AUGUSTA - You know, when you're cruising along at a high rate of speed, getting to where you're going in good time, but then all of a sudden, you hit a speed bump or pothole or two, and that slows you down?

The Richmond Bobcats were that kind of hurdle for the unbeaten Buckfield girls Thursday.

After scoring 85 points in their quarterfinal game Tuesday, the Bucks had to win with defense instead in the next round. Buckfield did that just fine in a 33-19 victory in Thursday's Western D semifinal.

As dominant as the offense was against Seacoast, the defense was equally impressive against the Bobcats, shutting out Richmond in the first and third quarters. The Bobcats also didn't produce a field goal until 40 seconds remained in the second half.

"That's pretty good," said Bucks coach Troy Eastman. "It didn't feel like it, but that's why one basket is pretty big.

"At halftime, we were able to celebrate the fact that we'd only given up 13 points."

The Bucks advance to Saturday's regional final to face Vinalhaven. It's the first trip to the championship game for the Bucks since 1991. Vinalhaven hasn't been this far since losing to Buckfield in 1986.

"It's revenge for last year," said senior forward Kasey Farrington, referring to an overtime semifinal loss to Hyde last February. "We knew we deserved it last year. I think the whole game, this time, it was pretending it was Hyde."

Ashlee Hamann led the Bucks (20-0) with nine points, while Farrington added eight. Lindsay Henderson chipped in six.

The Bucks got off to a slow start. Buckfield's 13 turnovers and 5-for-24 shooting in the first half accounted for that, but Richmond didn't do much better. The Bobcats were 6-for-18 and had 11 turnovers. Richmond's only offensive thrust was a spurt of nine straight points late in the first half that tied the game 10-10.

"We work on our defense a lot," said Alyssa Henderson. "We know that's what usually sparks our offense. As long as we know that, we'll do good on defense and that will get something going on offense."

The Bucks outscored Richmond 3-0 in the third, but that put Buckfield in control. Lindsay Henderson scored on a three-point play to make it 18-13. The Bucks slowed down the offense in the final three minutes and tempted the Bobcats to come out and play defense.

"They had to come out and play," said Eastman. "If they came at us, we were going to attack, and if they didn't, we were going to sit back. It took a little character to do that."

In the fourth, the Bucks got quick baskets from Emily Eastman and Farrington, who finished off an Alyssa Henderson pass. After a Richmond free throw, Hamann set up Abby Jones for a hoop and 24-14 lead.

"We talked about who has more heart," Farrington said about halftime. "We knew we had to work hard and do what we do best. We wanted to get it inside. We have one of the bigger Class D teams. So we knew if we got it inside and got them in foul trouble, we'd do great."

Richmond got three free throws from Megan DeRaps, who led the Bobcats with seven points. Guard Melanie Schanck was plagued by foul trouble and fouled out in the fourth quarter with three points. The Bucks padded the lead with two free throws from Alyssa Henderson and four from Hamann for a 30-17 lead.

"Every time we play Richmond, it's a close game," said Alyssa Henderson. "It's always in the second half when we know we have to work hard in order to win the game."

Despite missing an abundance of easy shots, the Bucks had an 11-2 lead. Richmond's turnovers fueled the Bucks offense, but the Bobcats rallied late in the half. A three-pointer by Stephanie O'Brien and scores by Amy Russell tied the game.

Two free throws by Farrington in the final seconds kept the Bucks ahead, 15-13, at the half.

"In the beginning, if we'd made some of those baskets, we'd have been on a roll, and it would have been a different style," said Eastman. "You work so hard to get those, and you miss them. It can be a little deflating."