PORTLAND – The boys of Falmouth and Waynflete have come to expect success on the tennis court, so winning their respective Class B and Class C Western Maine titles Wednesday was hardly a surprise.

But for Gorham seniors Quincy Owens and Adam Bourgault, this championship feeling is new and wonderful, and something of a revelation.

Consider that in ninth and 10th grade, Adams and Bourgault tasted victory for their school only four times in 26 matches.

“It’s pretty cool,” Owens said of Gorham’s 3-2 victory in the Class A regional final over top-seeded Deering, which beat Gorham by an identical score more than a month ago, “because in the past four years we haven’t done well at all.”

Owens and Bourgault rallied to a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory to clinch the match for No. 2 Gorham, which also won at first doubles (6-0, 6-4 with Mike Lubelczyk and Tom Susi) and third singles (6-1, 3-6, 6-1 with Milan Vidovic).

“They paid their dues,” said Gorham Coach Aaron Landry.

Gorham (14-1) advances to the Class A final for the first time in school history, Saturday at Colby College in Waterville against the winner of today’s Eastern Maine final between Bangor and Hampden Academy.

Deering (14-2) won at first and second singles with Jesse Butler and Noah Finberg, both in straight sets, but was shut out in doubles after sweeping them against Gorham in late April.

“The teams are very closely matched,” Landry said. “Any of these matches could have gone either way.”

That wasn’t the case with No. 5 Waynflete (12-3), whose only losses have come against Class B powers Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth. The Flyers dropped only eight games as they made short work of No. 2 Dirigo (12-2).

Patrick Ordway, Isaac Salas and Ben Shapiro went a collective 36-1 in singles games.

“There were some really close games,” Ordway said. “They made it this far so we knew they would be good.”

Owen Deady and Addison St. Onge-May won at first doubles, and Jon Tao and Sam Martin won at second doubles, both in straight sets.

Waynflete seeks a fifth straight Class C title Saturday at Colby, facing George Stevens Academy for a third straight year.

In Western Class B, No. 1 Falmouth turned back No. 3 Cape Elizabeth 4-1 in their third meeting. The lone victory for Cape Elizabeth (12-3) came at second singles, where Satchel McCarthy rallied past Brendan McCarthy, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5.

“We played well enough to probably beat any (other) school in the state,” said Cape Elizabeth Coach Andy Strout. “But (Falmouth) played better. They stepped it up. And they had some reasons to step it up.”

Justin Brogan won 6-4, 6-0 at first singles over Matt Gilman, and Sam Holland and Tom Wilberg won 6-2, 6-2 at first doubles.

“I was really happy to see them bounce back,” said Falmouth Coach Bob McCully. “It’s tough to play anybody this good three times, and for our first doubles and some in the singles tournament, it’s the fourth time they’ve faced each other.”

Falmouth also won at third singles 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) with Aiden McGrory, and second doubles 7-5, 6-4 with Hutch Hurwitz and Eric Sanderson.

Falmouth (15-0) will face Eastern Maine champ Ellsworth on Saturday morning at Colby in a rematch of last year’s Class B state championship.

Falmouth and Waynflete are favored to repeat. As for Gorham, the prospect is more daunting, but Owens and Bourgault are ready with a song from “South Pacific,” their school play.

“Cockeyed optimist,” Owens said. “That fits us.”

Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:

gjordan@pressherald.com

Twitter: GlennJordanPPH