enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Andrew Dickey, 22, Conor Lawler, 44, and Alex Bowe, right, raise the Western Class B championship plaque for a second straight year Saturday. Next: a game against Camden Hills for the Gold Ball.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Conor Lawler of Cape Elizabeth goes back up with an offensive rebound Saturday in front of his teammate, Conor Moloney. The Capers beat Falmouth, 58-48.

PORTLAND — Alex Bowe gets this look on his face, however brief, that seems to say, “Can you believe that just went in?”

Bowe said he isn’t aware of it, but it occurs from time to time when he gets on a roll. He got that look Saturday after his second 3-pointer from the corner in the fourth quarter glanced high off the backboard and somehow went through the net.

“I thought it definitely could be our game after it went in,” said Bowe.

It was.

Fourth-seeded Cape Elizabeth (17-4) recovered from a slow start to defeat second-ranked Falmouth 58-48 at the Cumberland County Civic Center and capture its second straight Western Class B boys’ basketball championship.

Cape and Camden Hills (20-0) will meet for the state title at 9 p.m. Friday at the Civic Center.

Bowe scored 24 points for the Capers, who recovered from a 13-4 deficit after one quarter. He hit a long 3-pointer at the end of the half to give the Capers their first lead, 21-19.

They never trailed again.

Falmouth (17-4) kept the game close as Stefano Mancini scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.

But Bowe answered with 10 and Andrew Dickey, who sat out the third quarter with three fouls, had two straight baseline drives that put Cape over the hump.

Bowe’s third 3-pointer of the game brought the look.

“The shot was touched by the defender,” said Bowe. “It hit the top corner of the backboard and went in at an angle.”

The basket gave Cape a 43-37 lead early in the fourth.Falmouth cut it to 45-42 on two free throws by Mancini, but that was the closest it got.

Dickey followed with his two drives to make it a seven-point margin.

Jack Cooleen hit two from the line for the Yachtsmen with 2:14 left, but Cape scored the next four from the line. Falmouth could sense the outcome – Mancini missed two from the line, then bounced the ball off his foot out of bounds.

Bowe was named the winner of the Pierre Harnois Trophy as the tourney MVP.

“The shots weren’t going in early but we stuck to what we were doing,” said Bowe. “We had the huge second quarter and we became more patient on offense.

“We had to take it to Falmouth. Falmouth had to come out on us (defensively) in the fourth quarter, which left the baseline wide open.”

Dickey scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth.

“I think Cape’s experience was a big factor,” said Falmouth Coach Dave Halligan. “We started to play tentatively after the first quarter. Bowe’s 3-pointer just before halftime gave them the momentum. Bowe stepped up and did what tourney MVPs do.

“I’m proud that we didn’t quit. We gave it our all.”Cape got outstanding performances from reserves Cam Brown, Theo Bowe and Will Pierce. Theo Bowe replaced his older brother when he got his third foul and hit a 3-pointer from the corner, the siblings’ favorite spot on the floor.

Point guard Johnny Messina handled Falmouth’s defensive pressure and contributed five points.

“(Messina) probably did his best job leading the team in this game,” said Ray.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com