AUGUSTA — It started at a frantic pace and evolved into a bona fide thriller.

Down by as many as 12 points late in the third quarter, eighth-ranked Maranacook rallied to stun top-seeded Boothbay 57-54 in an exciting Western C quarterfinal at the Augusta Civic Center Monday.

It is the first loss by a top-ranked team to an eighth seed since Telstar defeated Hyde in 2002.

The Black Bears (9-11) finished the game with a 12-5 run to end the Seahawks’ season. Boothbay got within one in the final minute. After a Kent Mohlar basket off a press breaker gave Maranacook the three-point lead, Boothbay had one last possession. The Seahawks had a number of shots from beyond the arc miss. Boothbay finished shooting 4-for-13 in the fourth quarter.

Cameron Brochu led Maranacook with 21 points while Kyle Wilbur had 14, including a trio of 3’s and two clutch free throws that tied it in the fourth. Brooks added 10.

Boothbay (16-3) was led by John Hepburn with 20 while Evan Hepburn and Abel Bryer each finished with 13.

The Seahwaks were up 49-45 after a Bryer basket with 5:48 left. The Black Bears got a leaner from Brochu and a pair of free throws by Wilbur to tie it with 3:44 left.

Boothbay was plagued by turnovers and missed shots in the final quarter. The Seahawks also gave up some key rebounds that allowed Maranacook to maintain possession.

Brochu gave the Black Bears the lead with 2:00 left on a baseline move. Bryer tied it with 1:36 remaining with a rebound. Brochu took the lead back with another drive along the baseline with 1:23 left.  Brooks was fouled with 49 seconds left and bumped the lead up to 55-51. Boothbay continued to rally with a Bryer three-point play with 34 seconds left after fighting for a rebound.

The Seahawks tried to pressure the Black Bears in the backcourt but a length of the court pass sprung Mohlar for the layup with 25 seconds left. Boothbay had one more possession but couldn’t produce the equalizer.

Maranacook was down by as many as 12 points late in thethird but finished with a 10-0 run to be within 45-43 after three. Wilbur had a 3 and a tri of free throws during that run while Brooks and Levi Emery also scored.

Boothbay had hit six of its first nine shots in the third to open up the lead. Evan Hepburn had seven points during a 11-4 surge that made it 45-33.

Boothbay jumped out to the quick lead but Maranacook stayed close.  After the Black Bears took the lead on a basket by Kent Mohlar, Boothbay got back-to-back scored from John Hepburn. Then Abel Bryer scored a pair and John Hepburn sank two free throws for a 17-12 lead before a 3 from Kyle Wilbur cut it to 17-15 at the end of the first.

In the second, the Seahawks opened a 10-point lead after starting the quarter with eight straight. Evan Hepburn scored three times and John Hepburn scored in the post for a 25-15 lead. The Black Bears came roaring back and cut the lead to 27-25.  Brochu hit a 3 and  Brooks finished off a fast break to complete a 10-2 run. A basket by John Hepburn finished the half with Boothbay up 29-25.

kmills@sunjournal.com