Sports

The Basketball Committee of the Maine Principals’ Association to take up issue next week after state tournament has second controversial buzzer-beater in three seasons.

After initially moving forward with a one-region plan for the largest class, the Classification Committee approved staying with a North and South split.

Gruber and Davies are honored at the Maine Association of Basketball Coaches awards banquet as the state's best senior players.

The Cheverus High girls and Gorham boys are among teams with enough returning firepower to expect big things next winter.

Thomas Harvey (Brunswick) and Brady Merrill (Mt. Ararat) recognized for performance on and off the court.

The Red Riots survive a late flurry from Oceanside after having the lead for nearly the entire game.

Ben Smith scores a game-high 19 points and Jayden Kim adds 13 in the second half as the Red Riots are able to pull away from Portland, 52-42.

The Old Orchard Beach girls and Oceanside boys are both aiming for their first state championship.

The Maine Principals' Association's Classification Committee also allows for teams with a winning percentage of fewer than 25% over four seasons to play down one class.

Oxford Hills takes on Gorham in the girls' title game, while rivals Portland and South Portland meet for the boys' championship.

The Bulldogs' leading scorer, a senior transfer from Deering, missed the football state championship game because of an injury.

After a 21-point defeat at Thornton Academy in mid-January, the Red Riots realized they needed to change their approach.

Commentary: Another disputed call at the end of a playoff game brings cries for video replay to assist game officials.

After letting an early 10-point lead slip away, the Witches rally in the final minute to win the Class A championship game, 42-41.

Those games will be played instead on Monday and Tuesday evenings in Portland and Bangor, and two hockey playoff games also are postponed.

Saturday afternoon sessions in Portland and Bangor have been postponed, but for now Class AA games are still set for Saturday night at Cross Insurance Arena.

Like a year ago, the Navigators will face a formidable foe in Brewer, which won its last two playoff games by a combined 84 points.

Brunswick takes on Lawrence in the girls' title game, while Falmouth and Brewer meet for the boys' championship.

While the Falmouth and South Portland boys and Gorham and Seacoast Christian girls are making return trips to the big stage, the Old Orchard Beach girls will make their championship debut.

The reigning state champions win another Class AA South title by shutting down top-seeded Thornton Academy, 55-44.

After two close losses to the top-ranked Vikings during the regular season, Portland wins the regional crown with a 47-35 victory.

The Vikings come back from 12 points down early in the fourth quarter to dethrone Cheverus, 68-63.

The Trojans and Scots trade the lead four times in the final 18 seconds, with top-seeded Thornton finally winning, 52-51, on a disputed shot as time expired.

The methodical Navigators advance to a second straight state championship game.

The defending state champions clamp down on defense and return to the regional final with a 63-37 victory.

Yarmouth rallies from a big deficit to force overtime, but the Mariners claim their first regional title with a 71-67 victory in the Class B South final.

The Vikings, sparked by 27 points and 14 rebounds from Teigan Pelletier, will face Portland in the Class AA North championship game on Saturday.

Girls’ basketball: The Bulldogs end Gardiner’s bid for an undefeated season with a 61-54 victory.

An 8-0 run late in the game finally pushes the second-seeded Bulldogs to a 46-40 semifinal win over the third-seeded Blue Devils.

After snow forced postponements Thursday, teams must win a semifinal on Friday and a regional final on Saturday to reach the state title game.

The Hawks use their size effectively and advance to the Class A South final for a second straight season.

Mason Desjardins leads the way as Tigers roll into regional final.

Mason Desjardins scores 32 points, leading the three-time defending champions to another regional final.

Stevie Walsh scores 21 of his 23 points in the second half as the Clippers reach the Class B South final for the second straight year.

With a snowstorm expected to hit Maine on Wednesday night and linger throughout Thursday, the Maine Principals' Association has moved all games originally scheduled for Thursday to either Wednesday or Friday.

Luke Carey scores 33 as Cobras claim 55-42 quarterfinal win over Bobcats.

Falcons battle back from 11-point deficit.

Girls' basketball: The sixth-seeded Falcons overcome a double-digit deficit and close with a 12-3 run, earning a 58-53 victory.

Andrew Perry's double-double helps the Hawks catch fire in the second half and pull away from the Raiders, 51-35, in a Class A South quarterfinal.

Kevin Sincyr and Gabe Lash spark the Panthers to a comeback 66-61 victory in Class B South.

The reigning Class B state champions withstand a late comeback bid by the Black Bears, holding on for a 68-59 win in a South quarterfinal.

Veteran coaches point to better defenses and greater reliance on long-range shooting as reasons why tournament scoring has steadily decreased for both boys and girls.

From 2010 to present day, change and glory have come to the tournament at the Augusta Civic Center.

Ten boys and girls are under consideration as the top senior players in Maine.

Covering games at the arena is a highlight of his career, Portland Press Herald staff writer Travis Lazarczyk writes.

Jeff Love helps put Winthrop boys on the map in 1992; Dirigo girls begin first of 11 straight regional titles.

The Capers fall behind by 11 points before storming to a 61-42 win and will face No. 1 Oceanside in the quarterfinals.

Potential plans for four and five classes, with struggling teams dropping down, will be voted on in the March 6 meeting.

The annual high school basketball tournament will get underway with a chunk of the action set to play out at the Augusta Civic Center.

Overtime drama, rising underdogs and dominant athletes made for a memorable decade.