PORTLAND – Waterville Senior High School built the foundation of what could be a lengthy Purple Reign in dramatic fashion Saturday afternoon.

The precocious Purple Panthers capped an undefeated girls’ basketball season with their first-ever state championship in withstanding a furious comeback by Lake Region High School of Naples for a 52-51 overtime triumph in the Class B final at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Three sophomores and a freshman secured the gold ball for Waterville (22-0).

Waterville first-year forward Jennifer Nale hit a foul-line jumper with 43 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. Then relentless sophomore Morgan Frame and cool classmate Stephanie Whitten combined for each of Waterville’s eight points in the extra session.

Frame finished with 23 points, 22 rebounds and five steals.

“This is just the beginning for us,” said Frame, who was 9-of-13 from the free-throw line. As a team, conversely, Lake Region shot only 6-for-19.

Renee Nicholas scored 15 points for Lake Region (19-3), which stumbled in the state final for the second straight year but not before a rousing rally in the final nine seconds.

Lake Region trailed by four points near the conclusion of OT. That’s when Courtney McClean stole the ball, drew a foul in the act of shooting and sank the first of two free throws.

McClean (11 points, 12 rebounds) corralled her miss on the second try and converted the put-back to reduce the Lakers’ deficit to one with 3.2 seconds remaining. Paige Gardiner promptly was fouled and missed two free throws, including an air ball to keep the clock from starting after the second try.

Nicholas clutched a desperation inbounds heave and called time with 1.7 seconds left, giving Lake Region a final chance to summon a miracle finish. Christina Ricci spotted up for a relatively uncontested 15-footer from the right baseline, but it sailed long as the buzzer sounded and set off a wild Waterville celebration.

“Even when we were down by four, we were in the huddle saying we’re not going to stop fighting until the horn sounds,” said Lake Region coach Paul True. “The kids have done that all season long.”

Waterville experienced equal opportunity to panic and fade away. Kim Rivet scored the first seven points of the game on a 3-pointer sandwiched between two transition layups for Lake Region. The Panthers patiently began working the ball inside to Frame and answered with their own 10-0 run.

Rivet’s seven points at the start was the largest deficit for either team, and the second half featured a similar ebb and flow. Lake Region led 30-25 with six minutes left in the third quarter. Waterville nursed a lead of identical stature, 39-34, at the same juncture of the fourth.

Back stormed the Lakers. Rivet redirected her own miss to make it a 43-40 Lake Region lead with 2:14 to go. She fouled out in the next defensive sequence, however, and Whitten sank the resulting free throws. Kayla Nowell hit the first of two freebies at the other end for Lake Region, but next came Nale’s equalizer.

“It’ a great group of kids,” said Waterville coach Ted Rioux, “and all I can think right now is, holy cow, am I thankful they’re coming back.”

PANTHERS 52, LAKERS 51 (OT)

Waterville (22-0) Lake Region (19-3)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Gardiner 2 8 2 6 7 Leighton 2 4

Whitten 3 4 6 8 12 Rivet 4 10 9

Bell 1 7 1 2 3 McClean 5 10 11

Frame 7 16 9 13 23 Nicholas 5 13 3 7 15

Given 1 6 1 4 3 Nowell 2 11 5

Smith 1 2 0 0 2 Rowbthm 1 1 3

Nale 1 3 0 0 2 Ricci 2 11 0 4

Leach 0 0 0 0

Webb 0 1 0 0

Totals 16 46 19 33 52 Totals 21 65 19 51

Waterville 10 23 37 44 52

Lake Region 7 25 33 44 51

3-pt. goals – Waterville: Gardiner; Lake Region: Nicholas 2, Rivet