AUGUSTA — Maranacook’s unlikely run as a No. 8 seed couldn’t clear its last hurdle.

No. 2 Dirigo scored 12 straight points in the third quarter to distance itself and end the Black Bears’ quest for their first Western C title with a 68-51 win Saturday night.

Two Tyler Frost 3-pointers highlighted the run, which ballooned Dirigo’s lead from three to 15 points by the time Levi Emery ended it with a jumper with 1:02 remaining in the third.

Maranacook shot 3-for-17 in the period, Dirigo 7-for-12.

Riley Robinson led Dirigo (19-2) with 25 points, while Clay Swett added 11. Cam Brochu and Kent Mohlar led Maranacook (10-12) with 17 points apiece.

The Cougars will meet Calais for the state championship, their fifth title game appearance in seven years, next Saturday night at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.

Dirigo started the game enjoying its usual success running its offense through Robinson while Maranacook had trouble finding the range. The Black Bears missed their first six shots and hit just two of 12 attempts in the first quarter to fall behind, 15-8.

Brochu led a 10-5 Maranacook run to start the second quarter, scoring outside with a 3-pointer and inside with a putback and layup that tied it at 20-20. Another putback gave the Bears their first lead at 22-21, but both teams went to their locker rooms with the Cougars up, 29-28.

Dirigo scored the first six of the second half on a Kaine Hutchins 3-pointer and Robinson three-point play to make it a seven-point cushion.

The Black Bears briefly pulled back within three

Randy Whitehouse — 621-5638

rwhitehouse@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @RAWmaterial33

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