(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Greely boys’ basketball game story, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The winter sports campaign begins to wind down at the end of the week when the girls’ hockey regular season comes to a close, along with indoor track, swimming and wrestling. Basketball (which packed a ton of drama into recent days), boys’ hockey and skiing won’t be far behind.

Here’s a glimpse at where things stand as January gives way to the championship month of February.

Boys’ basketball

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B state champion boys’ basketball team won a pair of huge games in recent days to improve to 12-3 and third in the Class A South Heal Points standings as of press time.

Last Friday, the Capers eked out a 50-49 overtime win at Yarmouth behind J Bottomley’s 15 points and 10 points from Justin Guerette. Tuesday, Cape Elizabeth hosted Greely and gave longtime coach Jim Ray his 300th victory with the program, 45-38.

In that one, the Capers trailed for most of three quarters before pulling even heading to the fourth. Nine seconds into the final period, Bottomley gave Cape Elizabeth its first lead in a long time and after the Rangers tied the score, Bottomley put the Capers ahead to stay for good on a floater with 7:17 left. Three-point shots from Marshall Peterson and Finn Bowe helped open up a 37-30 lead and while the Rangers fought to the end, they got no closer than five points and Cape Elizabeth went on to a 45-38 victory.

Bowe led a balanced attack with 12 points, Bottomley also finished in double figures with 11 points, Guerette sparked a staunch defensive effort and grabbed 12 rebounds.

“Coach Ray is our guy,” Guerette said. “It means a lot, especially with him in the New England Hall of Fame. This just speaks to how great a coach he is. This one goes up there with the state championship game last year. We’ll remember this for a long time.”

“I feel honored to be part of his 300th win,” Bottomley said. “He’s a great coach. He’s influenced my life in immeasurable ways. I really appreciate everything he’s done. He does a great job with the program.”

“I’ve lasted a long time,” added Ray, the one-time program standout who took over the team for the 1994-95 season. “It’s a supportive community and I’ve had great kids. I have a tremendous amount of pride. I’d have a difficult time picturing myself coaching someplace else. This honor goes to the guys who dedicated themselves to this program.”

Cape Elizabeth is home with Biddeford Friday, hosts Falmouth Tuesday and closes the regular season at Fryeburg Academy Thursday.

“There’s still a lot of work necessary,” Ray said. “Patience and discipline, for us, is what we need. I just want to get in (the tournament) and play our best basketball. Hopefully we’ll be playing our best basketball wherever we end up. I’m looking forward to it.”

In Class AA South, South Portland was 9-6 and fourth following Friday’s 64-47 loss at Massabesic (Jack Fiorini had 16 points in defeat) and Tuesday’s 70-63 win at Windham (Fiorini had 16 points, Sam DePaolo 13 and Ruay Bol 11). The Red Riots were home with Cheverus Friday, welcome Portland Tuesday and close the regular season Thursday at Deering. 

Scarborough was holding on to the sixth and final Class AA South playoff spot with a 4-10 mark at press time after a 59-43 win at Noble and a 62-42 home loss to Gorham (Emmett Peoples had 13 points). The Red Storm hosted Noble in a makeup game Wednesday, visit Massabesic Friday, host Deering Tuesday and close at home versus Bonny Eagle Feb. 4.

In Class D South, Greater Portland Christian School was 5-11 and 10th in the standings at press time, but only nine teams qualify for the playoffs. The Lions were coming off a 77-38 loss at A.R. Gould and a 56-40 home setback to Pine Tree Academy. GPCS was home with Seacoast Christian Monday and closes at Highview Christian Wednesday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, South Portland continues to excel and its best player reached a milestone Tuesday night.

The Red Riots made it 12 straight wins and improved to 13-2 after holding on for a 29-28 victory at Thornton Academy and downing visiting Windham, 60-44. Against the Golden Trojans, Maddie Hasson had 12 points as South Portland held on late. Hasson then eclipsed the 1,000-career points plateau against the Eagles, finishing with 30 total (Meghan Graff added 13). The Red Riots (ranked second behind undefeated Gorham in the Class AA South Heal Points standings) play at Deering Friday, host Bonny Eagle Tuesday and close the regular season at Westbrook Thursday.

Scarborough was 5-9 and fifth in Class AA South after close losses to visiting Massabesic (58-57) and host McAuley (43-38). Sophie Glidden had 30 points against the Mustangs and Brooke Malone led the way versus the Lions with 20. The Red Storm welcomed Noble in a makeup game Wednesday, hosts Thornton Academy Friday, plays at Deering Tuesday, then closes at Bonny Eagle Feb. 4.

In Class A South, Cape Elizabeth was 5-10 and was holding on to the ninth and final playoff spot after downing visiting Yarmouth (45-41) and losing at Greely (46-31). Maddie Bowe had 22 points and Carter Harvey added 10 against the Clippers. In the loss, Bowe led the way with 11 points. The Capers go to Biddeford Friday, play host to Falmouth Tuesday and close at home versus Fryeburg Academy Thursday.

In Class D South, GPCS was 5-11 and holding on to the eighth and final playoff spot following a 57-47 loss at Hebron Academy, a 61-37 home setback to Pine Tree Academy and a 56-53 loss at Hebron. The Lions host Seacoast Christian Monday and close at Highview Christian Wednesday.

Boys’ hockey

Scarborough’s defending Class A champion boys’ hockey team improved to 10-0-1 and first in Class A South after rallying to tie host Cheverus, 2-2, and beating host Biddeford, 3-2. In the deadlock, Skylar Pettingill and Matt Caron scored to erase a 2-0 deficit. Against the Tigers, Caron, Pettingill and Cam Nigro had the goals. The Red Storm hosted Thornton Academy Wednesday, play at Portland/Deering Saturday and visit Cape Elizabeth Thursday of next week.

The South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team was 10th in Class A South with a 3-8-1 record following a 3-2 home loss to Massabesic and a 9-0 setback at Camden Hills. After playing at Marshwood Wednesday, the team is idle until next Thursday when Mt. Ararat/Morse/Lisbon pays a visit.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth was 4-5-2 and fifth after a 2-1 home loss to Greely. After hosting Kennebunk Thursday, the Capers go to Camden Hills Saturday and welcome Scarborough Thursday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

Scarborough’s girls’ hockey team was undefeated heading into a possible state final showdown at Greely Wednesday night (see theforecaster.net for game story). The Red Storm improved to 15-0-1 and first in the South Region after rallying to stun visiting Falmouth in overtime (3-2) and downing host Lewiston (5-4). Lauren Topchik and Sami Shoebottom scored in the third period to erase a two-goal deficit against the Yachtsmen and Shoebottom won it in OT. Against the defending state champion Blue Devils, Shoebottom had four goals, including the decisive tally. Scarborough closes the regular season at Biddeford Saturday.

The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team suffered an 11-0 loss at Falmouth, beat visiting Cheverus (3-2) and lost, 6-1, at Edward Little/Leavitt to fall to 5-11 and fourth in the South Region. Kate Ginder had two goals and Erika Miller added one in the victory. Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/SP was at Portland/Deering Wednesday and closes at Gorham/Bonny Eagle Friday.

The playoffs begin Wednesday with the regional quarterfinals. The semifinals are Friday, Feb. 5. Both rounds will feature the higher seeds hosting. The regional finals are Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Colisee in Lewiston. The state final is Saturday, Feb. 13 in Lewiston.

Indoor track

On the track, Scarborough’s boys continued their long league win streak by holding off Deering by 12 points in a meet which also included Windham. Griffin Madden was first in the senior 55 (6.89), senior 55 hurdles (7.84) and senior high jump (5-6). Anthony Clavette was a multiple event winner, taking the junior 55 hurdles (9.37) and the junior high jump (5-2) and Colin Tardiff took the open two-mile (10:13.38) and the open 800 (2:06.50).

The Red Storm won the girls’ meet. Gaby Panagakos won the junior 55 (7.93), junior 200 (28.58) and the junior 400 (1:03.98). Ellen Shaw also won multiple events, taking the senior 200 in 28.53 and the senior 55 hurdles in 9.08.

South Portland’s girls were first and boys played second in a four-team meet. The girls were led by Callie O’Brien, who stole the show with first-place performances in the senior 200 (28.55), senior 55 hurdles (9.12) and the senior high jump (4-10). Juliana Selser won the junior 800 (2:25.84) and the open 600 (1:33.54).The boys’ top finishers were Khemara Johnson, who won the junior high jump (5-2) and junior triple jump (36-7), Noah Blake, who was first in the senior 55 (6.93) and senior long jump (18-10), and Maxwell Holmes, who won the senior 200 (24.35) and senior triple jump (38-7.5).

Cape Elizabeth boys were third and the girls tied for fifth in an eight-team WMC meet last weekend.

The boys were paced by wins from Harry Queeney in the senior high jump (5-10), Luc Houle in the junior shot put (37-7), Ethan Avantaggio in the junior 55 hurdles (8.96) and their 4×200 junior relay team (Hans Kremer, Avantaggio, Jacob Budischewsky and Matthew Concannon, 1:42.91).

Girls’ winners included Liv Palma in the open mile (5:36.45), Katie Oberholtzer in the senior high jump (4-8), Kristen Penley in the junior high jump (4-8) and the open 3,200 relay team (Lily Bergh, Samantha Feenstra, Maggie Gleason and Palma, 10:59.86). 

Cape Elizabeth wraps up the regular season this weekend against Fryeburg Academy, Lake Region, NYA, Poland, Traip and Wells.

The WMC championship meet is Feb. 5. The SMAA championship meet is Feb. 6.

The Class B state meet is Feb. 13. The Class A state meet is Feb. 15.

Swimming

Scarborough’s boys and girls’ swim teams beat South Portland last weekend.

The boys prevailed, 107-69, and the girls won, 120-50. 

The Red Storm welcome Cheverus and the Red Riots are home against Deering in the regular season finale Friday.

Cape Elizabeth swept Westbrook last week, with the boys winning, 119-28, and the girls prevailing, 126-55. The Capers are at McAuley in the finale Friday.

Skiing

Scarborough’s girls were first and the boys second in a six-team Alpine giant slalom meet at Shawnee Peak last week. The girls were paced by Sarah Hassler (fifth with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 11.86 seconds). The top boys’ finisher was Andrew Mills (fourth, 1:07.27).

Cape Elizabeth joined Lake Region, Marshwood and Windham in a giant slalom meet, where the Capers girls and boys both came in first. The top female was Emma Dvorozniak (first, 1:05.15). The boys were paced by Jon Fiutak (second, 1:02.02).

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team had a strong showing at last weekend’s Hammerhead Duals in York, placing fourth. The 7-7 Red Storm wrapped up the regular season with meets at Bonny Eagle Wednesday and at Marshwood Saturday.

The regional championship meet is Saturday, Feb. 6 and the state meet is Saturday, Feb. 13.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Following Tuesday’s 45-38 home win over Greely, Cape Elizabeth coach Jim Ray, joined by senior captains Marcus Donnelly, left, J. Bottomley and Justin Guerette, receives the game ball from athletic director Jeff Thoreck recognizing his 300th victory with the program.

South Portland senior standout Maddie Hasson (joined by her coach and mother, Lynne Hasson) is honored at center court after eclipsing the 1,000 career point mark Tuesday night in a 60-44 victory over Windham.

Cape Elizabeth’s Kristen Penley soars to victory in the junior high jump in last week’s league meet.

Scarborough’s Jillian Schell competes in the freestyle during last week’s win over South Portland.

Cape Elizabeth’s Tessa Dolan shows her diving form during the Capers’ win over Westbrook last week.

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