Camden Pelletier (23) takes a shot against Ashland in a Class D North preliminary game held in St. Agatha on Feb 16. Wisdom won 90-45. Credit: Emily Jerkins / St. John Valley Times

ST. AGATHA, Maine — The Ashland boys basketball squad came to St. Agatha Wednesday evening looking to avenge an earlier season loss to Wisdom, but the Pioneers had other plans.

No. 4 Wisdom (12-5) scored early and often en route to a 90-45 rout of the No. 13 Ashland Hornets in a Class D North preliminary playoff.

With the victory, Wisdom advances to the quarterfinal round where the Pioneers will face No. 5 Bangor Christian (11-6) 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at the Cross Insurance Center. Ashland ends its season with a 2-16 record.

In Wednesday’s game, Carter Pelletier paced the Pioneers as he poured in 30 points to lead all players. Dominick Gendreau chipped in with 22 points.

For Ashland, Inyas Janoch was the top scorer with 23 points, followed by Brady Barry with three.

Carter Pelletier (24) of Wisdom leaps to save the ball from going out of bounds in a Class D North preliminary game in St. Agatha on Feb. 16. Wisdom won 90-45. Credit: Emily Jerkins / St. John Valley Times
Dominick Gendreau (11) goes in for a layup at Wisdom’s Class D North prelim game in St Agatha on Feb. 16. Wisdom won 90-45. Credit: Emily Jerkins / St. John Valley Times
Cole Eastman of Ashland recovers the ball and looks for a teammate to pass to at the Class D North prelim game against Wisdom. Credit: Emily Jerkins / St. John Valley Times

Wisdom led from the onset, outscoring the young Hornet squad 53-18 by the halftime break. Ashland came out strong in the third quarter, doubling the team’s points, but Wisdom remained firmly in control of the game on top 68-36.

“I was happy with the way we were ready to compete from the jump ball,” Wisdom coach Dominique Rossignol said. “There was a trip to Bangor on the line, and we played like it. It will be our first trip to the tournament [since 2017], so I’m very happy for my boys, particularly my seniors, who have contributed so much to the program and waited a long time to achieve this goal.”

Wisdom last appeared in the tournament in Bangor in 2017 when the Pioneers were the No. 6 seed. Wisdom fell to No. 3 Easton 55-34 in the quarterfinal round that year.