PORTLAND — In two regular season meetings this year, the Freeport High School girls basketball team played Gray-New Gloucester close in the opening quarter, then watched as the Patriots pulled away for two lopsided victories.

On Saturday at Cross Insurance Arena in the Class B South regional final, it was the start that bit the Falcons this time around, as Gray-New Gloucester held on for a 42-31 victory.

Freeport’s Caroline Smith, who scored a game-high 24 points and was presented the Mike Direnzo Award as the outstanding player of the Class B South girls regional, works against Gray-New Gloucester’s Eliza Hotham (14) during the first half of Saturday’s contest in Portland. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)

The Patriots (19-2) head to the State Class B title game next Saturday (1 p.m.) against B North winner Mt. Desert Island back at Cross Insurance Arena, while Freeport saw its season end for the second straight season in the regional final.

The opening eight minutes turned out to be the difference, as the Patriots jumped out to an 11-0 lead four minutes into the contest. The top-seed’s advantage grew to 15 points, 17-2, but the end of the first quarter, and a 5-2 run to open the second gave the Patriots a 22-4 edge.

“We spotted them 15 points from the beginning, and it is tough to come back against a quality team like that,” said Freeport standout guard Caroline Smith.

“Our first two matches we had with them, the first quarters were three-point games, and then second and third quarter we took over,” said Gray-New Gloucester coach Mike Andreasen. “Today, the first quarter was big.”

The two-headed play of Patriots Jordan Grant and Bri Jordan had the Falcons reeling, as Grant had nine first-quarter points and Jordan clogged up the middle, forcing the Falcons to miss all seven of their shots in the quarter. Gray-New Gloucester held an 11-3 rebounding edge and forced five Freeport turnovers.

Freeport needed a spark, and like the Falcons have done all season, turned to Smith. The junior nailed a 3-pointer and scored seven second-quarter points, helping Freeport claw to 22-11 by halftime thanks to a 7-0 closing run.

“That second timeout, I told them there are no 15-point shots,” said Freeport first-year coach Seth Farrington.

“We came out and had some good team offense. We did slow down a little bit, and they are a good team and came back,” said Grant,

Gray-New Gloucester forward Jordan Grant is surronded by Freeport’s Caroline Smith (20), Mason Baker-Schl;endering (32) and Rachel Wall (40) during Saturday’s Class B South girls regional basketball final at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. Grant’s Patriots held off the Falcons for a 42-31 victory. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)

who led the Patriots with nine first-half points.

After making just four field goals on 14 shots in the first half, Freeport looked to push back in the second. Smith continued to light it up, picking up eight more points, while Rachel Wall found the scoresheet with two points inside to get the Falcons to 30-21 after three quarters.

“We gave them some life in the second quarter, and the second half we never really regained our momentum,” Andreasen said.

“They always give us a good run at some point, so we knew that we couldn’t stop. We knew they would keep with it,” Grant added.

Gray-New Gloucester upped its lead back to double digits, 33-21, early in the fourth quarter as Mikaela Ryan scored off a pass from Alexa Thayer and Jordan hit 1-of-2 at the free-throw line.

Freeport had one more run left. Smith scored, and after Grant put the Patriots up by 12, 35-23, Wall cut inside for two and Smith swished an open trey to make for a 35-28 contest.

After Grant made a free throw, Smith drove the lane for a layup, moving the Falcons within six, 36-30, with 3:38 left.

“We wanted to have 10-point quarters, and we were able to cut it to six,” Farrington said. “They are a special group of kids. We got buried into a 17-2 hole, and it took a lot of energy to get back and they did. They had no quit.”

The dagger came on Gray-New Gloucester’s next possession, as Eliza Hotham found room and nailed a 3-pointer for a 39-30 advantage.

“It was 36-30, and Eliza’s shot looked good,” said Andreasen. “We had one possession where four kids gave up a shot and then we lost the ball out of bounds. We stopped being aggressive. It opened the door for them.”

Members of the Freeport HIgh School girls basketball team watch the postgame ceremony at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on Saturday. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)

The Patriots made the front ends of three straight 1-and-1s to put the game out of reach, sending Gray-New Gloucester to its third State Class B title game in the past four seasons.

“Our kids have been in this big game. It helped us today,” Andreasen said.

Smith scored a game-high 24 points and was presented the Mike Direnzo Award as the outstanding player of the girls B South tournament.

“I am proud of how hard we fought,” said Smith. “We came out wanting to give our best effort and walk away with respect. (Gray-New Gloucester) is a great team, and we are still pretty young. I am so excited for next year, on what we can do next season.”

“There is a lot of character in that locker room, almost unfathomable,” Farrington said.

Wall finished with four points and five rebounds for Freeport (16-5), with Mason Baker-Schlendering pulling in a team-high eight boards. Catriona Gould had five rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Grant led the Patriots with 14 points, nine rebounds and two assists in the win, with Jordan adding 12 points and eight caroms, and Hotham 11 points, six boards and three steals.