As we near the midway point of the winter sports season, local athletes in all sports continue to impress. Here’s a look at where things stand.

Boys’ basketball

Cape Elizabeth has bounced back nicely from its lopsided home loss to Yarmouth just before Christmas, winning its last three. The Capers rolled over visiting Gray-New Gloucester, 67-41, Friday, then held off host Falmouth, 55-48, Tuesday, to improve to 7-1 (fourth in the latest Western Class B Heal Points standings). Senior standout Theo Bowe went off for 25 points versus the Patriots and added 18 against the Yachtsmen, in a game where Cape Elizabeth pulled away down the stretch. Senior Joey Doane had 17 points at Falmouth, while sophomore Chris Robicheaw added 11. The Capers were home with winless Freeport Thursday, then welcome York Saturday.

In Western A, South Portland made a strong statement Tuesday, racing to a 28-8 halftime lead at Scarborough en route to a 48-33 triumph. Senior Vukasin Vijnjevic led the way with 14 points. Junior Jordan Muller added 11. Senior Matt Russell ignited the first half run with a thunderous dunk and made life miserable for the Red Storm with his rebounding and shot-blocking acumen. The Red Riots were coming off a 63-50 home victory over Noble (behind 21 from Vignjevic). South Portland (now 6-1 and fifth in the Heals) had a tough test at Deering Thursday, goes to Thornton Academy Saturday and visits Portland Tuesday.

Scarborough’s loss to South Portland was its second in three games (senior Zach Bean had a team-high 11 points). The Red Storm defeated host Biddeford, 59-44, last Friday (where Bean erupted for 29). Scarborough (6-2 and fourth in Western A) was at Thornton Academy Thursday, visits defending state champion Cheverus in a playoff rematch Saturday and hosts Biddeford Monday.

Greater Portland Christian School lost, 48-25, at Sacopee (Jacob Rudolph had 10 points in defeat) and 51-40, at Seacoast Christian (Ben Hammond led the team with 11) last week. The Lions are 1-6 and 13th in Western D. They were scheduled to play at A.R. Gould Wednesday, but that game was postponed a week by the snowstorm. GPCS is at North Haven Friday and Saturday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth continues to be a surprise team. The Capers, decimated by graduation, improved to 6-2 with recent wins over host Gray-New Gloucester (39-24) and Falmouth (31-25). Freshman Kate Miklavic had a team-high nine points against the Patriots. In the win over the Yachtsmen, in a rematch of last year’s thrilling double-overtime playoff game, senior Emily Donovan led the way with 11 points and junior Kayla Raftice added 10. Cape Elizabeth (eighth in Western B) was at Freeport Thursday and goes to defending state champion York Saturday.

In Western A, South Portland has won three straight. Friday, the Red Riots downed host Noble, 64-45, behind senior Abby Hasson’s 17 points. Senior Stephanie McDonough and sophomore Danica Gleason each had 11. Tuesday, South Portland improved to 5-3 after a 35-14 second half run led to a 54-44 home win over nemesis Scarborough, which knocked the Red Riots from the playoffs the past two years. Hasson led the way with 20 points and Gleason added 17. South Portland (seventh in the Heals) hosted undefeated McAuley Thursday, welcomes Thornton Academy Saturday and Portland Tuesday.

Defending state champion Scarborough fell to 1-7 after the loss at South Portland, its second in a row. Sophomore Taylor LeBorgne had 14 points in defeat. The Red Storm were coming off a 69-32 setback at McAuley (despite six points apiece from junior Brittany Bona and freshman Alisha Starbird). The Red Storm (13th in the region) hosted Thornton Academy Thursday. They welcome Cheverus Saturday.

GPCS was a 43-36 winner at Seacoast (Suzanne Gonzalez led the way with 19 points and Robyn Waugh added 10) and a 44-24 winner at Calvary Chapel to even its mark at 3-3 (seventh in Western D). The Phoenix play at North Haven on Friday and Saturday, then go to Waynflete Tuesday.

Boys’ hockey

Scarborough’s boys’ hockey team is showing life. The Red Storm lost three of their first four, but last Thursday, at Portland, they won 5-2, behind two power play goals and another short-handed, that provided some breathing room.

“We needed it bad,” said Scarborough coach Norm Gagne. “That’s a big, big win for us. We’ve got a bunch of teams that are right in the anybody-can-beat-anybody range with us. These are games we have to win if we want to make the tournament. The holiday tournament helped us. We won two teams there. Those games counted for teams from out-of-state. They went full-bore.”

Scarborough (2-3 and 14th in Western A) was scheduled to play at Kennebunk Wednesday, but that game was postponed by snow. After going to Falmouth Saturday, the Red Storm host Biddeford Monday, both of which are pivotal contests.

 We need to get more disciplined,” said Gagne. “We’re taking baby steps and getting there. We’ve got a lot of work to do. It’s nice to see we’re putting things together. We’re starting to get scoring from all three lines. Our power play’s getting better. We see progress and I’m very, very pleased. We hope to have a good month of January propel us into February and help us make the playoffs.”

South Portland battled Western B power Greely to a scoreless tie Saturday. Junior goalie Dominic Desjardins stopped 40 shots. The Red Riots (fourth in Western A) host Edward Little Saturday and go to Falmouth Monday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth has hit its stride, winning five in a row, the latest wins at Camden (3-1) Saturday and Gorham (4-1) Monday. Against the Rams, senior Drew Grennon scored twice. The Capers (now 5-3 and third in the region) hosted defending regional champion York Thursday and go to Edward Little Monday.

In other Cape Elizabeth news, junior Nick Breed was chosen the Western Class B December Player of the Month at the forward position. Breed had nine goals and three assists in the month, including a five-goal game in a win over Yarmouth.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, in the West region, Scarborough is now atop the Heals with an 8-1-1 mark after downing host Cape Elizabeth (6-1), visiting Cheverus (3-0) and host Biddeford (7-0) in recent action. Junior sensation Abby Rutt had five goals against the Capers, all three versus the Stags and five more against the Tigers. The Red Storm were supposed to play at Edward Little Wednesday, but that game was postponed due to weather. Scarborough visits York Saturday and Portland Monday.

Cape Elizabeth’s co-op team with Waynflete was 2-7 and seventh in the West after the loss to Scarborough. The Capers were home with York Thursday, host Falmouth Saturday and go to York Monday.

Swimming

Scarborough’s swim teams defeated Cheverus Friday (boys, 89-78; girls, 50-44) and the girls also downed McAuley (57-37). Tuesday, however, the Red Storm boys dropped a heartbreaker against visiting Greely (93-92) and the girls also lost to the defending Class B champion Rangers, 104-72. Scarborough is back in action Jan. 21 at Deering.

South Portland swept Deering Friday. The boys rolled, 103-61, while the girls were victorious, 92-82. The Red Riots host Falmouth Friday.

Results from Cape Elizabeth’s meet last weekend against Westbrook were unavailable. The Capers host Cheverus Friday.

Skiing

Cape Elizabeth’s boys joined host Freeport, Greely and Yarmouth at an Alpine giant slalom meet Monday at Shawnee Peak. The Capers came in fourth as a team. Jack Barber was third individually (with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 13.87 seconds).

Scarborough’s first-year Alpine team faced six other squads at an SMAA giant slalom last Friday and both the boys and girls placed second. David Bibeau was the top boy, placing third in 1:13.92. Abigail Mills led the girls’ team with a seventh-place showing (1:21.42).

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team took part in the Redskin Invitational tournament in Sanford last weekend. The Red Storm came in 15th with 27 points. Senior Mike Cyr made it to the 215-pound finals. Scarborough hosts Cheverus, Fryeburg and Marshwood Saturday.

Red Storm 112-pounder Sam Wardwell was second in his weight class in the latest SMAA standings. 

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net

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Portland’s Eddie Apon is checked along the boards by Scarborough senior defenseman Connor Gullifer during the Red Storm’s 5-2 victory last week.

South Portland senior D.J. Conley races Greely senior Devyn Rogers to the puck Saturday night. The Red Riots and Rangers played to a 0-0 tie.

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