AUGUSTA — The first boys’ basketball championship in Greenville High School history didn’t come easily. When the Lakers remember it in the future, that fact should make the win all the sweeter.

Ahead by nine points early in the fourth quarter, Greenville saw Woodland chip away and pull within a point. Woodland had a chance to win in the closing seconds, but Gavin Gardner’s baseline 3-pointer went off the back of the rim and into the hands of Greenville’s Devin Boone, giving the Lakers a 47-46 victory in the Class D final at the Augusta Civic Center.

“We came out firing, and toward the end we just couldn’t make our shots. It was really close there at the end. That last shot, it felt like it was forever in the air,” said Boone, who led the Lakers with 15 points and 10 rebounds. “I thought it was going in, but it bounced off the back side of the rim and flew up, so we got lucky.”

Greenville (20-2) lost the state final to Machias last season and opened this season with back-to-back defeats before going on a 20-game winning streak.

Woodland ends at 18-4.

Greenville led 43-38 with a minute and a half to play. Justin Warden’s basket and free throw cut the deficit to 43-41, but Nick Foley’s two foul shots pushed Greenville’s lead back to four. After a Warden layup made it 45-43, Connor DiAngelo converted a layup on a pass from Boone. Woodland’s Drew Hayward hit a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left, and the Dragons had a chance to win it after Foley missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 7.3 seconds remaining.

The Lakers never trailed, opening the game with an 11-0 run. Woodland pulled within four points numerous times, only to see Evan Bjork (12 points) or Foley (14 points) make a 3 to keep Greenville in control.

Sabre Lee Phelps led Woodland with 13 points. Warden added 10 points – seven in the fourth quarter.

GIRLS

SOUTHERN AROOSTOOK 54, VINALHAVEN 37: Southern Aroostook (20-2) ended the game with a 21-4 run to beat the defending state champions and earn their first Class D title since 1995.

Four players scored in double figures for the Warriors, led by Kacy Daggett and Sydney Brewer with 12 points apiece. Kassidy Mathers added 11 and Kylie Vining scored 10.

Gilleyanne Davis-Oakes finished with 17 points for Vinalhaven (21-1), which had a 33-game winning streak snapped.