Blodgett powers UMaine past Drexel> East teams win 3 state high school titles

Cindy Blodgett scored a career-high and North Atlantic Conference tournament-record 44 points to lead the University of Maine women to an 88-51 quarterfinal victory over Drexel Sunday afternoon at Orono to highlight college and high school basketball tournament action over the weekend.

The top-seeded Black Bears will host the No. 4 Hartford Hawks at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals as they try to earn a second straight berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Also Sunday, the No. 2 Boston University men nipped No. 3 Maine 66-64 in an NAC semifinal at Newark, Del. Maine topped No. 6 Vermont 84-75 in the quarterfinals Saturday.

On Saturday, Eastern Maine’s Central Aroostook of Mars Hill and Hodgdon brought home gold balls from the state Class D and C boys championships, respectively, while Eastern Maine’s Jonesport-Beals and Western Maine’s Dirigo of Dixfield earned state Class D and C girls titles.

Jan Beal led Jonesport-Beals to a 60-42 victory over Richmond by scoring 27 points and grabbing 30 rebounds, and Ben Allen scored 28 points as CAHS held off Hyde School of Bath 75-74.

Dirigo upset Calais 66-57 as Rebecca Fletcher scored 35 points, and Sam Henderson with 28 points and Adam Carter with 19 led Hodgdon past Falmouth 77-71.

In Eastern Maine Class A girls quarterfinal action Saturday at the Bangor Auditorium, No. 2 Bangor downed No. 7 Waterville 48-43, No. 5 Old Town edged No. 4 Lawrence of Fairfield 48-46, No. 6 Presque Isle upset No. 3 Hampden 45-40, and No. 1 Cony of Augusta routed No. 8 Skowhegan 73-45.

For the Class A boys Saturday, No. 1 Bangor defeated No. 8 Presque Isle 57-43, No. 7 Brewer upset No. 2 Messalonskee of Oakland 54-52, No. 3 Old Town nipped No. 6 Gardiner 67-66, and No. 5 Mt. Blue of Farmington rolled past No. 4 Lawrence 57-42.