Freshman Austin Boudreau scored a game-high 27 points, including consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, to help seventh-seeded Cheverus hold off 10th-ranked Scarborough 55-50 in a Western Class A boys’ basketball prelim Tuesday night at Keegan Gym.

The Stags (10-9) advanced to a quarterfinal against No. 2 Falmouth (17-1) at 9 p.m. Saturday at the Portland Expo. Cheverus failed to qualify for the tournament last season.

“The kids have worked hard beginning in the summer,” said Cheverus Coach Dan Costigan. “I feel happy for the seniors. We were lucky enough to score a few more points than Scarborough. Scarborough is a hard team to play against because they’re perimeter oriented. We were able to limit them to one shot.”

Cheverus led nearly the entire game but Scarborough (9-10) wouldn’t go away despite having a rare off night from beyond the arc.

The Red Storm hit only one 3-pointer, by Milani Hicks to cut it to 47-44 with 1:48 remaining.

The Stags then traveled but Scarborough forced its next shot. Boudreau, who scored 10 points in the fourth, hit two from line to make it a five-point game. Nate Wessel scored for Scarborough with 38 seconds left to make it 49-46 but Cheverus got its last six points from the line.

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“We weren’t concerned when Scarborough cut it to three points because we know we’re a mentally strong team,” said Boudreau. “We played well, got to the line and knocked them down.”

Cheverus was 9 of 9 from the line in the fourth quarter.

Boudreau, who has developed quickly in his first season, scored 25 points at Deering last week.

“Austin has a sense for the game,” said Costigan. “He can shot it from deep. There aren’t a lot of freshmen who are willing to step up and take the shot. He is. He’s surrounded by good teammates who help him out.”

Teammates like Zordan Holman, a 6-foot-5 junior center who controlled the boards.

Holman scored inside while getting fouled and made a free throw with 2:13 left after the Red Storm cut it to three for the second time in the period.

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“He’s playing well and shooting lights out,” said Holman of Boudreau. “We have good guards who can handle the ball. We’re a tough team to figure out. We’re looking forward to the matchup with Falmouth. We’re going to continue what we’ve been doing.”

The Red Storm had three chances from 3-point range to tie it in the fourth but none found the mark. Sam Freeman missed a 3-pointer from the corner with 3:05 left, followed by Matt Hartl, who missed twice.

Hartl and Hicks rallied Scarborough in the second half after it trailed by 10 at halftime. Hartl, a senior and the second-leading scorer in the SMAA, finished with a team-high 21 points. Hicks added 16 with 10 in the fourth quarter.

“Matt has been doing it all season for us,” said Scarborough Coach Tony DiBiase. “He was our eighth man last year. Milani hit the 3-pointer to get us back into it. We had some good chances.

“We hung in there. Cheverus shoots the 3 really well. Overall our kids played well. Boudreau really hurt us. He’s a good player.”

Scarborough led once at 4-2. Boudreau scored to tie it, then Brad Carney of Cheverus, showing the shooting form of the first meeting between these teams, canned back-to-back 3s to put the Stags ahead for good.

In the first meeting, Cheverus took a 15-0 lead, saw the Red Storm stage a furious rally, then counter-rallied late in the game for a 76-63 victory Jan. 28.

Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

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