Who: Houlton (18-4) vs. Winthrop (20-1)
What: Class C state championship
Where: Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
When: Saturday, March 2, approximately 9 p.m. (15 minutes after presentation of awards in preceding girls game)
Starting fives: Winthrop — Beau Brooks (Sr. G), Jared McLaughlin (Sr. G), Ryan Baird (Jr. F), Sam Figueroa (Sr. F), Cam Wood (Sr. C); Houlton — Nick Brooks (Sr. F), Nolan Porter (Sr. G), Cam Calnan (Jr. F), Jaron Gentle (Jr. G), Keegan Gentle (Jr. G) .
Tournament high scorers: Winthrop — Wood (18.7 points per game), McLaughlin (13.0 ppg); Houlton — K. Gentle (17.8 ppg), Porter (14.5 ppg).
How they got here: Winthrop was the No. 1 seed in Class C South. The Ramblers defeated No. 9 Dirigo in the quarterfinals, 67-51, No. 5 Traip Academy in the semifinals, 68-25, and No. 2 Hall-Dale, 61-41, in the final. Houlton entered the C North tournament as the No. 4 seed. The Shiretowners knocked off No. 13 Lee Academy in the preliminary round, 74-55, No. 5 Penobscot Valley, 72-32, in the quarterfinals, No. 8 Sumner in the semifinals, 60-34, and No. 3 George Stevens Academy, 54-34, in the final.
Gold ball history: Winthrop is making its second trip to Bangor in the last three years, having lost to George Stevens, 47-44, on a last-second shot in 2017. Winthrop is 4-4 overall in state games, with wins in 1965, 1992, 1993 and 2008. The Shiretowners are making their first state title game appearance since 2014, when they beat Waynflete, 58-56, in overtime for the crown. They also beat Jay, 64-49, in 2004. Their only other state championship appearance listed in Maine Principals’ Association came in 1930 in Class A, when Cheverus beat them 21-12 “by default,” according to the MPA.
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