AUGUSTA — Wednesday night’s battle of supremely talented Nicks went to Gilpin and Hampden over Mayo and Messalonskee.

The Broncos’ junior point guard controlled the game with an iron fist, amassing 17 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists and hoisting No. 2 Hampden to a 58-47 victory over No. 3 Messalonskee in the Class A East semifinals at Augusta Civic Center.

Brendan McIntyre added 14 points and Jake Black 11 for Hampden (18-2), which will play for its unprecedented fourth consecutive Class A East crown at 4:15 p.m. Saturday.

Mayo, a 6-foot-8 senior bound for Eastern Kentucky on scholarship, countered with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Nate Violette tacked on 10 points for the Eagles (14-6).

Gilpin made every Hampden possession count. He scored 13 points and dished out six of his assists in the second half to deny all aspirations of a Messalonskee comeback.

Hampden’s halftime lead of 25-18 matched its largest to that point. Gilpin drove to the basket and scored as time expired.

The Broncos trailed briefly at 4-2 on Mayo’s short turnaround jumper, followed by a Taylor Turner steal and layup. Conar Moore’s pretty bounce pass after an offensive rebound set up Ian McIntyre’s tying basket, however, and Black knocked down a 3-pointer on the Broncos’ next trip.

Challenged to connect from outside, Messalonskee couldn’t for most of the half. The Eagles sputtered to a 4-for-20 start and shot 9-for-36 in the half. Mayo’s tip rebound to Violette for an easy layup kept the Eagles within three, 11-8, at the end of the opening period.

Violette scored six in the second stanza, but Mayo’s only points of the quarter came courtesy of a tip-in after two unsuccessful tries.

And Hampden’s offense, directed by the steady Gilpin, continued to flow evenly. Black, Moore and Nick Chasse each had baskets in the second quarter, with Gilpin and Brendan McIntyre picking up four points apiece.

Gilpin slashed to the hoop to beat the buzzer again in the third quarter and give Hampden a 42-32 cushion. He also dished out four assists to three different Broncos in the period, including 3-pointers by Black and Chasse.

Mayo’s offense also came to life with 10 points in the third, but Messalonskee couldn’t produce consecutive baskets to cut into the nagging deficit.

koakes@sunjournal.com