BANGOR – The Central Aroostook boys basketball team still feels it has something to prove.

Still, the No. 6 Panthers of Mars Hill took a big step in that direction as they held on for a 73-61 victory over No. 3 Schenck of East Millinocket Thursday afternoon in an Eastern Maine Class D semifinal.

Junior Tim Carlson scored 22 points as Central Aroostook will get a chance to defend its Eastern Maine Class D title Saturday morning.

“I don’t think we’ve proven it yet,” said senior guard Andrew York, who contributed 19 points, two blocks and seven rebounds. “We know we’re a good team, but we still have to come out Saturday and play really tough.”

The Panthers will face No. 1 Deer Isle-Stonington 15 minutes after the awards are given out for the girls final, which starts at 9:05 a.m.

The Panthers cruised in the first quarter, but the Wolverines got back into the game in the second. By the start of the fourth, Central Aroostook was up 53-44.

The Wolverines cut the lead to five points with 6:20 left when Nick Bishop put back an offensive rebound, but York responded with a 3-pointer 13 seconds later.

Mike Lowell (12 points) made two free throws for Schenck to cut Central Aroostook’s lead to eight with 1:07 remaining, and the game remained in reach for the Wolverines after York was whistled for an offensive foul, his fifth of the game.

But a Sam Clockedile fast-break basket and free throws down the stretch sealed it for the Panthers.

The Panthers went 11-for-14 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, keyed by Carlson’s 8-for-8 effort.

CAHS was 21-for-24 overall. Getting to the line was important, as was containing Schenck forward Chris Byron and center Nick Bishop, who are both 6-foot-2. The Panthers started out in a zone defense.

“We knew their height was an issue,” CAHS coach Tim Brewer said. “We also wanted to get an up-tempo game, so after we got the lead we did some pressing. It opened up the court a little for them but it also got them in foul trouble, which I thought was the key to the game.”

Byron finished with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Bishop had six points. Lowell added 12 points.

Central Aroostook’s Cameron York scored 11.

CAHS jumped out to a 22-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, but after Schenck coach Steve Levasseur was called for a technical with 16 seconds left in the period, the Wolverines started their rally.

Levasseur declined to comment after the game.

PANTHERS 73, WOLVERINES 61

Cent. Aroostook (20-1) Schenck (17-4)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

C. York 3 6 5 6 11 Hutchins 0 0

McLghln 2 2 4 4 8 McLghln 0 0 0

A. York 7 15 2 4 19 Bishop 3 12 6

Carlson 6 9 8 8 22 Lowell 3 13 12

Clockedile 2 4 0 0 4 K.Thmpsn 2 5

Er. Martnz 1 5 2 2 5 L.Thmpsn 1 3

L.McCrthy 2 2 0 0 4 Byron 10 17 27

Pelkey 2 8 4 8

Totals 23 43 21 24 73 21 59 15 24 61

Central Aroostook 22 36 53 61

Schenck 6 28 44 73

3-pt. goals – Central Aroostook (6-14): A. York 3-6, Carlson 2-4, Er. Martinez 1-2, C. York 0-2; Schenck (4-13): Byron 2-5, K. Thompson 1-3, Lowell 1-5