BANGOR – When the Calais boys drove all the way to the Eastern Maine Class C final last year, the Blue Devils were just enjoying the ride. This year, they have a destination in mind.

The Blue Devils passed another big mile marker on their road to a state title with a fourth-quarter comeback and 68-58 win over Washington Academy of East Machias in Friday afternoon’s semifinal at the Bangor Auditorium.

The 20-1 Devils will meet Friday night’s Piscataquis-George Stevens Academy winner in a 9 p.m. regional final on Saturday.

“Last year we were just happy to be here,” said Calais senior center Joe Footer. “This year we knew we wanted to take it all and that’s been our focus.”

The 6-foot-5 pivot man’s focus was evident early as he scored six of Calais’ first eight points en route to a game-high 34 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocked shots.

“We tried going 1-3-1 on them early and Footer seemed to get it anytime he wanted. We went triangle-and-two and he was getting it when he wanted,” said WA coach Chad Fitzsimmons, whose Raiders wind up 18-3 after going 1-2 vs. Calais this season. “We didn’t deny him like we wanted, but we did a little better in the second half.”

Even WA’s redoubled effort plus Footer foul trouble failed to slow him much as he had 16 points and eight rebounds in the second half.

Of course, Footer had plenty of help as sophomore Andy Frost, WA’s other big target, made four of his seven steals in the second half and finished with 12 points and seven rebounds.

“We kind of wanted anybody but Frost and Footer to beat us, but Footer got the ball and Frost was key because he broke our press and was helping them get easy looks out of it,” Fitzsimmons said.

Well, that kind of happened too as Calais senior guard Darren Morrell broke out offensively with 10 points – all in the second half – and five assists. He said it all started with defense, as the Devils mixed it up with a 3-2 matchup zone, a 1-3-1 halfcourt trap, fullcourt press, and man-to-man.

The Devils made their big move early in the fourth, just seconds after WA threatened to take the game’s first double-digit lead. A 49-42 deficit near the end of the third turned into a 53-51 lead with 5:29 to play as Calais turned up the defensive pressure with four steals and five WA turnovers in a two-minute span – and all of that was done with three starters – Footer (3), James Provencher (4) and Morrell (3) – in foul trouble.

The teams traded points until Calais called timeout with 1:59 left. Footer rebounded Morrell’s missed 3-pointer to make it 62-58. After a WA miss, the Devils spread the offense and WA had to foul. Calais went 6-for-8 from the line as Footer was 5-for-6 and the Devils scored the final eight points.

Bobby Richardson led WA with 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. Nick Reynolds had 11, 12, and three, respectively whil Jared Gray came off the bench for 15 points and five boards.

EAGLES 54, PIRATES 43

George Stevens (19-2) Piscataquis boys (19-2)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Astbury 0 0 2 3 2 Hoffman 1 2 2

Clapp 0 4 0 0 0 White 0 2 0

Ledien 3 10 3 4 11 Pulkkinen 3 11 6 9 14

Allen 0 0 0 0 0 Dawson 2 12 7

Henry 4 9 9 11 17 Smith 1 5 4

Lowell 2 4 0 0 4 Watson 2 4 5

Candage 0 0 0 0 0 Carson 4 12 9

Hutchins 8 14 4 7 20 Tracy 0 4 2

Totals 17 41 18 25 54 13 52 12 18 43

George Stevens Academy 7 18 30 54

Piscataquis 5 9 2 43

3-pt. goals: GSA (2-8): Ledien 2-7, Clapp 0-1; Piscataquis (5-17): Pulkkinen 2-7, Dawson 2-9, Watson 1-1