Sports

COMMENTARY: Such a label is unfair to the 15-year-old phenom, and short-sighted given the professional basketball success of others before him.

The 6-foot-7 forward from Nokomis helped lead Warriors to first-ever boys basketball state title this season.

This year's squad includes five underclassmen, including a freshman as Player of the Year.

The freshman led the Warriors to their first boys' basketball state championship, and quickly left his mark as one of the state's best ever.

The highly recruited 6-foot-11 junior center led the Red Riots to their first state championship in 30 years.

Flagg, a 6-foot-8 freshman, led Nokomis to its first state championship.

Flagg enjoyed dominant season that culminated with the Class A title.

After leading Nokomis to state title, twins to play for Maine United in the Nike-sponsored Elite Youth Basketball League.

The legacy of the 1992 boys' basketball team looms large at South Portland High. Now, a new group of players has created a legacy of its own.

Skowhegan's Jaycie Christopher and Edward Little's John Shea are honored as the state's best senior players.

The Cougars come back from 13-point deficit in the Class C boys basketball final and claim their first state championship in 10 years.

The Skowhegan High girls went undefeated, the Nokomis boys and 6-foot-7 freshman Cooper Flagg showed us why they've been the top story in Maine sports all season, and the South Portland boys team won its first state title in 30 years. Here are some of our favorite photos from the final day of Maine's high school basketball tournament.

The Red Riots pull away in the second half to beat Oxford Hills, 58-44, in the Class AA championship game.

Mia-Claire Kezal and three other Maine athletes break state records at the New England high school indoor track championship.

Former Boston Celtics player was in Portland to watch Flagg and the Nokomis Warriors lift the Class A trophy.

The Warriors snap the Tigers' 65-game winning streak to take the Gold Ball.

The freshman controls the game with a 22-point, 16-rebound effort as the Warriors defeat Falmouth, 43-27, in the Class A final.

The Clippers tie the game with a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation, then dominate Ellsworth in overtime for a 59-52 win.

South Portland (Class AA) and Falmouth (Class A) are representing southern Maine in Saturday's title games.

Oceanside claims its first girls’ state championship, completing a perfect season, and the Yarmouth boys win a thriller over Ellsworth. On a night of exciting basketball, Morning Sentinel Staff Photographer Michael G. Seamans had some of the best shots of all.

South champ South Portland hasn't won a state title since 1992. Oxford Hills never has. The teams meet at 9 p.m. Saturday at Cross Insurance Arena.

The Clippers are allowing just 36.5 points per game, but they face a talented offensive squad in undefeated Ellsworth on Friday night.

The Navigators know they are considered underdogs despite a 17-0 record against Class A teams and an average margin of victory of more than 25 points.

The Red Riots get a big early lead, then end the third quarter on a 12-0 run to pull away from Thornton Academy, 56-39.

The top-ranked Warriors show explosiveness while beating the second-seeded Witches, 68-58.

The Navigators rely on strong defense and balanced scoring to beat the Hawks, 48-32, and advance to the state championship game.

Teigan Pelletier's basket with .4 seconds left gives the second-seeded Vikings a 48-47 win in the North final.

Trailing 12-3 early, the Clippers play shut-down defense and get huge baskets from Stevie Walsh in a 47-35 victory.

Jaycie Christopher leads the unbeaten and top-ranked River Hawks past Lawrence, 44-30.

Regional finals in Class A South and Class B South were moved from Cross Insurance Arena to the Expo because of Friday's snowstorm.

The Class AA South boys' title game between South Portland and Thornton Academy will cap a busy day at two sites.

The teams will look to make history when they meet Saturday night in Augusta for the Class A North title.

The top-seeded Red Riots will face No. 2 Thornton Academy in a rematch of the 2020 South final.

The Trojans advance to the regional final with a tight win over Massabesic, 53-48.

Marshal Adams' shot was falling and John Shea took over in the fourth quarter to help the top-seeded Red Eddies beat the rival Blue Devils, 68-55.

Girls' basketball: The fourth-seeded Tigers win a defensive battle to earn a spot in the Class D South final.

The Vikings dominate inside and advance to the Class AA North final with a 59-46 victory.

All Friday games have been moved to Saturday, and the Class A South and Class B South finals will now be played at the Portland Expo instead of Cross Insurance Arena.

Chris Reuning leads the way with 18 points as the Hawks defeat Greely, 46-34, in a Class A South semifinal.

Ten boys and 10 girls are in the running for the annual awards that go to Maine's top senior basketball players.

Eighth-grader Fisher Tewksbury scores 24 points to help the Cavaliers eliminate Pine Tree Academy.

Boys’ basketball: The top-seeded Navigators dominate from start to finish in a 70-34 victory over Fryeburg Academy.

The second-seeded Clippers halt York's 14-game winning streak with a 50-41 victory.

The Roadrunners' relentless press makes quick work of the Seahawks in a Class C South quarterfinal.

The Flyers shut down the top-seeded Ramblers in a 44-26 quarterfinal victory.

The Hawks hold Biddeford scoreless in the first quarter and ease to a 47-30 win over the Tigers in a Class A South quarterfinal.

Boys’ basketball: The Panthers dominate from the outset and advance to the Class B South semifinals with a 60-47 win.

The second-seeded Clippers outrebounded the Mariners by a wide margin en route to a 63-43 win in a Class B South quarterfinal.

Both teams start at a torrid pace before the nearly mistake-free Wildcats pull away for a 67-51 victory.

Basketball: Eliot Bouchard leads the fourth-seeded Scots to a 64-53 quarterfinal win over No. 5 Gorham.