The new year has brought action for everyone, in all sports.

Local athletes and teams continue to set the bar with plenty of challenges to come.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ basketball

The cream is rising to the top on the hardwood and so far on the boys’ side, South Portland is leading the way. The Red Riots didn’t lose during the 2012 portion of their schedule and opened 2013 with a decisive 76-55 win at Scarborough. Friday, South Portland fell from the unbeaten ranks with an agonizing 58-52 overtime loss to Deering after leading most of the way. Tuesday, the Red Riots bounced back and improved to 8-1 with a 56-43 home win over Sanford (behind 17 points from Jaren Muller, 15 from Ben Burkey and 12 from Tanner Hyland). South Portland (fourth in the Western Class A Heal Points standings at press time) is at top-ranked, undefeated Portland Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and hosts Marshwood Tuesday.

Scarborough bounced back from its 76-55 home loss to South Portland with a pair of key road wins, 81-74 at Thornton Academy and 73-51 at Cheverus (the Red Storm’s first-ever win at the Stags). At Cheverus, Sam Terry erupted for 24 points and Kevin Manning had 15. Scarborough (5-4 and seventh in Western A) plays host to Noble Friday and goes to defending Class A champion Deering Tuesday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth was 7-2 and second to Falmouth in the Heals after wins over visiting Waynflete (52-34) and host Poland (56-47) and a hard-fought 70-65 home loss to Wells (despite 20 points from Henry Babcock). The Capers go to defending Class B champion Yarmouth Friday and play host to Fryeburg Tuesday. Next Friday, Cape Elizabeth is at undefeated, top-ranked Falmouth.

In Western D, Greater Portland Christian School fell to 0-5 and 14th in the standings after recent losses to visiting Pine Tree Academy (63-32) and Rangeley (55-34, despite David Duval’s 16 points). The Lions seek their first victory Friday and/or Saturday, when they play at North Haven.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Scarborough began 2013 with wins at South Portland (42-30) and at home against Thornton Academy (52-26) to race to an 8-0 start, but Tuesday, in an instant classic, the Red Storm lost in triple overtime to visiting Cheverus, 58-57 (see theforecaster.net for game story). Scarborough led by four in the second overtime and by three in the third OT, but despite 17 points from Taylor LeBorgne, fell just short.

“It was a great basketball game for people to watch, but it’s a tough one to lose,” said first-year Red Storm coach Ron Cote. “I told my girls, I’m extremely proud of the effort they gave. We got our energy back and got back in the game. We were down by 10 at one point and fought back to make it three overtimes. In a couple of those overtimes, we had a lead.”

Scarborough (still clinging to the top spot in the Western A Heals at press time) plays at Noble Friday, then returns to the heavy lifting with a home game versus Deering Tuesday and a trip to McAuley for a regional final rematch a week from Friday.

South Portland began the new year with a 42-30 home loss to Scarborough, but Tuesday, the Red Riots got a last-second hoop to force overtime, then beat host Sanford in a thriller, 68-63, thanks to 27 points from Danica Gleason and 21 from Brianne Maloney.

“The kids showed a lot of composure late in regulation,” said South Portland coach Mike Giordano. “That is a very good win Heal Point-wise for us.”

South Portland (fifth in Western A) plays at Portland Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and visits Marshwood Tuesday.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth is on the rise. After a 1-5 start, the Capers went to Western C power Waynflete last Thursday and pulled out a stunning 49-45 overtime win (see theforecaster.net for game story). Cape Elizabeth was paced by 15 points from Marlo Dell’Aquila, 13 from Kisa Tabery and a stellar defensive effort from freshman Montana Braxton on Flyers standout Martha Veroneau.

“This is huge for us,” said Dell’Aquila. “It feels so great to be in the locker room after a win. We’ve collapsed in the fourth quarter, but tonight, we fought through the whole game.”

“I’m really proud of the team,” said Tabery. “We pulled it out in the end. Defensively, we were really strong. Especially in the fourth quarter. We didn’t want to let them get anything on the inside.”

“Hats off the kids,” added Capers coach Chris Casterella. “I’m very impressed. I think it’s big because we have been so close. This is a win we got under pressure against one of the best teams we’ll see all year. It wasn’t a blowout. We were behind almost the whole game long. We need to get wins wherever they come. I think we nabbed a big one. Waynflete’s a very, very good team.”

Cape Elizabeth then downed visiting Poland (43-35) and host Wells (44-35, behind 17 points from Tabery) to improve to 4-5 (and sixth in Western B). The Capers host winless Yarmouth Friday, go to Fryeburg Tuesday and welcome dangerous Falmouth Friday of next week.

In Western D, GPCS was 5-1 and eighth in the Heals at press time. The Lions won at Pine Tree Academy, 40-30, last Friday, as Clarissa Jones had 11 points and 14 rebounds and Ashlee Dawson added 10 points. Tuesday, GPCS lost at home to Rangeley, 64-18 (Jones had a team-high eight points). The Lions play at North Haven Friday and Saturday. 

Boys’ hockey

Action is picking up on the ice as well.

Scarborough’s boys sit atop the Western A Heals with a 7-1 mark following recent shutouts of host Cape Elizabeth (8-0) and visiting Marshwood (6-0). After playing host to Brunswick Saturday, the Red Storm is at Biddeford Wednesday.

South Portland fell to 0-5 and 14th after an 11-0 loss to Bonny Eagle Saturday. The Red Riots hosted Lake Region Thursday and go to Noble Wednesday of next week.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth bounced back from its 8-0 home loss to Scarborough with a 5-1 home win over Westbrook Saturday. The Capers fell to 2-5-1 and fourth in the standings Tuesday after a 2-0 loss at Yarmouth. Cape Elizabeth is at York Saturday and hosts Cheverus Thursday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

Scarborough’s girls’ hockey team fell from the unbeaten ranks Saturday with a 2-1 overtime loss at York. The Red Storm was coming off a 9-1 home win over Cape Elizabeth and took an 8-1-1 record and the top spot in the West Region into Wednesday’s game at Leavitt/EL. Scarborough hosts Brunswick Saturday.

Cape Elizabeth fell to 3-3-3 and fourth in the West after its loss to Scarborough. The Capers were home with St. Dom’s Wednesday, go to Biddeford Saturday and Cheverus Monday and welcome Gorham Wednesday of next week.

Indoor track

Last Friday, Cape Elizabeth opened a new indoor track season. The girls were first in an eight-team meet. Hailey Petsinger won the senior high jump (4 feet, 4 inches) and Caroline Garfield took the 800 (2 minutes, 40.53 seconds). The Capers also won the 3,200 relay (1134.4). The boys’ team came in third behind Wells and Poland. Friday, Cape Elizabeth faces Falmouth, Freeport, Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region, Lisbon, St. Dom’s, Traip and York.

Last Wednesday, Scarborough and South Portland took part in a meet along with Biddeford, Cheverus, Gorham, McAuley and Westbrook. The Red Storm won the boys’ meet, with the Red Riots placing third. South Portland took the girls’ meet, with Scarborough coming in third. Scarborough’s Katherine Kirk was MVP of the junior division after winning the junior 200 (28.41 seconds). South Portland’s Nyajock Pan was named MVP of the senior division after taking the open 600 (1:33.8) and the 800 (2:31.94).

Saturday, South Portland competes with Biddeford, Cheverus, Portland and Thornton Academy, while Scarborough battles Massabesic, McAuley, Noble and Windham.

Swimming

In the pool, Scarborough’s boys eked out a dramatic 88-86 win over Cape Elizabeth last Friday. The Capers won the girls’ meet, 123-56. 

South Portland’s girls handled Westbrook, 99-64. The Red Riots boys lost, 89-68, to the Blue Blazes.

Friday, Cape Elizabeth joins Windham at South Portland and Scarborough goes to Westbrook.

Skiing

Cape Elizabeth’s Nordic skiers took part in the Telstar Relays Saturday. Julian Pelzer, Dana Hatton, Andrew Hollyday and Francesca Governali combined to finish eighth (41 minutes, 22 seconds).

On the Alpine side, Cape Elizabeth’s boys and girls defeated Freeport, Fryeburg and Gray-New Gloucester in a giant slalom meet Monday at Shawnee Peak. Max Barber won the boys’ race with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 3.9 seconds. Emma Dvorozniak was the girls’ winner (1:10.55).

Scarborough’s girls beat Windham, Marshwood, Gorham and Kennebunk in a GS race last week. Abby Mills (1:10.57) came in third individually. The Red Storm boys were second to Marshwood. Kevin Dryzga placed seventh (1:09.28).

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team fell to 0-7 last Wednesday after a 66-18 loss to Biddeford. The Red Storm was at Noble Wednesday and hosts Sanford Wednesday of next week.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.

Sidebar Elements

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South Portland senior Danica Gleason goes up for a shot while being defended by Scarborough sophomore Ashley Briggs during the Red Storm’s 42-30 win last week.

Scarborough junior Eric Grantz and Cape Elizabeth freshman Matthew Riggle battle during the Red Storm’s 8-0 win last week.

Cape Elizabeth’s Sophia Avantaggio clears the bar en route to a fifth-place finish in the junior high jump at last week’s league meet.