(Ed. Note: For the complete Yarmouth-Wells boys’ basketball and Greely-Cape Elizabeth girls’ basketball game stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

The regular season is coming to an end in basketball and girls’ hockey and it’s almost time for other sports to hold their big postseason meets.

Here’s a look at what happened last week and what’s to come:

Boys’ basketball

Falmouth’s defending Class B state champion boys’ basketball team remains atop the Western A Heal Points standings after improving to 13-1 last weekend with wins over host Kennebunk (55-39) and visiting Fryeburg (53-44). Against the Rams, Jack Simonds led the way with 19 points. Simonds had 19 more to help fend off the upset-minded Raiders. The Yachtsmen visited Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday and host Freeport Friday. After visiting Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week, Falmouth closes the regular season at home versus Kennebunk Thursday.

In Western B, Greely is first, also at 13-1, after handling visiting Lake Region (71-51) and holding off host Cape Elizabeth (51-47). Against the Lakers, Bailey Train led the way with 22 points. Connor Hanley had 16 points and Train added 14 versus the Capers. After going to Fryeburg Tuesday, the Rangers host York Friday. Greely is at Wells Tuesday of next week, then closes the regular season at home versus Cape Elizabeth Feb. 7.

Yarmouth was fourth in the region at 10-4 after eking out a 57-55 win at Fryeburg and dominating visiting Wells, 72-51. Jordan Brown saved the day at the Raiders with 19 points. In the win over the Warriors, David Murphy had 16 points, while Brown and Cody Cook each added nine off the bench. Adam LaBrie had seven points, 13 rebounds and eight steals. Twelve different players scored.

“I just wanted to try and find my teammates tonight,” LaBrie said. “My shot wasn’t going in tonight, so I was just trying to get the ball and move it up the floor. I love getting steals and I love getting the ball up the floor and getting the team going.”

“I’ve just got to be a spark for the team,” said Brown. “(The Fryeburg game) really boosted my confidence. Tonight went smoothly for me. It came a little easier than the other games.”

“It was a good game for the team,” added Yarmouth coach Adam Smith. “The last couple weeks, the schedule was very tough for us. These guys are tired. I’m pleased with the character of the guys to get it back together.”

The Clippers hosted York Tuesday and go to Lake Region Thursday. Home games against Gray-New Gloucester and Freeport close the regular season next week.

“I think we can make a deep run,” LaBrie said. “We have to keep working hard.”

“We have great chemistry and we all work really hard,” Brown said. “If we keep that up, I think we have a great chance.”

“We’re still not back where we want to be,” Smith added. “We’ve still got some growing left to do. We’ll start getting after it again after getting a little rest, then gear up for what’s left of our season. The guys understand that we’ve got to take a few more steps.”

Freeport fell to 1-13 and 15th after a 57-52 loss at Gray-New Gloucester Saturday afternoon. Brendon Qualls did have 26 points in the defeat. The Falcons went to Lake Region Tuesday, visit Falmouth Friday, host Kennebunk Tuesday of next week, then close Feb. 7 at Yarmouth.

In Western D, North Yarmouth Academy has positioned itself for a tournament run. The Panthers improved to 10-3 and sixth in the Heals after beating host Pine Tree Academy (72-39) and Richmond (62-40). Chase Gendron had 22 points against Richmond. NYA was at Hyde Tuesday, welcomes Traip Friday, Richmond Tuesday of next week and Old Orchard Beach next Thursday before closing at home against Seacoast Christian Feb. 7.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Greely saw its six game win streak snapped Friday with a 52-34 loss at Lake Region (despite 15 points from Ashley Storey). The Rangers got back on track Saturday at home versus Cape Elizabeth, but waited until the very end to take care of business.

Greely was down, 39-32, late in the third quarter, but a last-second Storey jumper provided a spark and the Rangers dominated the final period. A 3 from Haley Felkel put Greely ahead to stay and it held on, 44-40, closing the game on a 12-1 run. Storey had 16 points and 11 rebounds.

“We picked it up on D and they didn’t get anything,” Storey said. “The atmosphere here was great tonight. I think that made us play harder. We got the stops. We know we can play like that.”

“We really came together and got intense on defense,” Felkel said. “That fell through to our offense and things started happening for us. They were trying to rush things a little bit and were getting frustrated.”

“I turned to (assistant coach) Diana (Manduca) when we cut it to five and said, ‘We’re going to win this game,'” added Greely coach Joel Rogers. “I usually don’t make that prediction. I challenged the kids and they stepped it up. It’s a quality win. It sets the tone for where we want to be.”

The Rangers (now 11-3 and sixth in Western B) hosted Fryeburg Tuesday, go to York Friday, then play host to Wells Tuesday of next week before finishing at Cape Elizabeth Feb. 7.

“If we play defense like we did in the fourth quarter, I think we can be really good,” said Felkel. “We want to win games so when tournament time comes, we can be ready.”

“I want to run the table,” Rogers said. “We’ll be tested going into the tournament. We may not be seeded in the top four, but I want to be a top four team.”

While Greely is a playoff certainty, Freeport and Yarmouth are not and time is running out for those teams to make a move.

The Falcons lost at the Clippers Friday night, 45-38, despite 17 points from standout Nina Davenport. Saturday, however, Freeport improved to 5-9 and 13th in the Heals (only 10 teams make the playoffs) with a 54-46 home win over Gray-New Gloucester, behind 20 points from Davenport and 10 from Ashley Richardson. The Falcons host Lake Region Wednesday and Falmouth Friday. Tuesday of next week, Freeport is at Kennebunk. The Falcons close at home versus Yarmouth Feb. 7. Freeport has to beat Lake Region to have a shot at the postseason.

Prior to beating the Falcons, the Clippers lost at Wells, 67-34, despite 10 points each from Cory Langenbach and Grace O’Donnell. In the win, Lane Simsarian had 13 points and Langenbach added 10. Yarmouth (4-10 and 15th in Western B) was at York Tuesday, hosts Lake Region Friday and Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday of next week, then closes at Freeport Feb. 7. If the Clippers spring an upset or two, they could find their way into the tournament field.

In Western A, Falmouth is still in line for a trip to the playoffs. Last weekend, the Yachtsmen beat visiting Kennebunk, 48-28, and lost at Fryeburg, 44-34. Dayna Vasconcelos and Kayla Walsh both had 10 points against the Rams. In the loss to the Raiders, Emma Powers had a team-high nine points. Falmouth (4-10 and 11th in Western A, where 12 teams qualify) was home against Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday, goes to Freeport Friday, hosts Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week and closes at Kennebunk Feb. 6.

In Western D, NYA began the week 5-7 and ninth (10 teams make the playoffs) after a 59-35 loss at Pine Tree Academy last week. Charlotte Esancy had 18 points and Chloe Leishman added 15 in her return to the lineup. The Panthers were home with Hyde Tuesday, go to Kents Hill Wednesday and visit Traip Friday. After it welcomes Kents Hill Wednesday of next week, NYA is at Old Orchard Beach Feb. 6 and plays host to Seacoast Christian in the finale Feb. 7.

Boys’ hockey

On the ice, Falmouth’s defending Class A boys’ state champion returns to action after over two-plus weeks off Wednesday, when it goes to St. Dom’s. The 6-4 Yachtsmen are third behind Scarborough and Cheverus in the Western A Heal Points standings. Falmouth hosts Bangor Friday and plays at Yarmouth Saturday.

in Western B, Yarmouth was second to Camden Hills in the standings at 6-3-1 after beating host Portland/Deering (4-2) and blanking visiting Leavitt (5-0). Robert Murray had two goals against Portland/Deering. In the win over the Hornets, Isaak Dearden had two goals. The Clippers were home against Maranacook Tuesday, then host one-time rival Falmouth Saturday. Yarmouth-Falmouth was one of the fiercest rivals in high school sports at the turn of the century, but Saturday’s game will mark the first time they’ve met since Feb. 7, 2007 (an 8-1 Yachtsmen win in Yarmouth).

Greely, the two-time defending state champion, is rounding into form. Saturday, the Rangers made it three in a row with a 2-1 victory at Gorham behind goals from Dylan Fried and Tommy Thompson. Greely (4-5-2 and third in Western B) was home with Biddeford Monday and played at Camden Hills Wednesday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, two-time defending state champion Greely is now third in the East Region Heals at 10-4 after a 6-0 home win over Mt. Ararat Saturday. Danita Storey had three goals, while Sarah Kurland added a pair. The Rangers hosted Scarborough Wednesday and close Saturday at home versus Lewiston.

Yarmouth/Freeport improved to 12-3-1 and fourth after downing host Portland/Deering (12-0) and visiting Winslow (3-0) last week. Against Winslow, Katie Clemmer, Ariel Potter and Lilly Watson all had goals. Yarmouth/Freeport welcomes top-ranked Leavitt/Edward Little in a critical showdown Thursday and closes Saturday at home versus Cheverus.

In the West, Falmouth improved to 11-5 and second to Scarborough after defeating visiting Portland/Deering Saturday (7-1). The Yachtsmen host York Thursday and close at Biddeford Saturday.

Indoor track

Strong indoor track performances continued last weekend at USM.

Greely’s girls were first, NYA’s second and Freeport’s third in a seven-team meet.

The Rangers got wins from Jocelyn Mitiguy in the junior 55 (7.89 seconds) and junior 200 (28.82), Samantha Pynchon in the junior high jump (4 feet, 8 inches), Alyssa Casarez in the junior shot put (34-10), Maegan Dougherty in the triple jump (30-0.5), Sophia McMonagle in the pole vault (8 feet), Kirstin Sandreuter in the two-mile (11 minutes, 11.89 seconds),  and their junior 800 (1:58.58) and 3,200 (10:28.40) relay.

Panthers’ winners included Alex Wahlstrom in the junior 400 (1:05.88), Mackenzie Sangster in the junior 55 hurdles (10.58), Jillian Bjorn-Caron in the senior 55 hurdles (10.19) and Adela McVicar in the senior high jump (4-8).

The Falcons won the senior 800 relay (1:57.37). Bethanie Knighton won the 800 (2:30.67).

In the boys’ meet, won by Fryeburg, Greely placed third, Freeport was fifth and NYA sixth.

The Rangers got wins from Ben Ray in the pole vault (12-0), Chance Carr in the senior 55 hurdles (8.77) and their junior relay (1:50.60).

Panthers’ first-place finishers included Michael McIntosh in the senior 55 (6.76) and senior 200 (23.73) and Xander Bartone in the junior 55 (6.93).

The Falcons got a win from Nick Wilson in the long jump (19-1.25).

The other meet saw Falmouth’s boys and girls finish second to York. Yarmouth’s boys and girls both placed fourth.

The Yachtsmen boys got wins from Joey Cyr in the junior 55 (7.24), Nigel Dunn in the junior 200 (24.78), Andy Clement in the senior 55 hurdles (8.93) and senior 200 (24.37), Sage Tanner in the two-mile (10:49.81), Tony St. Angelo in the long jump (19-10) and their junior (1:40.16) and senior (1:39.66) relays.

The Clippers got wins from Travis Hamre in the senior 55 (7.04) and Darren Shi in the senior shot put (44-1.5).

Falmouth’s girls’ winners included Emma England in the junior 200 (27.98), Charlotte Cutshall in the senior 55 (7.75) and the long jump (15-3.25), Alexa Hoffman in the 800 (2:31.85) and the junior (1:54.15) and senior (1:54.55) relays.

Yarmouth’s Emma Egan won the junior 55 (7.67) and junior high jump (5-2).

The regular season concludes Friday at USM, when Falmouth, Freeport and Greely battle each other and Cape Elizabeth, Fryeburg, Traip and York in the early meet, while NYA and Yarmouth take part in the late meet versus Gray-New Gloucester, Hyde, Lake Region, Poland, Sacopee Valley, St. Dom’s and Wells.

Swimming

Greely’s girls’s swim team downed Cheverus last weekend, 50-44. The Rangers boys lost to the Stags, 59-35. Greely closes the regular season at Cape Elizabeth Thursday.

Falmouth’s boys lost a close one to Deering, 82-79. The Yachtsmen girls were defeated by the Rams, 89-82. Falmouth hosts Cheverus Thursday.

Yarmouth’s boys beat Portland, 86-68, and the girls downed the Bulldogs, 84-65. The Clippers go to Massabesic Saturday.

At the South Portland Diving Invitational Saturday, Falmouth standout Charlotte Janelle, the defending Class B diving state champion, won the girls’ 6-dive title with a score of 169.10 points.

Skiing

Yarmouth’s boys’ Nordic ski team finished second to Gould among 38 teams at the Sassi Memorial Saturday, as Braden Becker was the individual champion in 12 minutes, 48.7 seconds. Teammate Carter Hall placed seventh (13:35.3). Merriconeag came in fourth, Falmouth was 10th, Freeport 11th, NYA 23rd and Greely 34th. Freeport’s Eli McCurdy also finished in the top 10 (13:40.0).

The Clippers girls did even better as a team, beating 40 other squads for top honors. Falmouth placed third, Merriconeag fourth, Freeport 10th and Greely 27th. Freeport’s Elizabeth Martin was the top local individual, placing fifth in 16:41.7. Yarmouth was paced by Ellie Teare (seventh, 16:51.7). Falmouth’s London Bernier was 10th (17:10.4).

On the Alpine side, Yarmouth had no trouble beating Gray-New Gloucester and Lake Region in a giant slalom meet at Shawnee Peak last Thursday. Rhys Eddy won the boys’ competition with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 00.72 seconds. Chapin Dorsett was tops in the girls’ meet in 1:06.04.

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

Sidebar Elements


Greely junior Ashley Storey goes up for a layup during Saturday’s come-from-behind 44-40 home win over Cape Elizabeth.

Freeport’s Nick Nelsonwood competes in a Nordic ski relay race last week at Starks Hill. The Falcons came in fifth.

NYA’s Alex Wahlstrom runs her way to victory in the junior 400 at last weekend’s meet.


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