enlarge John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Never gets old for Deering, raising the Gold Ball after winning the Class A state title. The Rams beat Messalonskee 49-34 for their third title in six seasons.

AUGUSTA — Whew!

The Deering High girls’ basketball team refused to wilt under pressure all through its regular season and regional tournament. Saturday night, the Rams rose to a challenge again.

After its worst offensive first half of the season, Deering dominated the final two quarters to win its second straight Class A championship, beating Messalonskee 49-34 at the Augusta Civic Center.

In winning their 36th consecutive game to finish 22-0, the Rams became the first Class A team to win back-to-back titles since McAuley in 2002 and 2003.

“People have no idea how difficult the pressure is to win and to pull it off,’’ said Mike Murphy, the first-year Deering coach. “These girls had tremendous focus to take it one game at a time. The bull’s-eye was on them all year.

“And to come through and win it is a great accomplishment. It’s tough to do.’’

Diana Manduca led a balanced Deering offense with 14 points; Kayla Burchill had 13 and Claire Ramonas 10. Ramonas, who picked up two fouls in the first quarter and sat out the second, and Burchill combined for 18 points in the second half.

Deering led 13-12 after a sloppy first half. The Rams were especially ineffective in the first quarter, shooting 1 of 16.

“We were just too hyped up,’’ said guard Jess Ruhlin. “We had to slow it down.’’

And once they did, the Rams were difficult to stop. Manduca had three assists in the third quarter, when Deering scored 20 points to take a 33-22 lead. Each came on a backdoor cut by Ramonas or Burchill, who each scored three baskets in the quarter.

“I think (Murphy) went in there (at halftime) and lit a fire,’’ said Eagles Coach Brenda Beckwith. “They pass the ball so well. They spread you out and we knew that, and then they set a couple of back screens and we didn’t read them well.

“And that’s when the machine got going and you could see that cranking up.’’

Deering led by 11 after three as Ruhlin scored on a drive at the buzzer. And the Rams slowly expanded the lead, topping at 17. Their defense, exceptional all season, befuddled the Eagles, who couldn’t hit from the perimeter.

Messalonskee (19-3) got inside in the first half, but Deering backed its defense in a little in the second, forcing the Eagles to shoot from the outside. “And we couldn’t hit a thing,’’ said Beckwith.

Foul shooting also didn’t help the Eagles, who missed 13 free throws. But this was Deering’s night … after the first half. “We just had to get our jitters out,’’ said Manduca. “It was a little too close for comfort there.’’

But, said Ramonas, “We made our minds up that we weren’t going to lose.’’

So the Rams clamped down on defense and won their third title since 2004.

“This feels even better than last year,’’ said Manduca, who is heading to Colby College next year. “Being a senior, it just feels so much better because it’s our last game for Deering. It’s a great way to go out.’’

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:

mlowe@pressherald.com