The Windham High boys’ basketball team was trying to do something it had never done before – win a regional title and earn a trip to a state championship game.

Things looked mighty bleak for the Eagles a little more than two minutes into the second half of the Class AA North final Saturday at Cross Insurance Arena. Portland held a 25-13 lead. Windham guard Erik Bowen had just picked up a technical foul. Even worse – and it’s tough to be worse than scoring 13 points in 18 minutes – starter and top rebounder Creighty Dickson was on the bench because his lip busted open in a collision with Portland guard Kevin Rugabirwa.

From that point on, though, Windham outscored the defending regional champion Bulldogs 30-9 and wrapped up its first boys’ basketball regional title in any class with a 43-34 win.

“This team’s history now,” Dickson said. “We’re going for that state ball, though. We need that state ball. We’ve just been working, working, working, all for this moment, and it truly is wonderful.”

Seniors Blake McPherson (16 points) and Quinton Lindsay started the rally with baskets. Dickson returned to the court with 1:13 left in the third quarter, a double-layered bandage on his lip and most of his left cheek, and some inspirational mojo in his presence.

“Just him being out there was a sign that we weren’t backing down. That’s kind of what this group is all about,” said Windham Coach Chad Pulkkinen.

McPherson put Windham ahead to stay, 31-30, with a hard driving three-point play with 3:27 left. Sophomore guard Tyrie James (12 points) made seven late free throws to clinch the win and send a team one year removed from a five-win season to the state final.

“We had a little adversity and we needed to handle it,” McPherson said. “It feels great, of course. We got the most wins in Windham history, so that feels amazing. And first time going to states? That’s incredible.”

Windham (18-2) will play for the state title at 8:45 p.m. next Saturday at Cross Arena against the winner of the AA South final between Gorham and Scarborough.

Portland finished its season 16-5. Like their come-from-behind semifinal win against Cheverus, the Bulldogs went through a lengthy second-half scoring drought that turned a sizable lead into a late deficit. This time, though, their opponents did not help them back into the game with missed free throws and defensive miscues.

Windham made 12 of 14 free throws in the fourth quarter, including seven in a row by James (an eighth was negated by a lane violation). The Eagles held Portland to 14 second-half points, seven in each quarter.

“They played very intense defense and shut us down,” said Portland Coach Joe Russo, adding that, “we had a special season. Fourteen wins (in the regular season), two playoff wins, getting back to this game. That’s not easy to do.”

Portland (16-5) was playing in its fourth regional final in the eight seasons of Class AA basketball, having won in its first three trips.

Windham reached the AA North final in 2018 but lost to Edward Little.

Portland’s Jeissey Khamis finished his high school career with eight points and 12 rebounds. Rugabirwa, another senior, had seven points, and Lucas LeGage also scored seven off the bench on 3-of-3 shooting.

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