Cheverus 40, Thornton 31 (final)
Cheverus is headed back to the Class A state final after a five-year absence after beating Thornton Academy, 40-31, to win the Western Maine Class A boys' basketball title Saturday night at the Civic Center.
The No. 1-ranked Stags will play Bangor next Saturday night at 9 at the Civic Center for the state title. It will be a rematch of the 2003 final won by Bangor, 48-43.
In one of the lowest scoring boys' regional finals, Cheverus (18-3) clamped down its defense to shut down Thornton's offense. The Stags scored their last seven points from the line.
Ian Barwize led Cheverus with 12 points, including a key three-points in the fourth quarter. Kory Martin led TA with 13 points as the Golden Trojans only offensive answer to the Stags' strong defense.
Thornton was trying to win the school's first regional title in basketball.

Cheverus 29, Thornton 26

Cheverus started quickly in the quarter with a couple of fastbreak layups. Mick DiStasio scored first and then Indiana Faithful. that scored brought a timeout from thornton and it seemed to work as the Golden Trojans got going.
Jam es Morse got his first basket of the game as he hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut it to 27-24

Cheverus 21, Thornton 18 (halftime)
Ian Barwize hit a shot from the corner at the buzzer to give Cheverus a 3-point lead. Points were scarce in the first half as defense took front and center. The Stags playing their traditional matchup zone while the Golden Trojans played a man-to-man.
Thornton got the ball into center Kory Martin, who responded with a team high nine points.
Barwize led the Stags with eight points.
Thornton is bidding for the school's first regional title while Cheverus is looking to get back to the state final for the first time in five years.

Cheverus 10, Thornton 7
A slow start to the boys' Western maine final as both teams came out cold. Wil White came off the bench to spark the Stags with five points. Dakota Greene had four for Thornton.

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