PORTLAND – For more than a half, the upset possibility loomed.

Just the kind of wide-open tournament that was forecast.

But seeding took over in the second half Friday night as top-ranked Deering grabbed control and pulled away from ninth-seeded Biddeford for a 66-54 victory in the Western Class A boys’ basketball quarterfinals at the Portland Expo.

Deering (16-3) will play fourth-seeded Cheverus (14-5) at 6 p.m. Friday at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

There was no paucity of points this time for the Rams, who a week ago scored just 22 against Portland.

Deering took control in the second half by going inside to 6-foot-4 Thiwat Thiwat, who finished with 20 points.

Guard Jon Amabile led the Rams with 24 points; Labson Abwoch added 20. Only one other player scored for Deering — Pat Green with two.

The Rams overcame a outstanding first half by Bobby Cote, the league’s leading scorer for Biddeford. Cote had 15 in the first half before settling for 20.

“We scored some points tonight,” said Deering Coach Dan LeGage.

“Thiwat was a monster for us. When (Abwoch) went out with four fouls midway in the third quarter, Thiwat took his game to another level. (Amabile) did what he does best.”

Several times in the game, and particularly in the second half, Amabile went coast to coast for a layup. And he did it in impressive fashion with twisting moves.

Trailing 34-31 at halftime, the Rams scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 40-34 lead.

Thiwat hit two inside baskets in the spurt. Abwoch had a basket and a foul shot, and Amabile connected on a short jumper after a steal.

“We started working the ball around and played the type of game we knew we could,” said Thiwat.

Deering’s defense went hand-in-hand with its scoring. The Rams’ full-court pressure caused six Biddeford turnovers in the first two minutes of the third quarter, which turned into points as Deering went inside to Thiwat.

Thiwat scored eight points in the quarter.

Another burst for the Rams — a run of eight points early in the fourth quarter — built the lead to 11.

The Tigers (10-10) didn’t quit and cut the lead to 56-51 after a basket by Nick Leblond off a nice pass from Cote.

Deering, showing its poise, scored the next two baskets — Abwoch rebounded a Green miss and scored, and Amabile hit a banker to make it 60-51. That was the game.

“The kids really thought they could win,” said Biddeford Coach Mike Fecteau. “That’s a disappointed group in the locker room.

“The fans saw a great player out there (in Cote).”

Green got the chief assignment of guarding Cote man-to-man. Garang Ater took over when Green was on the bench.

Cote got the best of them in the first half, but the cumulative effect of the defensive pressure eventually paid off for the Rams.

“Against Scarborough in the preliminary game, he didn’t get tired but you could see it his face tonight,” said LeGage.

Biddeford finished with 30 turnovers for the game, 17 in the second half. 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH