DEXTER – The last time the Dexter girls basketball team played Penobscot Valley, Mallory Ames missed most of the second half after suffering an ankle injury.

She spent most of the fourth quarter on the bench during Friday night’s rematch against the Howlers, but only because the 6-foot-6 senior center had been so utterly dominating the first three periods.

Ames’ 40 points, including 12 in the second quarter that helped Dexter shut down PVHS of Howland for good, powered the Tigers to a 68-40 victory at Guiski Gymnasium.

It was the 13th straight win for the defending Class C state champion Tigers, who moved to 14-1. The Howlers, who fell to 12-4, beat Dexter 57-50 on Dec. 11.

Ames said her effort Friday wasn’t as much about having had to sit on the bench during that early-season loss as it was about better overall team play.

“We came into this game pretty much knowing we were going to win because we did horrible [in Howland],” said Ames, who nearly eclipsed her own Dexter girls scoring record of 44 points in a game. “In the first quarter there, we were [0-for-14] in layups. So we knew this game wasn’t going to be as hard as we made it for ourselves [in the first game].”

Ames had a strong first quarter Friday, but when Penobscot Valley’s full-court pressure defense started to force Dexter turnovers, her play in the final 21/2 minutes of the first half was crucial.

The Howlers went up 15-14 on a Kelsy Lavertu putback about 1 minute, 35 seconds into the quarter. The Tigers responded over the next two minutes, managing to regain the lead and go up 20-15, despite turning the ball over against Penobscot Valley’s double- and triple-teams in the backcourt.

“We just had to slow ourselves down and focus more on our passes,” said Dexter point guard Miranda Gove.

The Howlers had chances in the second quarter but couldn’t convert the Tigers’ turnovers. Penobscot Valley, which has a host of fine 3-point shooters, hit only two of their 21 attempts from behind the arc.

“We had the looks,” PVHS coach Joe Cyr said. “We just couldn’t put it in.”

Meanwhile, Ames grabbed control in the final 2:30 before halftime. She hit four baskets as Dexter’s guards pumped the ball inside and Katie Poirier made a driving shot for a 30-15 halftime lead. Dexter went on a 12-0 run in the third during which Ames had nine points.

“We just have to really work on getting the ball down low and into [Ames and Poirier],” Gove said. “They’re our scorers.”

The Tigers were stellar from the floor, hitting 29 of 43 attempts to shoot 67.4 percent. The numbers are almost as impressive – 12-for-20, or 60 percent – discounting Ames’ contributions.

The 5-11 Poirier went 4-for-5 from the floor to chip in with 11 points. She also contributed eight rebounds as Dexter dominated the boards 49-32.

Lavertu, a 6-footer who led the Howlers with 11 points, picked up her second foul with 6:17 left in the second quarter. That sent Ames to the free-throw line where she made two shots to regain Dexter’s lead for good.

“I’m fine with it,” Cyr said of his team’s effort. “It’s hard to play in this gym. It’s not just us, so I don’t feel bad. We didn’t shoot well here tonight.”

TIGERS 68, HOWLERS 40

Penobscot Val. (12-4) Dexter (14-1)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Cyr 0 9 0 0 0 Ames 17 23 6 40

Bowers 2 4 0 0 4 Chambrs 4 5 8

Drost 0 1 0 0 0 Wyman 0 0 0

Thurlow 3 24 1 2 8 Mitchell 0 0

McCloskey 2 7 2 6 6 Gove 2 5 4

Plourde 1 8 0 0 2 Patterson 0 0

Milton 1 1 0 0 2 Burton 0 3 0

Lavertu 4 8 3 4 11 Richrdsn 2 4

Dolley 2 16 0 0 5 Poirier 4 5 11

Dawson 1 1 0 0 2 Murray 0 0 0

Green 0 0 0 0 0 Chapman 0 0 1

Totals 16 79 6 12 40 Totals 29 43 10 15 68

Penobscot Valley 8 15 25 40

Dexter 14 30 54 68

3-pt. goals – Penobscot Valley (2-21): Thurlow 1-6, Dolley 1-7, Cyr 0-8; Dexter (0-1): Burton 0-1

JV: Dexter 32-26

Attendance: 300 (est.)