SOUTH CHINA -- The second power failure of the night curtailed the high school boys basketball game between host Erskine Academy and Gardiner on Thursday.

The lights went out just before the second half began with Erskine leading 27-14 in the final regular season game for both teams. The game will be resumed at that point at 4 p.m. today.

The power first went out about 10 minutes before game time as Erskine officials were honoring senior cheerleaders and players. The game began after about a 20-minute delay for the lights to come back on and continued to halftime without a hitch.

The lights went out again just before the second half started.

"The first time I have no idea what happened other than (the power) went off in the entire area," Erskine athletic director Doran Stout said. "(The second) time I was led to believe it's off as far as 10 miles away."

A crowd of about 600 sat in darkness, save for emergency lights on either side of gym, for about 10 minutes until Stout announced the game was suspended.

"From my standpoint, I thought everybody was fantastic getting out of there," Stout said.

The game is an important one for both teams, particularly for Gardiner (11-6), which is battling for the eighth spot in the Eastern Maine Class B tournament standings. Finishing eighth would assure the Tigers of a tournament prelim game at home next week.

Gardiner won the first meeting between the teams eight weeks ago, but ran into a different Erskine (10-7) team this time, one that had won five of its last six games.

Erskine coach Tim Bonsant started five seniors, including 6-foot-7 Derek Peaslee, who scored nine points in the first quarter on 4-of-4 shooting.

"Peaslee gave us a big lift," Bonsant said. "He's finally realizing he's 6-7, 270 pounds and he has a nice shooting tough around the rim."

Not many of Peaslee's shot came from around the rim, though. Two were jumpers from the foul line and another was his first career 3-pointer.

"I was very shocked," Bonsant said of the 3-pointer.

The Eagles finished the quarter ahead 17-9. The Tigers, meanwhile, battled foul trouble as three starters picked up two fouls. Kyle Stilphen had five points for Gardiner and Mike Denham four.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com