Hampden Begins Defense Of Title

The top-seeded and undefeated Hampden Academy Broncos started out fast and didn't look back as they defeated No. 8 Lewiston Blue Devils in a quarterfinal contest at the Augusta Civic Center on Monday.

With the 85-47 win, Broncos took the first step in defense of their Class A state title.

Senior Zach Gilpin finished with 19 points to lead the Broncos. Isaiah Bess and Brendan McIntyre each scored 15, and Nick Gilpin added 13 in a balanced attack by Hampden.

The Broncos scored 56 points in the second half, and committed only seven turnovers in the game.

The Blue Devils committed 21 turnovers.

Hampden finished the regular season undefeated after wining the state championship against South Portland last season. The Broncos have fared well at the Augusta Civic Center, and their fans remember Nick Gilpin's last-second shot against Lawrence that sent the Broncos to the 2013 title game.

Lewiston advanced to the tournament by beating the Lawrence Bulldogs 44-40 in last week's prelim round. Lewiston was the last Eastern Maine team to defeat Hampden, a loss that dates back to 2013.