Members of the Lawrence girls’ basketball team celebrate after beating Gardiner to win the Class A North championship on Friday at the Augusta Civic Center. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Hope Bouchard scored 12 of her 26 points in the first quarter to help Lawrence take control early, and the second-seeded Bulldogs knocked off previously undefeated Gardiner, 61-54, to win the Class A North girls’ basketball championship Friday night at the Augusta Civic Center.

Bouchard made 9 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs (18-3) closed out the victory without a field goal in the final eight minutes. All 17 of their fourth-quarter points came from the free-throw line.

Brianna Poulin added 15 points as Lawrence advanced to face Brunswick in the state final next Friday in Augusta.

Lizzy Gruber scored 16 of her 26 points in the second half as she tried to keep Gardiner’s season alive, but the Tigers couldn’t complete a comeback from a 33-20 halftime deficit. Gardiner (20-1), which defeated Lawrence twice during the regular season, also got 11 points from McKenna Johnson.

PENOBSCOT VALLEY 42, HODGDON 26: Kayla Loring scored 12 points, and the second-seeded Howlers (19-1) held the No. 3 Hawks (18-2) to eight field goals in a Class C North semifinal at Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center.

Ellie Austin and Holly Loring chipped in with nine points apiece.

A pair of 3-pointers by Sadie Thompson were the only first-half field goals for Hodgdon. Anna Oliver led the Hawks with eight points.

DEXTER 56, CALAIS 51: Mazie Peach led a third-quarter comeback with nine of her 17 points, and the top-seeded Tigers (19-1) advanced to the Class C North final with a win over the No. 4 Blue Devils (16-4) in Bangor.

Cally Gudroe scored 18 points to help send Dexter to Saturday’s regional final against No. 2 Penobscot Valley. The Tigers trailed 21-10 after one quarter and 26-21 at halftime before outscoring Calais 17-8 in the third quarter.

Izzy Allen paced Calais with 24 points. Mary Allen added 11.

Dirigo players cheer on their teammates during a 71-63 win over Mt. Abram in a Class C South boys’ basketball semifinal Friday at the Augusta Civic Center. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

DIRIGO 71, MT. ABRAM 63: Charlie Houghton scored 20 of his 27 points in the second half, and Dakota Tompkins made 8 of 9 free throws in the fourth quarter as the top-seeded Cougars (19-1) rallied to beat the fifth-seeded Roadrunners (17-4) in a Class C South semifinal at the Augusta Civic Center.

Dirigo, the defending state champion, trailed 46-43 entering the fourth quarter, but Tompkins and Houghton combined for 19 points in the final eight minutes to help the Cougars finally take control.

Tompkins finished with 22 points, including 12 in the fourth.

Tucker Plouffe scored 16 points, Payton Mitchell and Bryce Wilcox each had 15, and Kaden Pillsbury added 12 for Mt. Abram.

MONMOUTH ACADEMY 46, CARRABEC 34: Sammy Calder scored 19 points to lead the second-seeded Mustangs (17-3) past the sixth-seeded Cobras (13-8) in a Class C South semifinal in Augusta.

Monmouth, which lost to Dirigo in last year’s regional final, will try to avenge that loss Saturday night against the top-seeded Cougars.

Joel Gehrke was the only Carrabec player in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

BREWER 70, SKOWHEGAN 33: Tournament MVP Brady Saunders scored 28 points and the top-seeded Witches (20-1) won their first regional title since 1988, dominating the third-seeded River Hawks (14-7) in the Class A North final at Bangor.

Brock Flagg added 12 points for Brewer, which led 20-6 after one quarter, 32-13 at halftime and 50-23 after three quarters.

FORT KENT 48, DEXTER 34: Ethan Daigle scored 19 points as the second-seeded Warriors (16-4) rolled past the No. 3 Tigers (17-3) in a Class C North semifinal in Bangor.

Lance Gagnon chipped in with 14 points.

Will Kusneirz scored 15 points for Dexter.

CALAIS 70, FORT FAIRFIELD 47: Jace Cook poured in 31 points – 24 in the second half – as the top-seeded Blue Devils (17-3) cruised to a Class C North semifinal win over the No. 4 Tigers (15-6) in Bangor.

Matt Dana chipped in with 12 points as Calais advanced to play No. 2 Fort Kent for the regional title Saturday night.

Gabe Theriault led Fort Fairfield with 15 points. Micah Daigle and Ethan Willard each had 10.