SOUTH PORTLAND — JP Estrella scored seven of his 24 points in the final minute of the third quarter to cap a 12-2 run that put South Portland ahead for good in a 55-37 boys’ basketball victory over Portland on Thursday night.
The Red Riots (17-1) trailed 26-25 before Estrella helped them take control in their regular-season finale.
Estrella, who also grabbed 16 rebounds, had six points in a first quarter that featured five lead changes and ended with the Red Riots up 13-12.
Portland (11-7) trailed 21-18 at halftime, then went ahead 26-25 on a three-point play by Jeissey Khamis. Estrella’s outburst, highlighted by a dunk, then gave the Red Riots some breathing room.
Estrella started the fourth quarter with a layup, then a dunk off an alley-oop pass from Jaelen Jackson.
Jackson finished with 14 points and Owen Maloney had 11 for South Portland, which will be the top seed in the Class AA South playoffs.
Portland was paced by Wani Donato with nine points and Spencer Cross with eight.
MARSHWOOD 55, WESTBROOK 54: The Hawks (12-5) used a 17-11 edge in the fourth quarter to rally for a win over the Blue Blazes (6-11) in Westbrook.
Andrew Perry paced Marshwood with 16 points. Aidan Sullivan added 14.
Westbrook’s Tyler Hethcoat scored 26 points.
FALMOUTH 62, KENNEBUNK 46: Brady Coyne scored 24 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead the Navigators (16-2) over the Rams (11-6) at Falmouth.
Jack Stowell added 11 points for Falmouth, which led 15-5 after the first quarter and 35-22 at halftime.
Connor Keefe had 14 points and Landon Schwartzman 10 for the Rams.
GREELY 56, WELLS 40: Andrew St. Hilaire got nine of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Rangers (11-7) went 11 for 12Â from the free-throw line as they closed with a 27-4 surge in the final eight minutes to beat the Warriors (6-12) at Cumberland.
Seamus Raftice chipped in with 10 points.
Devin Brown knocked down five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for Wells.
THORNTON ACADEMY 60, SANFORD 53:Â Anthony Jones scored 18 points to lead the Golden Trojans (11-6) over the Spartans (10-5) at Sanford.
The Trojans pulled away with a 19-13 advantage in the final quarter after leading just 41-40 through three quarters.
Thornton also got 11 points apiece from Alessio Marcus and Cody Ruff and 10 from William Davies.
Justin Kennedy and LJ McFarland each scored 11 points for Sanford.
CHEVERUS 74, WINDHAM 61: Silvano Ismail scored 30 points and Seth Huntington added 21 as the Stags (8-9) downed the Eagles (3-15) at Portland.
Will Mannette led Windham with 22 points, including five 3-pointers. Nick Garrison scored 16 points and Matthew Fox had 10.
NORTH YARMOUTH ACADEMY 63, SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 44: Logan Welch scored 21 points and Nate Oney got all of his 11 points in the second half as the Panthers (10-6) rallied to defeat the Guardians (4-13) in Yarmouth.
Seacoast led 24-21 at halftime before Oney sparked a 42-20 surge in the second half.
Isaiah Cardinal led Seacoast with 17 points.
BRUNSWICK 60, MT. ARARAT 45: Thomas Harvey and Quinten McCaffrey scored 15 points apiece as the Dragons (5-12) handled the Eagles (2-16) at Brunswick.
Ethan Driscoll added 14 points.
Ty Henke led Mt. Ararat with 20 points.
MORSE 53, BIDDEFORD 48: Sawyer Stead scored 16 points and the Shipbuilders (7-9) erased a three-point halftime deficit to beat the Tigers (3-14) at Biddeford.
Gabe Aucoin added 11 points for Morse.
Will Goodwin had 19 points for Biddeford. Julius Silva made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.
LINCOLN ACADEMY 60, BELFAST 37: The Eagles (3-12) hit their first three shots, all 3-pointers, to race to a 9-0 lead and remained in control to defeat the Lions (3-14) at Newcastle.
Gabe Hagar scored 13 points for Lincoln, which led 38-21 at halftime.
Keegan McGowan led Belfast with 11 points.
RANGELEY 65, PINE TREE ACADEMY 36: Boden Washington poured in 28 points as the Lakers (3-10) downed the Breakers (7-11) in Rangeley.
Anthony Whittier added 15 points and Chase Carmichael had 10 for Rangeley.
Silas Yeaton paced Pine Tree with 15 points.
HOCKEY
LEAVITT 1, GREELY 0: Reese Collins pounced on a rebound at the top of the crease and knocked it in midway through the second period to lift Leavitt/Gray-NG/Oak Hill/Poland (8-5-1) over Greely (9-3) at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn.
Vinnie Lupardo made 27 saves for the shutout, surviving a flurry in the final minute and a half after the Rangers pulled goalie Keji Wiessner, who stopped 16 shots.
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