BANGOR – One of the biggest challenges facing the Calais boys basketball team has been the expectation that the Blue Devils would roll to another berth in the Class C state final.

Perhaps it wasn’t as easy as expectations suggested, but top-ranked and undefeated Calais is right back where it wants to be after shading No. 2 Piscataquis of Guilford 62-59 in the Eastern Maine title game Saturday night.

The win was the 43rd straight overall for the defending state champions, who will bring a 21-0 record back to the Bangor Auditorium for next Saturday’s state final against Western C champion Boothbay.

“It’s a big sigh of relief for us right now,” said Calais coach Ed Leeman. “As much jubilation as there is and as happy as I am about winning, it’s a sigh of relief, too, as far as some of the pressure is off now.

“I think you’ll see, at least I hope you’ll see us play a better game in the state game because these kids had some pressure on them, because the expectation level was that Calais was just going to walk through Eastern Maine. That’s hard on kids, that’s hard on coaches, it’s hard on everybody. To win when you’re expected to win is one of the hardest things to do, so I really tip my hat to my kids.”

Piscataquis largely controlled the game’s tempo but ultimately couldn’t generate enough offense – particularly as Calais made 14 of 18 fourth quarter free throws and outrebounded the Pirates 36-31 overall, 31-20 after the first period.

“That’s who we were,” said Pirates coach Jamie Russell. “We struggled throughout the year to score points. Defense kept us in it for a while, but they hurt us on the boards. In the fourth quarter, they got three or four shots every time down the floor for a while.”

Brandon Tomah led the Blue Devils with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and a strong defensive effort against PCHS senior Mike Wharff.

PCHS (19-2) spotted Calais a 4-0 lead, then outscored the Blue Devils 14-2 thanks in part to two early Wharff 3-pointers. But Calais switched Tomah onto Wharff, and the Pirates’ swingman made just one more basket.

“He got some looks, but that’s a tribute to Brandon,” said Leeman. “He pretty much shadowed him the rest of the game.”

Calais scored nine unanswered points to regain the lead, a run fueled by guard Robbie Rogers. After Sam Bell (10 points) closed out the first quarter with a jumper to pull the Blue Devils within 14-8, Rogers (11 points) scored on a tip-in, made 1 of 2 from the line, and added a fast-break layup as Calais took a 15-14 lead.

“Robbie running the fast break was big, especially in the first half,” said Calais forward Chris Taylor. “That gave us some momentum and got our heads back in the game, and then we picked it up on the defensive end.”

Tomah showed off his versatility while scoring 10 points in the final five minutes of the half as Calais took a 27-22 lead. First he hit a 3-pointer. Then he jumped to catch an inbounds pass and scored before coming back to the ground. Then came a fast break jumper, then another 3-pointer.

“When they run their halfcourt sets we have to play good defense,” said Tomah, “and if they shoot a long shot then we can get a run-out. It’s good to get a couple of easy baskets and get in our rhythm a little more and then we’re more efficient in the halfcourt.”

PCHS crept within 32-28 late in the third quarter on a steal and layup by Nolan Lovell (10 points), but baskets off the offensive glass by Taylor and Bell restored Calais to an eight-point lead entering the final period.

The Blue Devils extended the margin to as many as 12 points before Brandon London – 11 points, all in the fourth quarter – and Shane Tracy – eight fourth quarter points – joined with senior center Roy Burdin (20 points, nine rebounds) to bring PCHS back.

To finish that comeback, the Pirates needed to send Calais to the foul line, but the Blue Devils responded in championship fashion to keep PCHS from getting within one possession of a tie until Burdin hit his second straight 3-pointer – with 0.6 seconds left.

Junior forward Rod Tirrell made seven of eight free throws in the fourth quarter, while Bell was 4-for-5.

“We knew they weren’t going to go away,” said Leeman. “They’re too tough a club. They had a legitimate shot to win that game at the end, but credit to our kids, they didn’t collapse and they stuck with it.”

BLUE DEVILS 62, PIRATES 59

Piscataquis (19-2) Calais (21-0)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Tracy 3 8 0 0 8 Shorey 3 4 6

London 4 5 3 3 11 Tomah 7 14 19

Russell 0 2 0 0 0 Rogers 5 12 11

Zimmrman 0 0 0 0 0 Taylor 3 10 7

Martell 0 2 0 0 0 Bell 3 8 10

Je.Robnsn 1 2 0 2 2 O’Neill 0 0 0

Wharff 3 12 0 0 8 Leeman 0 0 0

Burdin 8 13 2 5 20 Tirrell 1 8 9

Lovell 3 6 4 4 10

Ja.Robnsn 0 4 0 0 0

Douglass 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 22 54 9 14 59 Totals 22 56 15 22 62

Piscataquis 14 22 28 59

Calais 8 27 36 62

3-pt. goals – Piscataquis (6-22): Burdin 2-2, Tracy 2-5, Wharff 2-9, Russell 0-2, Ja. Robinson 0-4; Calais (3-16): Tomah 3-8, Rogers 0-2, Bell 0-3, Tirrell 0-3