Orono, Calais Earn Bids To Eastern Maine Finals

The top-seed Calais Blue Devils will meet the upset-minded Orono Red Riots on Saturday in the Eastern Maine finals at the Cross Insurance Center.

Calais Holds Off Central To Earn Spot in Finals

The top-seed Calais Blue Devils pulled away from the Central Red Devils on Friday, earning a and a trip to the Eastern Maine finals against No. 7 Orono.

Central led for much of the first half, but the veteran Calais team chipped away until taking a 40-39 lead into the fourth quarter. From there, the Blue Devils hit key shots and outlasted the Red Devils to came away with a 60-52 win.

It was a balanced attack from the Blue Devils. Trevon Rhodes led Calais with 15 points. Tyler Niles and Andre Paul both had 13 points and Kyle Johnson added 8 points.

Both teams struggled from the line, with Calais going 13 for 27 and Central going 12 for 21.

Central ends the season with a 14-6 record.

Calais, a perennial contender in the tournament, improves to 18-2 on the season.

Orono Stuns Houlton To Advance To Eastern Maine Final

The Orono Red Riots.upset the defending state champion Houlton Shiretowners Friday night, advancing to Saturday's Eastern Maine finals in a packed Cross Insurance Center.

Orono, who came into the tournament as the No.7 seed, took the lead for the first time with less than a minute remaining and came away with a 42-38 win over the No. 3 Shiretowners.

Orono guard Nate Desisto, who had 9 points, was clutch in the final quarter hitting a key three-pointer to tie the game with 1:10 remaining. He also went 4-6 from the foul line in that final period, in which  the Red Riots outscored Houlton 21-11 in the fourth quarter

Jake Koffman, another sophomore, had 9 points. Damien Heeger and Keenan Collett each added 6

Houlton struggled from the line, missing 13 foul shots in the game, going 7 for 20 from the line.

Houlton standout Kyle Bouchard scored 18 points before fouling of the game. Christian Crane added as 16 points for the Shiretowners.

Houlton ends the season with a 16-4 record. Orono came into the game with a 13-7 record. The Orono boys last made the semifinals in 1997.