PORTLAND—Keegan Gymnasium was stuffed to the gills Friday evening and those on hand, whether they were cheering for the host Cheverus Stags, or for visiting Windham, got their money’s worth in a late-season showdown.

A contest which featured a little of everything.

And one which required more than 32 minutes to determine a winner.

The resurgent Stags, who struggled mightily early in the season before getting healthy, continued their recent run of dominance with a fast start, taking a 13-8 lead after one quarter, thanks to six points from senior big man Jameson Fitzpatrick.

The two-time reigning state champion Eagles, who had a long win streak snapped in an overtime loss at Bonny Eagle Tuesday, momentarily pulled ahead in the second period on a bank shot from junior Colin Janvrin, but an 11-2 run to end the first half, capped by a pair of free throws from junior A.J. Lauture, gave Cheverus a 28-21 advantage at the break.

The Stags then threatened to break the game open when freshman sensation Khaelon Watkins drove and finished off the glass midway through the third quarter, making the score 40-26, but no one digs itself out of a hole quite like Windham.

After senior standout Tyrie James scored his first points of the game at the free throw line, the Eagles soared and a staggering 17-2 run, capped by a layup from senior A.J. Moody, suddenly put them on top before a last-second 3-pointer from junior Joe Iaccarino sent Cheverus to the fourth period up by two, 47-45.

The final stanza, or so we thought, would be nip-and-tuck throughout, as the lead changed hands three times and the score would be tied on five occasions, the last on a pair of Fitzpatrick free throws with 12.3 seconds to go.

James missed a last-second shot which could have won it and as a result, the game went to overtime deadlocked at 64-64.

There, the Stags twice went ahead, but with 1:31 left in the four-minute extra session, Moody hit a 3 to give Windham the lead for good, 73-70.

Cheverus drew within a point three different times down the stretch and after two free throws from sophomore Sean LeBel gave the Eagles a late three-point lead, the Stags had a final chance to draw even, but Watkins’ game-tying bid at the horn was short and Windham held on for dear life to win the epic contest, 79-76.

James finished with a game-high 24 points, LeBel added 21 and the Eagles improved to 14-2 on the season, dropping Cheverus to 9-7 in the process.

“These guys are relentless,” said Windham coach Chad Pulkkinen. “They get everyone’s best shot every single night and they respond. They just don’t crumble.”

Exceeding the hype

The Eagles started with a 73-71 win at Thornton Academy in their first game, then let a big lead slip away and lost their home opener to Sanford (68-60). Windham then flipped the switch and enjoyed a 78-42 victory at Marshwood. After an impressive 66-53 home win over Westbrook, the Eagles rallied from a big deficit to beat host Portland (57-50), then they defeated visiting Cheverus (64-45), dominated visiting Massabesic, 101-31, pulled away to down visiting South Portland (68-53), then rallied for a stirring 54-51 win at Scarborough before defeating host Gorham (77-68), visiting Kennebunk (75-48), visiting Biddeford (83-35) visiting Falmouth (78-42) and host South Portland (70-64). Tuesday, despite a valiant late rally to force overtime, Windham’s 12-game win streak ended at Bonny Eagle (83-75).

“We learned a lot from that,” Pulkkinen said. “We had a lot of reflection on it. We weren’t mad or sad, we just wanted to get better. Losses teach you a lot. The guys absorb it and get better.”

Cheverus began the year with a 62-60 home loss to South Portland. The Stags then fell at home to Scarborough (57-43) and at Sanford (75-71) before breaking through and downing host Falmouth (49-46). After losing at home to Kennebunk, 56-43, and at Windham (64-45), Cheverus downed visiting Noble (70-47). After a 59-48 home win over Westbrook, the Stags edged visiting Gorham (56-54). After falling at Bonny Eagle (72-47), Cheverus roared to life, beating host Massabesic (90-47), Deering (69-31) and Scarborough (58-51) and visiting Thornton Academy (48-46) and Portland (58-57, on Fitzpatrick’s buzzer-beater).

In the teams’ first meeting Dec. 23, James sparked a balanced attack with 16 points as the Eagles beat a short-handed Stags squad with relative ease.

Friday, in front of a raucous full house, with even representation, Cheverus hoped to earn a season split, but Windham, as it so often does, produced just enough late game magic to prevail.

The Eagles started quickly, as James set up LeBel for a 3-pointer from the corner.

After junior Colton Jewett countered with a runner off the glass for the home team, LeBel took a pass from junior Landon Wyman and made a layup and before the contest was a minute old, Windham was in front, 5-2.

Back came the Stags, as Watkins drove for a layup, Jewett tied it with a free throw, Fitzpatrick scored on a driving layup for his team’s first lead, then, after Lauture kept play alive with an offensive rebound, Iaccarino set up Fitzpatrick for a layup.

With 4:33 remaining in the first, a Fitzpatrick spinning layup capped a 9-0 run and produced an 11-5 Cheverus advantage.

Wyman countered with a 3-pointer, set up by James, but a driving coast-to-coast layup from Watkins made it 13-8 Stags after one period.

The intensity picked up in the second quarter.

Just 19 seconds in, James found sophomore reserve extraordinaire Boston Krainis in the corner for a 3.

At the other end, Jewett drove for a layup.

After LeBel and Watkins traded hoops, the next six points went to the visitors, as James set up Moody for a layup and his first points, LeBel stole the ball and fed Wyman for a layup, then with 3:08 showing, Janvrin scored on a contested bank shot for a 19-17 lead.

Cheverus then closed the half on an 11-2 run.

After Watkins set up Iaccarino for a long 3, his first of the game, which rattled home, Janvrin found Moody for a layup, putting Windham ahead, but Watkins found Iaccarino for another 3, then with 43 seconds showing, Iaccarino sank his third 3 in just over two minutes time, this time off a pass from Fitzpatrick.

Lauture added two free throws and the Stags took a 28-21 advantage to the half.

Iaccarino led the way with nine points, while Fitzpatrick and Watkins added six points apiece.

Cheverus continued its strong play early in the second half.

Jewett got the third quarter started by going coast-to-coast for a layup.

LeBel answered by taking a pass from James and making a layup.

The Stags then ripped off eight quick points to take their biggest lead, as Fitzpatrick found Jewett for a 3-pointer from the corner.

The next time down, Fitzpatrick set up Iaccarino for another 3-ball.

Watkins then drove for a layup with 4:52 on the clock to make the score 38-23.

Janvrin set up LeBel for a corner 3, but Watkins drove and banked home a contested shot.

After James made two foul shots with 3:56 to go for his first points, Watkins’ putback 14 seconds later made it 42-28.

And then the Eagles, as only they can, flipped the switch and scored 17 of the next 19 points, in a 2 minute, 28 second span, to surge back into the lead.

The comeback commenced with a contested bank shot from Janvrin.

James then took a pass from Moody in transition and buried a 3-pointer.

The next time down, James set up LeBel for a 3.

“I feel like we came into the locker room at halftime and Coach gave us a speech and it helped us get going,” James said. “We just trusted our teammates and got open shots.”

“Coach always says that we have to trust each other,” said Janvrin. “We have to move the ball around.”

“I think we fed off the environment,” LeBel said. “We used the crowd to our advantage. We get our energy going and go on runs and that’s how we fight back.”

“We just had to keep stacking up good possessions on both ends,” added Pulkkinen. “When they went on their run, we had wide open shots and didn’t make them. I told the guys to keep shooting and they’d fall eventually and they did.”

Watkins countered with a short jumper, but James sank a long 3, LeBel added a free throw, then a James driving layup cut the deficit to just two.

With 1:14 remaining in the quarter, Moody went coast-to-coast and made a layup while being fouled, then he completed the old-fashioned three-point play with a free throw and just like that, Windham had the lead.

It didn’t last, however, as with 27 seconds to go, Watkins set up Iaccarino for another 3 and Cheverus clung to a 47-45 lead after three periods.

The fourth quarter would be one of drama, heroics and ultimately, no resolution.

Thirteen seconds in, James put home his own miss to tie it, but 10 seconds after that, Lauture sank a pair of free throws and the Stags were back on top.

After James made a foul shot for the visitors, Janvrin hit a 3-pointer for the lead.

Cheverus tied the score, 51-51, on a left-handed leaner from Fitzpatrick, then after a Janvrin steal, James fed LeBel for a 3, but Iaccarino said, “Anything you can do, I can do better,” sinking a 3 of his own to make it 54-54 with 5:26 remaining.

With 3:50 left, Iaccarino took a pass from Jewett and sank a transition 3-ball to put the Stags ahead, but at the other end, James got a rebound of his own miss and put it back in.

James was fouled on the play and added the and-one free throw to make it 57-57 with 2:43 to go.

Two James foul shots 29 seconds later gave the Eagles then lead and after Iaccarino and James traded free throws, the Stags turned the ball over and with 1:29 showing, two James free throws made it 62-58 Windham.

But Cheverus refused to fold, as Fitzpatrick drove for a layup.

After Krainis made one of two free throws, Lauture set up Watkins for a dunk and with 23 seconds remaining, the Stags were within a point, 63-62.

James was fouled immediately, but made just one of two free throws, giving Cheverus a chance.

With 12.3 seconds showing, Fitzpatrick was fouled and he came up clutch, making his first attempt, then sinking his second as well to tie the score.

Windham had a look to win it, but James was off the mark and it was on to overtime.

Three nights after losing in OT, the Eagles weren’t about to have that happen again.

Fitzpatrick won the tip to begin the extra session, got the ball back and drove for a layup and the lead.

Moody was then fouled and tied the score with two free throws before a LeBel steal led to Janvrin setting up Moody for a layup and the lead, 68-66.

Fitzpatrick tied the score with a layup and after a LeBel 3-point shot went in-and-out and LeBel got his own rebound, the teams traded turnovers.

With 2:09 to go in overtime, Janvrin made a layup for the lead, but 15 seconds later, at the other end, after Janvrin blocked a Fitzpatrick shot, Watkins put home the rebound to tie the score at 70-70.

The Eagles finally took the lead for good with 1:31 remaining, as Wyman got the ball to Moody, who attempted a long 3 which found nothing but net.

Jewett then drove for a layup to cut the deficit to one.

Jewett was fouled on the play, but his free throw attempt to tie it was no good and Janvrin grabbed the rebound.

At the other end, Moody missed a shot and the rebound went out of bounds.

Initially, the officials’ ruling gave the ball to Cheverus, but after a discussion, it was overturned and the Eagles kept possession.

And that loomed large, as with 36 seconds on the clock, Krainis was fouled and sank both free throws to make it 75-72.

At the other end, Fitzpatrick scored on a contested bank shot while being fouled.

Fitzpatrick couldn’t complete the three-point play, missing the free throw, but Watkins got the offensive rebound and that allowed Cheverus coach Richie Ashley to call timeout with 22 seconds on the clock.

The Stags set up for what they hoped would be a go-ahead basket, but Janvrin stole the ball.

“I just tipped the ball out of there,” Janvrin said. “I hoped to get a finger on it, which I did, and one of my teammates picked it up.”

James then was fouled and went to the line with 15.5 seconds remaining and he sank both attempts.

Six seconds later, Lauture answered with two foul shots of his own to make it a one-point game again.

Windham was able to inbound the ball to LeBel, who was immediately fouled, the fifth on Lauture, who had to depart.

With all eyes on him, LeBel made his first free throw.

Then, he sank the second.

“My mindset is always the same when I take foul shots,” said LeBel. “I just picture myself in my gym. I wanted to knock the shots down for my team. I’m just happy I did. Once you make the first one, you start to feel good about the second one.”

Cheverus had a chance to tie it with a 3 and Watkins raced down the left side, but after momentarily losing control of the ball and regaining it, Watkins’ bid just before the buzzer was well short.

“We had the ball, but we couldn’t execute,” Ashley lamented. “(Khaelon) had the guts to take that shot. It just didn’t fall.”

At 9:18 p.m., the horn sounded and at last, the Eagles were able to celebrate their exhilarating 79-76 victory.

“We were just guarding the 3-point line and trying not to foul,” James said. “It was nerve-wracking seeing the ball in the air, but seeing it go short, there was a lot of excitement. This is just another win for us. We’ll try to get better every day and focus on our next game. We just had an overtime game against Bonny Eagle and we wanted to improve from that game to this game and we did.”

“It’s awesome,” said LeBel. “We want to win a game, no matter where we are. We wanted to do it for our fans and there were a lot of them here tonight. We want to do it for Windham.”

“We guarded the 3-point line,” Pulkkinen added. “If they went to the rim, we’d let the ball drop and time would have run out. It was just a battle. Two great teams going at it. Our guys were excited to play here. We tried to keep it simple. The guys did a great job staying composed.”

James, who didn’t score in the first two-and-a-half quarters, wound up with a game-high 24 points. He also had eight assists and eight rebounds.

“Tyrie’s an observer,” said Pulkkinen. “He’ll observe to see what’s available. He gets everyone’s best defender, but he’s so hard to stop. He finds a way to win. He and A.J. are winners and I’m so glad they’re Windham Eagles. They do a good job teaching the young guys to step up. They’re confident getting them the ball. There’s a lot of trust with this group and that’s going to take us far.”

LeBel was brilliant as well, scoring 21 points, adding three steals, two assists and a pair of rebounds.

“I thank these guys,” said LeBel. “Even though I wasn’t on the court last year, I still felt it. I feel like I’m prepared for these games.”

“Sean’s a worker,” Pulkkinen said. “You put the work in and it pays off.”

Moody had 14 points and three rebounds.

Janvrin finished with nine points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocked shots and two steals and he also went toe-to-toe with Fitzpatrick in the post.

“Jameson’s a really good player,” said Janvrin. “He’s really strong and he knows how to use his body. I just had to battle him in the tough moments.”

“Colin’s a great shot-blocker and we trust him,” Pulkkinen said. “He’s 6-6. Fitzpatrick was a great challenge for him and he’s a challenge too because he can step outside. He did a great job tonight, doing the best he could.”

Krainis added six points and Wyman had five.

Windham made 10 3-pointers to Cheverus’ eight, hit a clutch 21-of-26 foul shots and only committed eight turnovers in 36 high-pressure minutes.

For the Stags, Iaccarino made six 3’s and wound up with a team-high 19 points, to go with five rebounds.

Fitzpatrick tallied 18 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Watkins also had 18 points, as well as seven rebounds and four assists.

Jewett also wound up in double figures with a dozen points, to go with five rebounds.

Lauture had nine points and a game-high 14 rebounds before fouling out.

Cheverus enjoyed a 43-32 rebounding advantage, but made just 10-of-17 free throws and turned the ball over 15 times.

“It was a great high school game,” Ashley said. “Fun for the kids. We took the two-time state champions to OT. They showed at key times why they’re the champions, but I thought we battled. They hit 3’s and got close. Tyrie’s a great player, but I’m proud of the guys for never giving up. This was a good measuring stick. It’s something to build on.”

Fun is just beginning

Cheverus, which is currently ranked fifth in the Class A South Heal Points standings, welcomes Biddeford Tuesday, then closes the regular season Thursday at South Portland.

“I think we’ve come a long way,” Ashley said. “We’re one of the better teams. We need to limit turnovers and have better defensive execution. We need to take care of Biddeford Tuesday and try to get back on a winning note.”

Windham, which remains first in Class A South, goes to Deering Tuesday, then finishes at home versus Thornton Academy Thursday.

“I feel like we’re ready,” said Janvrin. “We have to take it day-by-day and get better at practice. Coach always says that the next game is the only game to worry about.”

“We just have to work every single day at practice and get better,” James said. “We have to execute and trust our teammates. Every game was have left is important.”

“The one seed is an honor,” added Pulkkinen. “To be the one seed right now is fantastic because of how tough the league is. I love the way the guys are connected, very similar to our last two championship teams. These guys will go to war for each other. That just makes us tough.”

BOX SCORE

Windham 79 Cheverus 76 (OT)

W- 8 13 24 19 15- 79
C- 13 15 19 17 12- 76

W- James 5-12-24, LeBel 7-3-21, Moody 5-3-14, Janvrin 4-0-9, Krainis 1-3-6, Wyman 2-0-5

C- Iaccarino 6-1-19, Fitzpatrick 8-2-18, Watkins 9-0-18, Jewett 5-1-12, Lauture 1-6-9

3-pointers
W (10) LeBel 4, James 2, Janvrin, Krainis, Moody, Wyman
C (8) Iaccarino 6, Jewett, Lauture

Turnovers:
W- 8
C- 15

Free throws
W: 21-26
C: 10-17

Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com