(Ed. note: For the complete South Portland-Cheverus and South Portland-Deering boys’ and South Portland-Cheverus girls’ basketball game stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

The championship month of February has arrived. Over the next 29 days (it is a leap year, mind you), indoor track, swimming, skiing and wrestling will bestow their hardware, with basketball and hockey winnowing down to a select few teams.

Before we get to that point, there’s plenty of recent action to plow through.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ basketball

All three local boys’ basketball teams are on track for the playoffs and are jockeying for optimal position.

South Portland and Scarborough are both 9-6 and occupy the seventh and eighth spots respectively in the Western Class A Heal Points standings (11 teams qualify for the postseason).

The Red Riots fell at Cheverus (49-33) Friday and at Deering Tuesday (49-38). Senior Logan Gaddar had a team-high eight points against the Stags.

“I thought Cheverus shot the ball very well in the second half and we didn’t come back down on the other end and shoot,” said South Portland coach Phil Conley. “I thought that was the difference in the game. We’ve shot the ball well all year. This was one game that we just didn’t shoot well. Credit Cheverus’ defense. Cheverus is very well coached. They deserved to win tonight.”

The Red Riots were even with the Rams at halftime, but couldn’t keep pace. Junior Jack Tolan led the team with 12 points.

“Tonight I can’t fault my kids for how they competed,” said Conley. “They went toe-to-toe with Deering and I thought at the end of the game the difference was Deering made a few key shots and we turned the ball over or missed a few jumpers on the other end.”

South Portland looks to get back in the win column Friday when it hosts Noble. The Red Riots are at Portland Tuesday and host Cheverus in the regular season finale Feb. 10.

Scarborough lost at home to Sanford (57-50) last Friday (despite 15 points from junior Brendan Hall), but bounced back Tuesday and downed visiting Massabesic, 55-35, behind 13 points from junior Dillon Russo. The Red Storm goes to Bonny Eagle Friday and Thornton Academy Tuesday, then closes at home versus Kennebunk Feb. 10.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth is 7-8 and ninth in the Heals (12 teams make the cut) after falling a Gray-New Gloucester (39-38) and at home to Wells (60-56). The Capers lost in the last minute at the Patriots. Juniors Henry Babcock (24 points) and Chris Robicheaw (20) played well against the Warriors. Cape Elizabeth is home with York Friday, visits Yarmouth Tuesday and finishes at home with Greely Feb. 10.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Scarborough is back on track after its lone loss. The Red Storm eked out a 36-34 triumph at Sanford Friday and won, 64-53. at Massabesic Tuesday. Junior Mary Redmond had 14 points to help Scarborough rally at the Redskins. Freshman Ashley Briggs had 18 points and Redmond added 17 versus the Mustangs. The Red Storm (13-1 and second to McAuley in the Western A standings) is home with Bonny Eagle Friday and Thornton Academy Tuesday. The regular season ends Feb. 10 at Kennebunk.

South Portland has dropped five in a row after recent losses at Cheverus (58-42) and McAuley (55-24). The Red Riots led by three at the Stags at halftime, but Cheverus dominated the second half. Senior Logan Neal led South Portland with eight points.

“They made a few shots and broke our back a little back,” said Red Riots coach Mike Giordano. “They’re good. I was pleased with the first half, but we couldn’t get it going in the second. It was their press. They physically wore us down, we were tired, our shots didn’t go in and they made a couple and we were playing from behind.”

Against the Lions, senior Maryalice Gurnee had five points. South Portland (6-9 and 10th in Western A, where 11 teams make the postseason) is at Noble Friday, hosts Deering Tuesday and closes at home with McAuley Feb. 10.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth is 3-12 and 15th in the Heals (only 12 teams make the postseason). The Capers suffered recent losses to visiting Gray-New Gloucester (46-37) and at Wells (40-36). Junior Marlo Dell’Aquila had nine points against both the Patriots and Warriors. Cape Elizabeth is at York Friday, hosts Yarmouth Tuesday and finishes Feb. 10 at Greely.

In Western D, Greater Portland Christian School is 6-5 and seventh (nine teams qualify) after losing, 45-43, at North Yarmouth Academy and beating visiting Calvary Chapel, 47-27. Against the Panthers, Elaine Beech had 18 points. Suzanne Gonzalez added 15. The Lions were at Hebron Thursday, visit Seacoast Christian Friday and Waynflete Monday, then close at home Feb. 8 with Forest Hills.

Hockey

On the ice, the girls’ regular season is winding down with Scarborough en route for a high seed.

The Red Storm enters its finale Saturday against visiting Cape Elizabeth with a 13-3-1 mark, which will make them second to Falmouth in the West Region. Scarborough downed visiting St. Dom’s, 7-1 Saturday.

Cape Elizabeth is 5-10-1 and sixth in the West, where only five teams make the playoffs. The Capers lost at home to York (6-0) and won at Cheverus (5-1) in recent action. Madeline Ciraldo and Kathryn Clark both had two goals against the Stags. Cape Elizabeth was at Portland Wednesday and finishes Saturday at Scarborough.

On the boys’ side, Scarborough is 10-2-1 and second behind Falmouth in the Western A Heals. The Red Storm beat visiting Cheverus (5-2) and lost at Biddeford (2-1) last week. Joe Cronin and Garrett McDonald both scored twice against the Stags. Scarborough is idle until Feb. 9, when it goes to Brunswick.

South Portland is 3-8 and 12th in the region (the top 10 teams make the playoffs) after losses to visiting Cape Elizabeth (4-0) and host Cheverus (8-0). After playing at Yarmouth Wednesday, the Red Riots are home with Kennebunk Saturday.

Indoor track

Cape Elizabeth took part in an indoor track meet last weekend against Freeport, Fryeburg, Greely, Lake Region, Lisbon, NYA and Wells. The boys were second and the girls third. Deven Roberts took the boys’ high jump (5 feet-4 inches) and the senior 55 hurdles (9.14 seconds). Conor Maguire won the long jump (18-1.5). Tori Brigham won the girls’ two-mile (12 minutes, 37.39 seconds). The Capers wrap up the regular season Friday at 4:30 in Gorham against Falmouth, Fryeburg, Greely, Poland, Traip and York.

Scarborough and South Portland return to action for the Southern Maine Activities Association championship meet Saturday in Gorham.

Swimming

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ swim team dropped its first decision Friday, 153-101, to Cheverus. The Capers did beat Waynflete, 101-23. The girls dominated Cheverus (148-69) and Waynflete (148-70).

Scarborough swept Westbrook (boys, 117-28; girls, 120-30).

South Portland was swept at Greely (boys, 106-67; girls, 112-58).

Cape Elizabeth’s Kevin Flathers was third in boys’ 11 dive competition at last weekend’s Falmouth Diving Invitational. South Portland’s Keith Carmichael came in seventh. Cape Elizabeth’s George MacKenzie placed 11th and teammate Sam McDuffie was 12th. In the girls’ 11 dive, Cape Elizabeth’s Michaela Pinette was 12th.

The North Division Southwesterns will be held this weekend in Westbrook, with Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough and South Portland taking part. The boys compete Friday at 5 p.m. The girls start Saturday at 3 p.m.

Skiing

Cape Elizabeth’s Nordic ski team competed in the Sassi Memorial classical race Saturday at Black Mountain. The boys were 13th and the girls finished 16th.

On the Alpine side, Cape Elizabeth joined Freeport, Fryeburg and Lake Region for a slalom meet Monday at Shawnee Peak. The boys were second to Freeport and the girls came in fourth. Sam Barber was tops individually on the boys’ side (a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 23.75 seconds). Emma Landes (fourth, 1:36.13) was the fastest female.

Scarborough took on Cheverus, Gorham, Kennebunk, Marshwood and Windham in the giant slalom last Wednesday. The girls won and the boys were second to the Hawks. Abby Mills was third in on the girls’ side (1:01.21). Matt McAlary was fourth among the boys (58.88).

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team is 0-15 after last Wednesday’s 52-24 loss to Westbrook. The Red Storm also took part in the Southern Maine Classic, finishing 10th.

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

Sidebar Elements

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South Portland junior Jack Tolan gets in the face of Cheverus senior Shawn Grover during the teams’ game Friday night. The Red Riots lost to the Stags, 49-33.

South Portland sophomore Brianne Maloney drives to the hoop during Saturday’s 58-42 loss at Cheverus.

Cape Elizabeth’s Kyle Kennedy races toward a fifth-place finish in the mile last week.

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