PORTLAND — As his Deering High girls’ basketball players left their locker room Monday night, Coach Mike Murphy wanted them to realize one thing: They had no more mulligans.

The top-ranked Rams escaped the Western Class A quarterfinals, parlaying a feisty defensive effort into a 37-30 victory against ninth-seeded Bonny Eagle at the Portland Expo.

Deering trailed 18-14 at the half and never truly got settled in offensively. But the Rams forced 26 turnovers, eight in the decisive third quarter.

“That was like a flurry of double bogeys,” said Murphy.

But the Rams (18-1) survived and will play fifth-seeded Sanford (15-4) in the semifinals at 6 p.m. Friday at the Cumberland County Civic Center. Bonny Eagle (8-12) lost by 23 points to Deering in the season opener.

The Rams shot just 6 of 28 in the first half, settling for many outside jumpers against Bonny Eagle’s zone defense, which stretched out to make sure Kayla Burchill was covered at all times. She had 30 against the Scots in the regular season.

With Sarah Assante directing the offense and Shannon Sanborn scoring five in the second quarter, the Scots led 18-9 before Deering, with a spark from reserve Keneisha DiRamio, scored the last five of the quarter to pull within 18-14.

Then Deering’s 1-2-2 zone defense limited the Scots to three field goals in the second half, one in the final seconds.

“We just knew we couldn’t give them any more open layups,” said Ella Ramonas of Deering. “We put a lot of pressure on.”

Scots Coach Sue Rondeau credited the Rams’ 1-2-2.

“We practiced breaking it,” she said, “but we weren’t really cutting hard and we just couldn’t get comfortable, even when we were breaking it.”

Deering took the lead early in the third on back-to-back baskets by Burchill, one a 3-pointer. Bonny Eagle regained the lead one more time on a steal and layup by Jessica MacDonald that made it 20-19 with 5:31 left in the third.

DiRamio gave the Rams the lead for good with 3:39 remaining in the third. Following a Ramonas steal, she hit a layup, then followed with a short jumper to make it 23-20. Burchill (16 points) later hit two foul shots for a 25-20 lead into the fourth.

The Scots got within three twice but no closer.

Murphy gave the Scots credit for dictating the tempo but said his team needed to refocus.

“We have our limitations and our weaknesses just like everyone else,” he said. “But if you aren’t ready, prepared to play mentally, you’re going to get results like tonight.”

Ramonas said the message was received.

“We know that nothing is going to be handed to us and that we have to work hard every minute of every game.”

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at: mlowe@pressherald.com