The Orono Red Riots were astounded when they watched films of their games against Hermon at how many easy baskets the Hawks got.

The Riots made sure it was anything but easy for the Hawks on Friday night.

Second-seeded Orono closed off the lane with a 2-3 zone and controlled the tempo with a patient halfcourt offense while claiming the Eastern Maine Class B basketball title with a 53-45 victory over No. 1 Hermon at the Bangor Auditorium.

Coach Willie Gavett’s ballclub is now 18-3 and brought home its first regional championship since 1981. Orono will battle Western Maine’s York, a 55-53 victor over defending state champion Mountain Valley of Rumford, in the March 2 state title game at the Augusta Civic Center.

Control was the key for Orono, which dictated the tempo by hitting its shots out of the half-court offense and limiting the Hawks’ second chances. The Riots’ extended 2-3 put enough pressure on Hermon’s perimeter shooters to keep the Hawks from pulling Orono out of the zone.

Orono also was collapsed into the paint to choke off Hermon’s inside penetration.

“We wanted to limit the number of easy baskets,” said junior forward Dave Best. “After going over the films of the last two games, we saw that a lot of their baskets were within the paint. Most people think of them as a long-range run-and-gun team, but really, most of their points come off layups.

“We thought we’d pack it in and see what happens. They couldn’t beat us from the outside. They were going to have to take it inside.”

Orono, which suffered two regular-season losses at the hands of the Hawks, took the lead for good with a 9-3 third-quarter run. Junior point guard Jamie Beaudoin hit an 8-foot runner from the lane, then followed with a 10-footer inside the paint 51 seconds later to put the Riots on top 30-27.

Jay Vetelino added a free throw before Hermon’s Shawn Thayer countered with a three-pointer. But a Charlie Poole rebound basket and two Best foul shots helped carry Orono to a 37-33 lead with eight minutes left.

Coach Clayton Blood’s Hawks, who finished the season 19-2, could manage only a handful of transition points and found it difficult to institute their devastating full-court press because of their limited success on the offensive end.

“They were a really good pressing team and we broke down some of the tapes and realized how much they get off their press,” Beaudoin said. “We decided we couldn’t let them press and get their layups. They decided to come out and play us halfcourt. I think Coach Blood realized how good we were in the backcourt and couldn’t press us.”

Orono upped its lead to eight (41-33) in the first 28 seconds of the fourth on a Scott Ismail rebound hoop and Andy Galeati’s baseline layup. Later, a conventional three-point play by Vetelino made it 48-39 with 2:10 to go.

Kirk Dunton and Wade Brazier each buried a three-pointer after missed free throws by the Riots, but Mark Smith made two from the line as Orono made 5 of 7 down the stretch to solidify its regional title.

Beaudoin was Orono’s catalyst, tossing in 16 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and handing out 4 assists. Best netted 10 points, while Vetelino scored 9. Galeati contributed 8 points and 6 rebounds. Ismail added 6 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots.

Thayer, whose penetration was severely limited by the Orono defense, paced the Hawks with 19 points. Dunton chipped in with 9 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks, while Brazier 7 points, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. Rick Sinclair grabbed 10 rebounds.

Hermon outrebounded Orono 36-29, but the Hawks struggled through a 17-for-55 (31 percent) shooting effort and went to the foul line only five times because of the Riots’ outstanding team defensive performance.

Orono outscored Hermon 19-6 from the foul line, including a 12-0 margin in the second half.

Red Riots 53, Hawks 45

Orono boys Hermon

Name AG G AF F TP Name AG G AF F TP

Smith 3 0 2 2 2 Lindsay 0 0 0 0 0

Beaudoin 10 6 6 4 16 B. Thayer 0 0 0 0 0

Hume 1 0 1 0 0 Bragg 0 0 0 0 0

Saleati 5 4 0 0 8 S. Thayer 20 6 6 4 19

Poole 1 0 2 2 2 Stuber 8 2 0 0 4

Ismail 8 2 4 2 6 Hannan 0 0 0 0 0

Best 5 3 5 4 10 Small 0 0 0 0 0

Vetelino 7 2 6 5 9 Dunton 10 4 0 0 9

Brazier 9 3 0 0 7

Reynolds 1 0 3 2 2

Sinclair 7 2 0 0 4

Totals 40 17 26 19 53 Totals 5 5 17 9 6 45

Orono 9 25 37 53

Hermon 11 25 33 45

3-pt. goals: Orono, 0-1; Hermon, 5-9: S. Thayer 3-11, Stuber 0-1, Dunton 1-2, Brazier 1-4, Sinclair 0-1