WATERVILLE — Scott Gagne wasn’t overly concerned with what was happening two and three courts away.

His primary concern?

Hampden Academy’s Matt Meo.

“I looked over twice all match,” Gagne said. “I just wanted to make sure I was focused on my own match.”

The first time he looked over, Gagne said, “I saw a 3-0 second-doubles score.”

The second?

“First doubles was celebrating,” he said. “That’s always a good sign.”

Then, Gagne finished off his end of the bargain. His 6-1, 6-2 victory over Meo was the Blue Devils’ clinching point in a 4-1 win over Hampden in the Eastern Class A final at Colby College on Wednesday.

“I played better this time than the last time I played him,” Gagne said. “I think the score showed that. It’s never easy in a match like this.”

The win sends the Blue Devils back to the Class A state title game for the ninth consecutive season. Lewiston will face Scarborough in Saturday’s Class A state final at Colby College at 10 a.m.

The difference this time around? They’re not the seven-time defending champions.

“I think we’re even more hungry, because we want it back,” Gagne said.

But Lewiston is still a solid team, essentially intact from last year’s run to the state title match against Windham.

“We had to play flawless to even compete today,” Hampden coach John Plourde said. “I was very happy with the way we competed today … We walk away with a 4-1 loss, but we can certainly keep our heads up knowing that we were right there with them in almost every match.”

The Devils wasted little time putting the pedal to the floor Wednesday. Brett Vallee and Jake Berube cruised past Hampden’s Kent Reichel and Nico Palacios 6-1, 6-1 to post the first point of the morning. Alex and Ben Chicoine soon followed at No. 1 doubles with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over John Wilson and Nick Boomer.

“We knew their doubles teams were going to be better than they showed us the first time around,” Lewiston coach Ron Chicoine said. “Especially their No. 1 doubles, they’re really tough. They played well today. Pulling that first set out really gave them the confidence to play a little bit more loosely in the second set.”

Gagne’s clincher allowed teammate Eric Morin to play a bit more loosely at No. 3 singles, as well. Ahead by a set by trailing 1-4 in the second, Morin rallied to win the next five games to win 6-4, 6-4, adding a fourth point to the Devils’ total.

At No. 1 singles, after taking the first set, Lewiston’s Eric Hall began to wilt in the heat. Hampden’s Philipp Schoenberger rallied from a loss in the first set to post a 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Hall.

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