The Falmouth boys’ hockey team, one of three local squads entertaining championship dreams, began its playoff run Tuesday evening (after our print edition went to press).

The Yachtsmen, ranked third in Western Class A after a stellar 12-4-2 regular season, hosted No. 6 Noble (13-5) in the quarterfinals. Falmouth did not face Noble this year. The teams have no prior playoff history.

If, as expected, the Yachtsmen were able to advance, they would meet either No. 2 Thornton Academy (15-2-1) or No. 7 Deering (10-5-3) in a Western A semifinal Saturday in Lewiston. Falmouth did play the Rams this year and the teams have no playoff history. The Yachtsmen do know the Golden Trojans well, losing to them, 4-1, at home back on Dec. 10 and battling them to a 1-1 tie in Biddeford on Jan. 20. Falmouth and Thornton Academy have only met once prior in the postseason, a 3-2 Yachtsmen win in the 2005 quarterfinals.

The Western A Final is Tuesday of next week. The Class A state championship game is Saturday, March 6. Both rounds will be held in Lewiston.

In Western B, Yarmouth finished third with a 9-9 mark and will battle No. 2 Camden (14-4) in the semifinals Saturday at 5 p.m., at the Portland Ice Arena. The Clippers beat the host Windjammers 3-2 in overtime back on Dec. 5, then lost 5-3 at home to Camden on Jan. 30. The teams have no prior playoff history.

Defending state champion Greely wound up fourth with an 8-8-2 mark. The Rangers meet top-ranked York (15-3) in the other semifinal Saturday at 8 p.m. Greely lost twice this year to the Wildcats, 4-3 at York on Dec. 16 and 4-1 at home Feb. 11. Last year, in the semifinals, the Rangers routed the Wildcats, 8-0, to take a 4-3 all-time lead in postseason matchups.

The Western B Final is Wednesday of next week in Lewiston. The Class B state game is Saturday, March 6, also in Lewiston.

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

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