AUGUSTA — Snubbed by the coaches in its conference in a preseason poll, overshadowed by its riverside rival for two decades, the Lewiston Blue Devils are mad as hell, taking it no longer, and headed for a regional final.

Isaiah Harris and Trever irish combined for 12 points in a fourth quarter dominated by No. 4 Lewiston, which turned the tables on No. 1 Edward Little in stunning fashion, 55-45, in a Class A East semifinal Wednesday night at Augusta Civic Center.

Lewiston (13-7) has won seven of eight games heading into the title tilt against three-time defending champion Hampden at 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

“Beating EL, anywhere, anytime, any day, always feels amazing,” Harris said. “This time we had our run after they had their run.”

Harris finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Irish coupled 13 points with eight rebounds for the Blue Devils, who will make their school’s first appearance in a sectional final since 1991.

“This has never happened to me before. It’s the farthest I’ve been in any sport,” said Quintarian Brown, who contributed three steals and five rebounds off the bench. “I’ve always wanted it in football, but basketball is a great group of guys. I’ll take it any day.”

In the third clash this season of senior-centered, strong-willed teams, Lewiston limited EL to 35 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers.

Lewiston locked down on EL’s Mr. Basketball semifinalists, Lew Jensen and Ian Mileikis, all night. Jensen led EL (18-2) with 11 points and nine rebounds. All five of Mileikis’ points came in the second half.

“We never really got into a flow. We didn’t create very well for ourselves,” EL coach Mike Adams said. “And they were part of that, definitely. It wasn’t meant to be tonight. There’s no regrets.”

Fate turned the Devils’ way after it appeared that the Eddies would play their own customary team-of-destiny card.

Down 26-19 at the half and 28-21 after an Irish putback, EL rattled off nine consecutive points to take its only lead of the night. Luke Sterling scored the first basket, and Jensen and Mileikis did the rest, capped by Jensen’s steal and go-ahead layup with 4:14 remaining in the third.

“Have you seen that game before?” Lewiston coach Tim Farrar said. “You know they’re going to hit one. You know they’re going to do it. I told the kids that. You don’t want to be negative, but it’s reality. They’re going to make a run.”

Kevin Dillingham knotted it on Lewiston’s next possession with a second-chance hoop, and two Harris free throws restored the Devils’ lead to stay with 2:28 to go in the period.

Tykeem Gaines’ tip-in beat the buzzer to make it 36-32. That triggered a run of 12 straight to put it away. Harris had four points and two assists to Irish during that stretch.

“Even though he’s a great track athlete, basketball is still his first love,” Farrar said of Harris. “He wouldn’t miss this for anything. He battled with foul trouble two games in a row, and he’s one of our leaders, but we’re not one guy.”

Ace Curry and Ryan Bell combined for five points in the fourth quarter. Bell nailed a 3-pointer to help the Devils extend their first-half lead.

The night started ominously for the Eddies with seven consecutive misses from the field. Harris’ inside basket, an Irish free throw and a Curry drive staked Lewiston to a 5-0 lead.

Led by brothers Thomas and Charles Cedre off the bench, EL pulled even at six before back-to-back baskets by Harris and Brown capped the quarter.

Lewiston went up by seven on Bell’s 3-pointer, then answered Charles Cedre’s trey with a Dillingham free throw a steal and coast-to-coast drive by Curry.

Jensen and Mileikis were held scoreless in the half until two Jensen hoops in the final two minutes.

“There’s certain teams, Bangor and Hampden are two of them also, but when (EL is) staring right across at you in the gym and summer camps and leagues, eighth-grade, whatever, it’s special for our kids to be able to beat them here,” Farrar said.

 koakes@sunjournal.com

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