-Star Banquet on Dec. 3 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer.

The Foxcroft Academy Key Club, hosted its sixth annual Reindeer Run 5K during the early afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 3. Proceeds from the event benefit community Christmas projects.

Sen. Paul Davis, R-Piscataquis (pictured right) and Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft had the honor of congratulating Foxcroft Academy boys soccer and wrestling head coach Luis Ayala at a school assembly on Nov. 11 where Ayala was formally recognized as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach.

A quartet of northern Maine sportswriters and broadcasters, including two with ties to the Bangor Daily News who both have contributed to the Piscataquis Observer over the years, have been recognized as finalists for the Maine sportswriter and sportscaster of the year awards given by the National Sports Media Association

Five graduates of Dexter Regional High School and Foxcroft Academy were members of the 2017 Husson University field hockey team, helping the Eagles win the first NCAA tournament game in program history and also setting the school record for victories in a season.

In conjunction with the Dover-Foxcroft Hometown Holidays celebration, the Foxcroft Foxcroft Key Club will present the sixth annual Reindeer Run 5K on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. with registration from noon to 12:45 p.m. Registration forms are available at www.foxcroftacademy.org.

According to a national cellphone company, the most “Most Valuable Coach” in the country resides in Dover-Foxcroft and works with student-athletes at Foxcroft Academy. Following the announcement last week Luis Ayala was formally recognized Monday morning as the U.S. Cellular Most Valuable Coach during an all-school assembly, during which he received a $50,000 check which he has chosen to go to the two sports programs.

For the first few series of the 2017 Class D football championship on the turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium during the late afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 18, North region top seed Foxcroft Academy and South No. 1 Wells High School were evenly matched as both defenses forced the opposing offense into a pair of three-and-outs. The Warrior offense then got going with two touchdowns in the opening quarter and three more in the opening half to help the team win 48-0.

It started with a nomination in June and ended with a win during Thanksgiving week. Word came on Nov. 20 that Foxcroft Academy teacher and coach Luis Ayala was named the 2017 US Cellular Most Valuable Coach (MVC) after a three-plus month online contest.

Both Foxcroft Academy and Bucksport High School had to contend with a kickoff temperature of around 20 and a windchill dropping the conditions into single digits during the 2017 Class D North championship on the evening of Friday, Nov. 10. But the Ponies weathered the situation better, jumping out to a 20-0 first quarter lead and claiming the regional crown with a 34-0 victory.

Three area field hockey stars were named to the Maine Field Hockey Association’s North All-State Team for their performances during the 2017 season: Rebecca Batron and Kaitlyn Webber of Dexter Regional High School and Makenzie Beaudry of Foxcroft Academy

A number of fall athletes from the region’s five high schools earned postseason recognition from the Penobscot Valley Conference.

The Foxcroft Academy showed no ill effects from having a weekend off as a result of earning a quarterfinal bye by virtue of being the top seed in the Class D North football playoffs. During the team’s first action in two weeks the Ponies defeated fourth seed Dexter Regional High School/Piscataquis Community High School 40-0 on Nov. 3 to set up the Class D North championship at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 with Foxcroft hosting No. 2 Bucksport High School.

Sixteen players representing each of the area’s five high schools were named as respective Maine Soccer Regional All-Stars for the 2017 season.

Piscataquis Community High School’s Bryce Gilbert has had a very successful start to his senior year. Gilbert led the Pirates boys soccer team into the Class C North quarterfinals against top-seed Fort Kent Community High School -- PCHS lost 6-3.