enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Ian Barwise, right, and Daniel Tarsetti, both seniors, cut down the nets Saturday after capping their high school basketball careers in the best possible way – with the Class A state title for Thornton Academy with a 54-52 victory over Edward Little at the Augusta Civic Center.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

As the game goes into the final moments, the tension is reflected by Thornton Academy reserves, from left, Tyler Tanguay, Keegan Sullivan and Matt Perreault.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

James Morse has the trophy, and Michael Guerin, left, and John Trull have the nets Saturday after Thornton Academy did what previous teams at the school never had done – win the Class A boys’ basketball state title.

enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

James Morse had the ball on his fingers during the game, but after it the only ball he wanted was the Gold Ball. And he got it. And so did Thornton.

AUGUSTA — Ian Barwise wanted the ball late in the fourth quarter. And like last year when he was wearing a different uniform, Barwise delivered in crunch time.

His 3-pointer with 1:53 remaining started a landslide and Thornton Academy rode it the rest of the way for gold – a Gold Ball, that is – the school’s first state championship in basketball.

Thornton (19-3) went on an 11-3 run with the game in the balance and won the Class A basketball state title Saturday with a 54-52 victory against Edward Little before 4,600 fans at the Augusta Civic Center.

After Corey Therriault’s 3-pointer for Edward Little made it a one-point game again, Thornton hit its next six points at the line.

Edward Little (19-3) led much of the game, by eight at halftime and nine late in the third quarter.

Then came the final two minutes, and the Eddies lost their composure.

They committed two intentional fouls, had a technical called on Coach Mike Adams, and Thornton, sensing its chance for history, took advantage.

Thornton grabbed its first lead since the opening moments when Barwise hit two foul shots with 4:15 remaining to make it 42-41. Therriault’s short jumper gave the Eddies back the lead.

Barwise, who won a state title with Cheverus a year ago, finished with 19 points. His 3-pointer from the side put Thornton up 45-43.

Michael Guerin followed with a steal at midcourt and layup to make it 47-43. Therriault, who scored a game-high 21 points, hit a 3-pointer from the side.

Thornton ran off 41 seconds before Morse was fouled, and he made 1 of 2 from the line. Therriault missed a 3-pointer and John Trull rebounded. Edward Little was called for its first intentional foul, with Adams disagreeing.

After Trull made one from the line, Adams was called for the technical.

Morse sank two from the line on the technical with 26 seconds remaining to make it 51-46.

Moments later, he made two more to make it a seven-point margin.

Shane Ciriello hit an off balance 3-pointer for the Eddies, but Edward Little then committed another intentional foul with 11 seconds remaining.

Andrew Shaw missed two from the line, but Thornton retained possession.

Trull had a difficult time inbounding the ball, settling for a high, crosscourt pass that Guerin tracked down before being fouled.

He made the first of two with 7.9 seconds left.

Therriault hit a final 3-pointer as time expired.

“We just had to keep playing,” said Trull.

“If Andrew Shaw hadn’t come down with (a) rebound, Barwise would never have had the opportunity. That was a huge play,” said Trull who had six points, but contributed nine rebounds and six assists.

“We knew we could do it,” said Barwise, who scored nine points in the first quarter and was calling for the ball late in the game.

“I thought at the peak of the (3-pointer) that it had a chance of going in. I just shot it and my teammates did the rest by making their foul shots.

“Trailing at halftime, we had to come out and play a great second half.”

Barwise said he was relaxed in the fourth quarter.

“I know what it feels like to play in a state final. The first one is always special but this one feels pretty good. We were a close team this season.”

After a slow start, Morse picked up his offense in the second half, scoring 12 of his 14 points.

James Philbrook scored 11 points for Edward Little.

“We stopped doing the things we had done in the first half,” said Adams.

“Thornton did a good job doing what they had to do in the second half.”

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

tchard@pressherald.com