AUGUSTA —Wiscasset couldn’t keep Waynflete from hitting 3-pointers on Monday night. Consequently, for the third time this decade, the Wolverines couldn’t stop the Flyers from soaring into the Class C South boys’ basketball semifinals.

No. 4 Waynflete sank six bonus balls in the first half to build a double-digit lead at Augusta Civic Center. Despite a sensational effort from Wiscasset junior Ethan James, the fifth-seeded Wolverines couldn’t nudge closer than nine points thereafter in a 66-47 defeat.

Abel Alemayo scored 23 points, highlighted by four 3-pointers, to hoist Waynflete (16-3) into an 8:30 p.m. Thursday date with Dirigo.

Milo Belleau added 19 points for the Flyers. Will Nelligan notched 11 and Yai Deng delivered eight. Deng is the only underclassman in the bunch.

“It’s such an exciting place to play, and the kids were so keyed up that I was a little worried about the first three or four minutes, but that’s the beauty of having seniors,” Waynflete coach Rich Henry said.

James led all scorers with 31 points, fueled by five 3-pointers.

Fifth-seeded Wiscasset (14-6) previously lost to Waynflete in the 2011 and 2012 quarterfinals.

Alemayo rained down three 3-pointers, Nelligan two and Belleau another prior to the half, putting the Flyers in command after a basket-swapping beginning to the contest.

“We preach to those kids the importance of taking good 3s. We like to get the ball moving and the defense moving before we take the 3,” Henry said. “Will Nelligan actually had a couple of 3s that he passed up. He’s such a conscientious kid that he doesn’t want to take a bad shot.”

Waynflete led 36-22 at the break.

James hit a layup and a 3-pointer to christen the third period and cut it to single digits. Nelligan answered with a free throw, followed by a Deng basket.

Back-to-back hoops by junior reserve Russell Marr again rallied the Wolverines within 10. Alemayo intervened again, first with a 3-pointer, then with a traditional 3-point play.

“There was a stagnant period there in the third period that had me going, so we’re not quite there yet,” Henry said, “but I was pleased with how the kids played since we hadn’t played in so long.”

James’ two 3-pointers sliced the gap to 55-45 with 5:05. Belleau punched Waynflete’s ticket to the next round with layups on consecutive possessions.

“The James kid is a great shooter. He stayed composed the whole way,” Henry said. “I was very impressed with his skill set.”

koakes@sunjournal.com

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