As the Deer Isle-Stonington boys basketball team made its way home after winning its first Eastern Maine Class D championship in 10 years Saturday, there were lots of well-wishers waiting to greet the Mariners.

By the time the team bus crossed the bridge spanning Eggemoggin Reach onto Little Deer Isle, there already was a long line of cars following in congratulatory pursuit.

“It was incredible,” said Deer Isle-Stonington coach Glenn Billings. “And once we got on the island there were another 200 cars there for a motorcade. There were a lot of people who came outside their houses to wave to us; I think we went 12 miles in an hour and a half.

“There were so many people along the way who I think were so excited and so glad to see us get to the next step.”

Such a community response came as no real surprise, particularly given the rugged route the team took to earn that postgame procession.

After an undefeated regular season, the Mariners cruised to a quarterfinal win over Katahdin of Stacyville to earn a rematch of last year’s regional final against two-time defending state champion Central Aroostook of Mars Hill.

A year ago, Central Aroostook dominated. This year, Deer Isle-Stonington maintained control and earned a 76-63 victory.

It was an emotional enough victory to set off a celebration, but as the Mariners were reminded after the game, it ultimately was just one more stop on what they hope is a golden road.

And that road still had to pass through Schenck of East Millinocket, merely the division’s top seed.

Schenck matched the Mariners in determination, but Deer Isle-Stonington ultimately persevered, with Jon Eaton’s three-point play off an offensive rebound with 8.7 seconds left the deciding play in Deer Isle-Stonington’s 75-74 victory.

It was a play that will live forever in the minds of those who follow Deer Isle-Stonington basketball. Junior center Collin Ciomei got open off a screen, and his brother, senior Bryant Ciomei sent him in for a layup with a perfect inbounds pass from the left wing.

While the initial shot was missed, Eaton was there for the game-tying layup as he was being fouled. He made the free throw to give the Mariners the lead, and one defensive stop later, they were champions.

“Bryant Ciomei’s leadership really showed on that play,” said Billings. “He set up everybody on the team on that one.

“We were hoping for a good look on the play and we got one. Jon was doing his job and got there for the rebound.”

Now one more challenge remains before the Mariners can celebrate what would be the first boys basketball state championship in the school’s history.

The Mariners will face Western D champion Gould Academy in Saturday afternoon’s state final.

Gould, like Deer Isle-Stonington, is unbeaten and fields a veteran team, including two 6-foot-5 players that will present the Mariners a formidable inside challenge.

But the Mariners have the advantage of the road they’ve already traveled, both the trip up Route 15, and the familiarity of the Bangor Auditorium where the game will be played.

“There’s no question we’re really happy to be playing there since we’ve been there three times already,” said Billings. “It’s a fairly difficult place to play the first time out because of the shooting background.

“But it’s loud, there’s a lot of energy, and I think the boys feed of that.”

And if the Mariners feed off that energy well enough, that would leave them just one more bridge to cross – and one more motorcade to follow.