AUGUSTA — It happens so quickly. A missed shot, a loose rebound and suddenly Ian Barwise has the basketball in his hands. He knocks down a 3-point shot.

The ball heads down to the opposite basket and suddenly Michael Guerin has the ball in his hands. He drives nearly the length of the court for a layup.

One side of the Augusta Civic Center gets louder than loud while the other side sits hushed, suddenly nervous.

In a flash, Saturday’s game for the Class A state championship has changed.

“I told myself, ‘I can’t miss this shot,’ ” said Guerin, Thornton Academy’s senior guard. “I did early in the season.”

His was one of those plays that brings you out of your seat, not unlike a punt or kickoff run back for a touchdown in football. Or the heavyweight landing a right uppercut to an opponent who thought he controlled the fight.

Guerin wouldn’t speak to Edward Little’s mind-set after he scored the basket that gave Thornton Academy a four-point lead, its largest since the first quarter.

“I know we started believing we were playing better, that’s all.”

He wore one of the basketball nets around his neck, the traditional celebratory necklace. “(Winning the championship) hasn’t hit me yet. Probably tomorrow when I wake up and see I’m still wearing this.”

Thornton Academy beat Edward Little, 54-52. Thornton is the new king of Class A. With the exception of Barwise, who won with last year’s Cheverus team, no Thornton player could imagine the feeling. Winning a state basketball title hadn’t happened in their lifetimes. Hadn’t happened to their fathers, either.

Which is why some of the older generations came down from the stands to shake hands or simply touch the players. Finally they could feel what other communities have experienced for years.

“I wish I could take this home,” said John Trull, holding the Gold Ball. ‘‘I don’t think they’ll let me.”

Maybe because this trophy means so much to so many. Coach Bob Davies, once a senior at neighboring Old Orchard Beach, fouled out of his game for the Class C championship some 15 years ago.

Trull, a member of Thornton’s football team, saw his dream of winning a Gold Ball vanish in last autumn’s loss to Bonny Eagle in the Western Maine final.

Does the shape of the gold ball matter now?

‘No,” said Trull. “Definitely not. I’ve got a lot of friends on the hockey team. They were second seeds in the tournament and thought they could win (the state title.) Then lost. This is for them. It’s for all the players.”

Thornton Academy won tough in beating Deering, then top-seeded Cheverus and finally Portland, the tournament-tested program. Beating Edward Little wasn’t going to be easy. The Red Eddies had their own hunger, not winning a state basketball title since 1946.

That was one reason so many came inside to watch basketball on a Saturday afternoon when it was so balmy outside. There was little breathing space in the grandstands and less on the court.

At times the game was played at a pace that exceeded heartbeats.

Thornton Academy trailed by nine before beginning its rally. Doug Wilcox, who lost his starting job to Barwise, came off the bench to hit a 3-pointer. Barwise followed with an offensive rebound and a fall-away jumper before James Morse stepped up and hit his 3-pointer before the third quarter ended.

The lead bounced back and forth on the big scoreboard until Barwise, then Guerin, stepped up for the big moments every player dreams about.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Guerin, who finally started to smile.

No one was coming to take the net from around his neck. No one was asking Trull to hand back the Gold Ball.

Thornton Academy is the new champion.

Staff Writer Steve Solloway can be contacted at 791-6412 or at:

ssolloway@pressherald.com