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BANGOR — Donning the nets they had cut down just minutes earlier, Maddie Provost and Ashley Shores thought of their younger selves, dreaming of playing basketball for Lawrence. 

They thought of past star players like Cindy Blodgett and Nia Irving. Growing up wanting to wear a Bulldogs uniform, those were the players that inspired them. 

“When I was younger, I was one of those kids, ‘Oh, I can’t wait,’” said Shores. “I’d always get pictures with the older girls.”

Now, the two seniors are Class B North champions after accounting for 56 of their team’s 65 points in a 65-53 victory over top-seeded Gardiner on Friday at Cross Insurance Center in Bangor. 

Shores recorded 29 points and seven assists, while Provost finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. 

“It doesn’t feel real,” Provost said. “Obviously when you’re a senior, it’s win or go home for good. So when you know that, you play that much harder.” 

From the opening tip, that’s what Provost and Shores did. 

Their 1-2 punch suffocated the Tigers (19-2) in the first half, putting second-seeded Lawrence (16-5) on a path to its first regional title since 2023, when they won the Class A state title.

“I just think we work that well together,” Provost said. “I think a big part of that is we’ve been playing together for so long. I know her strengths, she knows mine. So it just works.” 

The duo combined for Lawrence’s first 17 points and 32 of the team’s 36 first-half points, neutralizing Gardiner’s opening punch.

“Wherever (Provost) is, I know to go opposite or cut or set a screen because I know I’m either going to get it back or get a rebound,” Shores said. 

Led by freshman Alexa Quintana’s 16 points and presence in the paint, the Tigers did not make it easy on Lawrence. But after Gardiner grabbed a 5-0 lead, the Bulldogs soon took control against a team it lost to twice during the regular season.

It’s the third time in five years that Gardiner has lost to Lawrence in a regional final.

“Our playoff run was great, and today I think the moment got us a little bit,” Gardiner coach Britney Gero said. “We didn’t play our best game today and (Lawrence) played great, and it’s the name of the game, right? I think we’ll come back even hungrier next year.”

Lawrence will face Oceanside (20-1) for the state championship next Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Cross Insurance Center. The Bulldogs split two regular-season games against the Mariners, handing them their only loss.

“(Oceanside’s) got the best of both worlds, they have an inside-out game, and we got a week to come up with something,” Lawrence coach Greg Chesley said.