AUGUSTA — When Dominique Lewis drilled her first 3 of the game Saturday, she emphatically pumped her fist.

When the junior guard from Lawrence High School drained her final 3, she — and her teammates — celebrated a championship.

Moments after Bangor tied the teams’ Eastern Class A title game at the Augusta Civic Center, Lewis answered with a 3 of her own with 16 seconds remaining, lifting the Bulldogs to a 46-42 win over the Rams.

“It’s amazing,” said Lewis, who finished with a game-high 16 points, including five 3’s. “We’ve been working all year for this. A bunch of us have been playing since first grade together. We’ve always dreamed of this and it finally came true.”

Bangor (19-2) was down by as many as six in the final quarter, but a Katie Butler 3 and a free throw by Cordelia Stewart cut the lead to 41-39 with 1:13 to play. Lewis made it a three-point lead with a free throw with a minute left.

The Rams, who defeated Lawrence soundly late in the regular season, nearly got the equalizer when a Mary Butler try from the top of the arc went in and out. Bangor got the rebound and was able to move it around for an open Sarah Bragg. She let it fly and tied it with 30 ticks left.

“It was crazy,” Lewis said. “I didn’t expect them to comeback, and they came back. Obviously, they had doubled down underneath so well. We couldn’t get it undernearth. So we needed an outside shot.”

Lawrence (20-1) didn’t call a timeout, and came right back at the Rams. Lewis got an open look at the top of the key, and drained it with 16 seconds to play.

“It was the greatest feeling of my life,” Lewis said. “Time was ticking down. We needed some points. They left me open the last time and I didn’t shoot it. We got the ball reversal and I realized I was wide open. I just had to go for it.”

Emily Gilmore had one last try at a tying 3 for Bangor but missed. Nia Irving got the rebound and sank a free throw to seal it.

It is the first regional title for Lawrence since 1994, the last of the Cindy Blodgett years.

“I’ve been reminded of that,” said Lawrence coach John Donato, who won a regional title with Houl ton in 1993. “I won an Eastern Maine title in 1993, so it’s been a long time for me, as well.”

In addition to Lewis’ 16 points, Nia Irving had 10 and Abby Weigang added eight. Morgan Boudreau chipped in seven off the bench.

“Morgan has been starting all year, but with Bangor’s size, I had to go with a bigger lineup,” Donato said. “I was really pleased with Morgan because she gave us another outside threat.”

Bangor was led by Bragg with 14 and Mary Butler, who finished with 10 before fouling out. Lawrence’s Paige Belanger was named the Eastern A’s most outstanding player, in part for her superb defensive job on Butler.

With three six-foot players, Bangor was able to defend the post and limit what Irving could do in the paint. The junior forward had 33 in the semifinal win over Brunswick, but she didn’t score her first field goal until the second quarter. She had just five points at halftime.

“Dominique, all year, has taken the shot from the outside,” Donato said. “She hasn’t played well on the this floor until today. They were sagging in the middle and preventing us from getting it into Nia. She had three bigs on her. We knew we had to win this from the outside.”

That’s why Lewis’ first 3 of the game, the first points of the game, were so important. The fist pump showed an excited Lewis that could feel her shooting touch returning.

“It just boosted my confidence back up and gave me what I needed,” Lewis said. “I haven’t been on my rhythm. I didn’t really help my team as much as I wanted to. I felt like this game, I gave it my all and gave it all for my team.”

It was the fantastic finish that the game was hinting at all game. Lawrence entered the fourth with a 33-32 lead but a quick 3 fromBoudreau gave the Bulldogs the 36-32 lead.

 Bangor cut the lead with a Mary Butler free throw and a rebound by Katie Butler with 5:46 left. That made it 36-35.

Lawrence surged ahead again with five straight. After a Weigang basket, Irving sank two free throws and Boudreau added another with 1:43 left. Bangor rallied again with a 3 from Katie Butler with 1:25 left. Then Stewart added a free throw to cut it to 41-39 with 1:13 remaining.

Lawrence left the door open for Bangor down the stretch with four straight missed free throws. A Lewis free throw gave Lawrence a 42-39 lead with 1:00 left. That’s when Bragg and Lewis traded 3’s in the final minute.

Bangor had opened a 14-6 lead in the first quarter, finishing with a 12-1 run. Bragg had a pair of 3’s in the first and eight points overall.

Lawrence were within 26-24 by halftime.  A Lewis 3 and a three-point play by Belanger tied it 22-22 with 1:32 left. After Mary Butler and Irving traded scores, Gilmore sank a pair of free throws for the lead.

In the third, Lawrence used a 9-2 run to take the lead. After a Weigang basket, Irving tied it with a short jumper. Lewis followed with a 3. After a Stewart basket, a two Belanger free throws made it 33-30. A Bragg jumper cut the lead to one entering the fourth.

kmills@sunjournal.com

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