enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Waterville's Jen Nale passes between Lake Region's Krysti Leach, center, and Abby Hancock during the Class B state championship game Friday night at the Bangor Auditorium. Waterville beat Lake Region for the second straight year, 54-35.

enlarge Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

Morgan Frame, center, and her Waterville teammates received an early scare from Lake Region, then took charge on the way to their 44th win in a row and their second consecutive Class B championship, beating the Lakers 54-35 at the Bangor Auditorium.

BANGOR — It’s now 44 wins and counting – and two straight state titles – for the Waterville High girls’ basketball team.

The Panthers completed their second consecutive undefeated season Friday night, pulling away in the second half to beat Lake Region 54-35 in the Class B championship game at the Bangor Auditorium.

Waterville (22-0) trailed by nine midway through the first quarter but regrouped to overcome the Lakers in a rematch of last year’s title game, won by the Panthers in overtime.

There was no need for extra minutes in this one, as Waterville – which has four starters returning next year – outscored the Lakers 33-15 in the final two quarters.

Lake Region (19-3) lost in the state championship game for the third consecutive year.

“They hit us with a roundhouse right in the first round and we dropped,’’ said Panthers Coach Ted Rioux, using a boxing term to describe Waterville’s early deficit. “But we were able to gather ourselves and come back. Basket by basket. I told the girls there was no 10-point shot out there.

“This is a great group of girls. We knew we had the talent to come back and they kept their composure.’’

They had to. Lake Region, fueled by senior Renee Nicholas, rattled the Panthers like no other team this season, scoring 16 points in the first four minutes, including 10 off turnovers forced by full-court pressure.

After Waterville grabbed an early 5-2 lead, Nicholas scored six points in 11 seconds – hitting two foul shots, then converting layups off steals – to put Lake Region ahead. Then she hit a 3-pointer, and Abby Hancock stole the inbounds pass, leading to a conventional three-point play, and Lake Region led 14-5 with 4:50 left in the first.

But nine seconds later, Nicholas picked up her second foul – fouls would be a huge factor for both teams – and had to sit down. That’s when Waterville began its comeback.

“I think the big turning point was when Renee picked up her second foul,’’ said Lake Region Coach Paul True. “I mean she was obviously huge ... and having her on the bench next to me was a big factor.

“And we didn’t shoot well.’’

No, the Lakers didn’t. Waterville switched to a 1-3-1 zone after its early deficit and took the Lakers out of their rhythm. Unable to get the ball inside against 6-foot-1 center Morgan Frame, Lake Region settled for 3-point attempts, and didn’t hit many.

“We had good looks,’’ said True. But, as Lake Region senior Erica Webb noted, “Nothing was falling for us.’’

“We’ve got a pretty solid defense,’’ said Waterville sophomore Jen Nale. “And we started playing defense the way we usually do.’’

Still, Lake Region held a 20-15 lead with 4:41 left in the first half after a basket by Nicholas, who finished with 16 points. Waterville, however, ran off the next 14 points.

“We just kept encouraging each other and letting each other know that we could do it,’’ said Frame, who led Waterville with 14 points.

The Panthers took the lead for good with 1:35 left in the second quarter when Frame, surrounded by Laker defenders, turned and found an open Taylor Hart for a layup that made it 21-20, which was the halftime score.

Waterville scored the first eight points of the third quarter, with Sarah Given’s 3-pointer from the left corner making it 29-20.

“Coach (Rioux) always tells us the first four minutes of the second half are the most important minutes of the game,’’ said Nale, who had 12 points. “And we take that to heart. We know how to come out hard as a team, especially in the second half. I think that discouraged them a little, then we were able...