In the quarterfinals, South Portland dominated No. 8 Noble, 66-12. In the semifinals, the Red Riots eliminated No. 5 Scarborough in the semifinals, 46-37. Then, South Portland led wire-to-wire to oust No. 2 Gorham, the three-time reigning regional champion, 50-37, in the Class AA South Final.

Maloney, joined by her father, John Maloney, and another former Red Riots great, Kelsey Flaherty (Class of 2008), helped players find their roles and her team get better by the day.

“Right after the Oxford Hills game, we truly turned things around and that’s when I started realizing we could win the championship and I expected that we would,” said Whitmore.

The Stags, meanwhile, largely started over this winter after 2024 Miss Maine Basketball Maddie Fitzpatrick, postseason hero Ruth Boles and captain Megan Dearborn departed, and there were some challenging moments before they put it all together.

Cheverus opened by downing visiting Deering (59-16), host Bonny Eagle (68-29), host Portland (59-36), visiting South Portland (57-47), host Bangor (61-35) and visiting Windham (61-41). After a 47-44 home loss to Scarborough, the Stags lost at home to Edward Little (45-40), then at Gorham in a state game rematch (62-46). Cheverus got back on track with a 60-32 win at Thornton Academy, then held off visiting Sanford (61-51). After a decisive loss at Oxford Hills (50-29), the Stags got back in the win column with a 48-25 victory at Deering, then held off host Windham, 52-39. before avenging an earlier loss with a 56-42 win at Scarborough. Cheverus then couldn’t hold a halftime lead and lost at South Portland, 59-47, but the Stags had no trouble with visiting Lewiston, 64-36, then closed with a decisive 76-34 win at Portland.

After racing to a 33-0 lead to start the game, the Stags eliminated No. 7 Lewiston, 62-34, in the quarterfinal round. Against third-seeded Edward Little in the semifinals, Cheverus shook off a slow start, came alive and went on to a 53-41 victory to advance. The Stags were considered the underdog versus No. 1 Oxford Hills in the regional final, but they led most of the way, went ahead to stay on a clutch late 3 from sophomore Addison Jordan, got a timely late steal from sophomore Abby Kelly and held on to prevail, 41-37.

Cheverus and South Portland split their two meetings this winter, with each winning at home.

On Dec. 17, the host Stags got 26 points from Lamson and went on to a 57-47 victory.

In the rematch, Jan. 31, the host Red Riots erased a six-point halftime deficit and roared to life in the second half en route to a 59-47 win. South Portland was paced by sophomore Mya Lawrence’s 15 points. Travis added 13 and Peter and Whitmore each scored 11.

Cheverus, which had won its two prior state finals (see sidebar, below) and South Portland, which was 2-2 in its state game history, had met just once previously in the tournament, a 61-42 Stags’ victory in the 2014 Western A quarterfinals, Brianne Maloney’s final high school game.

Saturday, in front of a raucous crowd, South Portland was finally able to return to the pinnacle.

Getting the job done as a team.

A poised, confident, talented team.

The Red Riots missed their first two shots from the floor, then Whitmore broke the ice with a free throw.

Travis then got involved, heavily, first taking a pass from Whitmore and burying a 3-pointer, then taking a touchdown pass from Whitmore and racing in for an easy layup to make it 6-0, forcing Cheverus coach Billy Goodman to call timeout.

“It was a similar message from last game,” Maloney said. “Everyone was going to have nerves. We were both out there on the stage playing for the same thing. The team that settled in first would have an advantage.”

Out of the break, the Stags awakened.

First, Lamson made two free throws.

Senior captain Rachel Feeley then set up Kelly for a layup and junior Rachel LaSalle drove for a layup, was fouled and banked in the free throw to complete the old-fashioned three-point play for a 7-6 advantage.

Travis put South Portland back in front with a short jumper in the lane, but Lamson drove and got a runner to fill to put Cheverus back in the lead.

For what proved to be the final time.

The back-and-forth continued, as Peter scored on a putback, then Peter scored on another putback to make it 12-9 Red Riots after eight minutes.

Travis (seven points, five rebounds) and Peter (four points, six rebounds) led the way.

There wasn’t much separation in the second period either.

Jordan, despite playing with two fouls, drove for a layup while being fouled and completed the three-point play to start the frame.

A short jumper from Travis put the Red Riots in front again, this time for good, then Peter made two free throws before Travis added one.

Lamson countered with a runner, but Peter scored on a putback, then Whitmore drove for a layup and South Portland’s biggest lead of the first half, 21-14.

Back came Cheverus, as LaSalle set up Lamson for a 3, then a short Lamson jumper rattled home to cut the deficit to just two.

With 1:04 on the clock, Travis drove for a layup, but just before the horn, Jordan took a pass from LaSalle and knocked down a jumper from the foul line to cut the Red Riots’ advantage to 23-21 at the break.

Travis had 12 points and six rebounds, while Peter produced a near double-double of eight points and 11 rebounds in the first half. Lamson kept the Stags close with 11 points.

South Portland managed to stay in front in the third quarter.

The second half began with Corcoran feeding Peter for a layup, then Travis set up Peter for another layup on the fastbreak to make it 29-23, but again, the Stags responded.

First, Lamson set up Kelly for a layup, then Kelly produced a pretty spin move and made a layup to cut the deficit to two.

South Portland countered, as Whitmore found Travis on the fastbreak for a layup, but Lamson put home her own miss.

The Red Riots then stretched it out a little, as Travis set up Peter for a layup and Whitmore buried a 3.

“I’m not really used to getting face-guarded, so I had to settle in,” Whitmore said. “I had to keep my confidence and I couldn’t get down on myself. (Shots aren’t) always going to go in and I had to remember that.”

After Jordan drove and banked home a shot, Corcoran pulled up and made a short jumper in the lane, then Corcoran took a pass from Travis and hit another short jumper to make it 40-31 South Portland

Cheverus got a little momentum back right before the end of the period, as Jordan set up Kelly for a layup and the Stags trailed by seven heading to the final stanza.

Where they tried desperately to rally and pull it out, but the Red Riots simply refused to let it happen.

Jordan started the frame by feeding Lamson for a layup, but Whitmore countered with a 3  to make it an eight-point game.

“Annie needed those 3’s to spark her and get her going and that’s exactly what she did and I’m so proud of her,” Travis said.

After Feeley made two free throws, Whitmore set up Corcoran for a layup, but after a near turnover, Lamson collected a loose ball, found space and drained a critical 3 to cut the deficit to 45-40 with 6:33 on the clock.

Forty-nine seconds later, after a LaSalle steal, Lamson raced in for a layup and just like that, it was a one-possession game.

Peter then picked up her third foul, but South Portland shook it off and with 4:53 to play, two Whitmore free throws stretched the lead back to five.

After Lamson and Kelly each barely missed 3s, the Red Riots were able to milk the clock until Travis was fouled with 1:44 to go. Travis missed her first attempt, but made the second to make it 48-42.

Feeley then missed a shot and Travis got the rebound and got the ball to Whitmore, who was fouled, but she missed both attempts.

South Portland then got the ball back when Lamson attempted a 3 that Travis appeared to get a piece of, but when the ball fell short and went out of bounds, possession went to the Red Riots.

With 57 seconds on the clock, the Red Riots broke the press and Lawrence set up an open Corcoran for a layup.

After Jordan was short on a 3, South Portland got the ball back and when Peter put home a missed shot with just 32 seconds remaining, the lead was double-digits and the celebration began.

Lawrence tacked on two free throws with 18 seconds left and while Lamson hit a 3, then made three free throws after being fouled on a 3 with under a second to go, the Red Riots inbounded the ball to run out the clock and at 7:33 p.m., the horn sounded and South Portland was champion by virtue of a 54-48 victory.

“It’s huge for South Portland,” Travis said. “Only one of our three coaches was alive the last time we won. This has been my goal and my dream for so long. Last year, I left the court sobbing, so to win it senior year is amazing. I’ve had a great career. I’m so happy to have it end this way.”

“It’s definitely mind-blowing,” said Peter. “I’m so glad to see everyone’s smiles. I’m so blessed to be here today. It’s definitely special. We’ve been told to keep our composure and stay focused and do the simple things. We executed that today. We stayed composed and we didn’t let them catch up. We didn’t lose our focus.”

“I can’t believe we did it,” Whitmore said. “This is just truly a dream come true. We won it as a team tonight.”

“We’ve talked all season how it’s a game of runs,” Brianne Maloney added. “Teams are going to go on a run, we’re going to go on a run. It’s how we handle the other team’s run that will determine the outcome. I thought all season long, we’ve done a nice job staying focused and handling other teams’ runs.”

Travis paced South Portland with 17 points in her swan song. Travis also had 10 rebounds for a double-double and added four assists.

“I knew Annie and Mya had great shooting games last game, so I knew they’d be out on them more and I knew I had to take advantage of what I could do,” said Travis.

“Emma’s a very good leader,” Peter said. “She’s a very good role model. I feel like her stepping up was very important.”

“Emma wanted this more than anyone,” said Corcoran. “It was nice to see that out of her.”

“She put us on her back,” Whitmore said. “I’m so proud of her. I’m so glad we got to this in Emma’s last game.”

“For Emma, as a senior, she attacked the basket hard and set the tone for everyone else,” Brianne Maloney added.

Peter had a double-double as well, scoring 16 points and grabbing 15 rebounds (with 10 coming on the offensive end).

“I knew I had to get the rebounds and put the ball in,” Peter said.

“I was missing some layups and she put them right back in,” said Travis. “That’s all you can ask for.”

“Destiny came back better than ever today,” Whitmore said. “She was determined to get every rebound and that’s what she did.”

“The girls asked her yesterday if she was ready and she said, ‘I’m going to work hard,’ and that’s exactly what she did,” Brianne Maloney added. “Getting rebounds is hard work. (Destiny) looked for the ball every time down the floor and she finished well tonight which helped us out. We’ve been a tough team to stop. We’ve got five girls who can score. When Destiny is in there getting those rebounds and finishing underneath it makes her tough. She’s an X-factor.”

Whitmore continued to emerge as one of the state’s special players, scoring 11 points, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out four assists, while helping keep the Red Riots focused at both ends of the floor.

“Annie’s been confident in her shot the second half of the season,” Maloney said. “Once those shots started to fall, she’s increased her range and has been shooting with confidence.”

Corcoran, who had to sit most of a scoreless first half with foul trouble, wound up with eight points and four rebounds.

“My teammates were looking for me and I was confident with the ball,” Corcoran said. “I knew I had to contribute on the floor after sitting most of the first half.”

“Caleigh is one of our big players, not necessarily in the stat book, but she does all the little things,” Travis said.

“Caleigh’s cuts are so good and her defense is underrated,” Whitmore said. “Her finishing has gotten so much better throughout the year. I’m so proud of her.”

“Caleigh was huge,” added Brianne Maloney. “She doesn’t get enough credit, but she stays locked in all the way through. She’s a smart player who loves basketball.”

Lawrence was held to two points, but she had four rebounds and played great defense. Senior Victoria Wright and freshman Freyja Goodwin-Rossiter came in off the bench and while they didn’t score, they were key contributors as well.

The Red Riots dominated on the glass (45 rebounds to 21), made 11-of-18 free throws and overcame 15 turnovers, largely neutralizing Cheverus’ pressure defense along the way.

“Our press break at times this year has been a little shaky,” said Brianne Maloney. “I thought from the beginning of the game, we stayed locked in. We made sure we found the open person and it led to some great fastbreaks.”

One win short

For Cheverus, the transcendent Lamson excelled with 26 points, but it wasn’t quite enough to deliver a championship.

Jordan added nine points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocked shots.

Kelly had eight points and five rebounds.

LaSalle scored three points and had two blocks and two assists off the bench, while Feeley bowed out with two points and three steals.

“Rachel (Feeley) has been the heart and soul of this team,” Goodman said. “She’s a two-time champion. We’re going to miss her heart, hustle, dedication to the team.”

The Stags made 9-of-12 free throws and only turned the ball over nine times, but had to settle for the runner-up trophy.

“(South Portland) scored easier than we did tonight,” said Goodman. “We had to fight for everything and they had a lot of put-back layups and that was the difference. They’re fast and they all can play basketball. They’re tough. They’re tall, they reverse the ball nicely. At the beginning of June, I expected them to be in the final. They’re a very talented team. My girls gave everything they had, but that’s a very talented team we lost to. We needed a little more balance and to find more ways to score, but I like how we fought and took care of the ball. Our shots just didn’t go in.

“Getting to the state game and being close, I’m very proud of my team. It’s probably the most improved team in a season that I’ve had.”

Cheverus returns just about every key contributor and will be a favorite in 2025-26. Don’t be surprised if the Stags retake the big prize next winter.

“I told the girls in the locker room that next year begins tomorrow and it’s all about how hard they want to work,” Goodman said.

Encore?

While South Portland loses Travis and Wright, Corcoran, Lawrence, Peter and Whitmore return and expectations will be high next season.

Now that the Red Riots have tasted the ultimate victory, they’ll be hungry to do it again.

And much to the chagrin of the competition, they could be even better in 2025-26.

“We just need to stay humble and keep our confidence,” Whitmore said. “Staying together as a team is going to be really big.”

“I think we can do it again,” Peter said. “We have the players, the mindset and the coaches. I think we can get back here.”

“I’ll be following them next year, that’s for sure,” said Travis.

“We’ll get back to work, work just as hard and try to get back here,” Brianne Maloney added.

BOX SCORE

South Portland 54 Cheverus 48

C- 9 12 12 15- 48
SP- 12 11 17 14- 54

C- Lamson 9-5-26, Jordan 4-1-9, Kelly 4-0-8, LaSalle 1-1-3, Feeley 0-2-2

SP- Travis 6-4-17, Peter 7-2-16, Whitmore 3-3-11, Corcoran 4-0-8, Lawrence 0-2-2

3-pointers:
C (3) Lamson 3
SP (3) Whitmore 2, Travis

Turnovers:
C- 9
SP- 15

Free throws
C: 9-12
SP: 11-18

Previous state game results

Cheverus (2-0)

2024 Class AA
Cheverus 38 Gorham 24

2022 Class AA
Cheverus 49 Gorham 36