Head boys basketball coach Charles Beale says that Foxcroft Academy hasn’t typically been considered a basketball school. But don’t tell that to his Ponies squad this year.
The boys from Dover-Foxcroft are making a name for themselves in Class C North this season, jumping out to a 10-2 record after Thursday night’s 72-49 win over Central High School of Corinth.
Lennon McAfee helped the Ponies get off to a fast start, with the senior scoring 10 points in the first quarter.
McAfee made a three-pointer to start the scoring for Foxcroft, and then picked up a loose ball and scored two more on the fast break. He knocked down another three-pointer shortly after to make it a 10-3 game for the Ponies, then added another steal and a layup to make it 12-5.
Foxcroft showed off good team ball movement on offense and swarming, high-energy defense that led to steal after steal in the first quarter. That first period ended 22-10 in their favor.
It was much of the same in the second quarter, which McAfee punctuated with two late steals and layups on back-to-back possessions, stretching the Foxcroft lead to 37-20 in the final 30 seconds of the half.
McAfee finished with a game high 22 points, without playing the fourth quarter. Teammates Lucas Sands and Ivelin Dinev added 13 and 12 points respectively.
Daniel Dyer led the scoring for Central with 16 points.
Foxcroft came into the game with zero rest, having played Hermon the night before. The Ponies’ only two losses this season have come against the Class B Hawks, meaning Foxcroft remains undefeated in Class C competition. They entered the night ranked third in Class C North, and have beaten league-leader Caribou in their only matchup so far this season.
“Our team is legit,” Beale said before Thursday’s game against Central, emphasizing that all 14 players on the team have contributed to that success so far.
“It’s been a special season, and I think it’s only going to continue to get better for us,” Beale said.