Cheverus boys hold off Scarborough, end semifinal round hex

PORTLAND—For three years running, Cheverus' boys' basketball team had its title hopes dashed and its heart broken in the semifinal round of the tournament.

Three years ago, it was a six-point contentious loss to favored Oxford Hills.

Two seasons ago, the Stags dropped an overtime heartbreaker to rival Portland.

And last year, as the No. 1 seed, Cheverus was upset by Edward Little.

Thursday evening, in a Class A South semifinal at the Portland Exposition Building, against No. 8 Scarborough, the fifth-ranked Stags said enough is enough.

As they exorcised some demons and even better, punched their ticket to an elusive regional final.

For the first time since 2011.