The Shot!

Charlie Pierce sends Central Aroostook to the Finals

Photos by Jan Vose Photography

FIRST EVER VIDEO REVIEW IN MPA TOURNAMENT HISTORY……BOTH TEAMS WAIT IN ANTICIPATION AS CHARLIE PIERCE RELEASES THE SHOT

Tied with seconds left, the Panthers got the ball into the post where Charlie Pierce was able to get a shot off. It went in as the horn sounded- but wait!!!

The Officials had to go to the replay monitor to see if it counted. This is the first year that the MPA has allowed video review on game-deciding shots.

It was determined that the ball was still in her hands as time expired- BUT it was obvious that she had been fouled.

So 0.1 was put back on the clock, to make the clock light back up red- but there was NO time left on the clock, and Pierce went to the line, where she calmly hit the first shot to send the Panthers to the finals on Saturday

Trailing by 6 points, heading into the final period, The Panthers dug in deep and applied more pressure as Lilly Burtt began to shake free for some easy baskets,

Maggie Mahan hit a huge three to give the Panthers a lead, but the Pioneers came back and got the ball to Ava Lerman and the Junior calmly hit a three of her own to tie the score, setting the stage for the final procession.

With the Pioneers overplaying against Burtt and Mahan, they got the ball to Charlie Pierce in the middle. Pierce made the shot, which was eventually waved off after the review, then hit the free throw that sent the Panthers to the finals for the first time since 2020, when they won the Gold Ball in Class C.

Burtt ended up with 16 to lead the Panthers. Mahan had two huge three-pointers and finished with 8, Pierce had 6 including the game-winner and added 8 rebounds. Allen was held to 3 points and Stevie Pierce had a basket,

The Pioneers were led by Lerman with 13, Maddi Cyr had 7, Emma Soucy had 6, Kelsee Daigle 4, and 8th grader Peyton Roy-Wilcox. finished with 4

#2 Central Aroostook advances and will play in the Regional Finals on Saturday, February 22nd at 1 p.m. against the winner of the #1 Bangor Christian-#4 Schenck semifinal.

Wisdom ends their season with a 17-3 overall record