After a brief hiatus for holiday play, local winter sports teams now turn their attention to the resumption of the regular season. Here’s a glimpse at what happened last week and what’s to come now that the calendar has flipped to 2011.

Boys’ basketball

Cheverus, Deering and Portland’s boys’ basketball teams all took part in the 25th anniversary Portland High holiday tournament at the Portland Expo.

This year’s tourney suffered a cancellation of games last Monday due to a snowstorm and with the Maine Red Claws claiming the Expo on Tuesday and Thursday nights, only one evening was available, keeping crowds down and preventing the normal format leading to a champion.

Cheverus, the defending Class A state champion, played three holiday games and won two. The Stags defeated Scarborough, 48-30, in their first outing last Tuesday, as senior Griffin Brady had 15 points. That evening, Cheverus lost to Transit Tech of New York, 45-38. Thursday, the Stags defeated Western B favorite Greely, 50-40.

Deering also went 2-1. The Rams downed defending Class B state champion Falmouth, 48-33, Wednesday, as sophomore Labson Abwoch led the way with 15 points. That evening, Deering held off Yarmouth, 50-45. Friday, the Rams lost a 39-37 decision to Scarborough.

Host Portland played twice, losing to Susan Wagner of New York (45-44) and beating Falmouth, 55-38.

All three teams returned to league play Tuesday.

Cheverus, winners of its first four games with varying degrees of ease, hopes to get junior standout Louie DiStasio back from a foot injury soon. The Stags (first in the latest Western Class A Heal Points standings) were at Windham Tuesday, host Massabesic Friday, then have a showdown at Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

Deering started slowly this winter, dropping two of its first three, before bouncing back with a 62-44 home win over Gorham in its final 2010 outing. The Rams (10th in Western A at press time) were home against Biddeford Tuesday, play host to Thornton Academy Friday and visit those other Rams from Kennebunk next Tuesday.

Portland enters 2011 at 1-3 on the  year. The Bulldogs (12th in the standings), who could hit their stride at any time, went to Gorham Tuesday, host Westbrook Friday and welcome Windham next Tuesday.

Waynflete did not play in a holiday tournament. The Flyers took a 3-2 mark (and the No. 11 spot in the Western C Heals) into Tuesday’s home tilt with Old Orchard Beach (the Seagulls beat the Flyers, 42-31, Dec. 18 in Portland). Waynflete goes to Gould Academy Friday and visits Traip Academy Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ basketball

Two of the city’s (and state’s) finest teams, Deering and McAuley, met for the first time this winter last week in the final of the Capital City Classic in Augusta, in a non-countable contest.

The Rams advanced to the final by defeating Brunswick (46-39, senior Kayla Burchill had 16 points and junior Ella Ramonas added 10) and Lake Region (43-30).

The Lions were winners over coach Amy Vachon’s alma mater Cony (39-37, senior Rebecca Knight and junior Alexa Coulombe both had 10 points) and Brunswick (50-37). In the championship game, Deering had the last laugh, eking out a 52-48 decision, winning the title for the fourth year in a row.

Waynflete played two games in the Gorham Christmas tournament, losing to Western A contenders South Portland (48-47) and Sanford (74-51).

Cheverus did not play in a holiday tournament.

Portland hosted its traditional tourney, but results were not available by deadline.

As the regular season resumes, Cheverus, Deering and McAuley will continue jockeying for top honors.

The Stags, winners of four straight before an agonizing home loss to McAuley, returned to action Tuesday when they hosted Windham (see theforecaster.net for game story). Friday, the Stags (fourth in the latest Western A Heals) go to Massabesic. They host Thornton Academy next Tuesday.

The Rams, who went 5-0 in the 2010 portion of their schedule, capped by an entertaining 51-45 home victory over South Portland two days before Christmas (Burchill had 32 points, including seven 3-pointers), played at Biddeford Tuesday. Deering (second in Western A) goes to Thornton Academy Friday and hosts Kennebunk next Tuesday.

The Lions took a 4-0 record and the top spot in the Heals to Noble Tuesday. McAuley hosts defending Class A champion Scarborough Friday and welcomes Bonny Eagle next Tuesday.

Portland (1-3 and ninth in Western A) hosted Gorham Tuesday, goes to Westbrook Friday and visits Windham next Tuesday.

In Western C, Waynflete, which went 4-1 pre-Christmas, played at Old Orchard Beach Tuesday (the Flyers won, 60-37, at OOB back on Dec. 18), hosts Calais Saturday at 2 p.m. and visits Traip next Tuesday.

Boys’ hockey

As was the case with the basketball tournaments, hockey’s long-standing Maine High School Hockey Invitational, featuring teams from throughout the East Coast and even Canada, was affected by weather.

Cheverus, Deering and Portland were able to take part, however.

The Stags lost to Hampton (New Brunswick), 3-0, and also played Tewksbury (Massachusetts). The score of that contest was not available.

The Rams played three games, defeating Kennett (N.H.), 5-3, and Westbrook (4-2). Deering lost, 4-2, to Newington/Berlin (Conn.).

The Bulldogs lost to South Windsor (Conn.), 8-0, and Coventry (R.I.), 6-2.

All three teams are in the playoff mix and are back in action.

Cheverus, off to a promising 3-0 start, hosts Noble Thursday and Fryeburg/Lake Region Saturday. The Stags were fourth in the latest Western A Heals.

Deering, which lost its first three outings before defeating Bonny Eagle, 6-1, visits Windham Wednesday. The Rams were 14th in Western A at the start of the week.

Portland, off to a solid 3-1 start, hosts Scarborough Thursday and defending Class A champion Biddeford Saturday. The Bulldogs were ranked eighth at the start of the week.

Girls’ hockey

Local girls’ hockey players took part in regular season contests last week.

Defending state champion Cheverus had a three-game win streak snapped Thursday after falling, 7-2, at home to St. Dom’s. The Stags (6-2 and first in the West region) got a goal from senior Deirdre Lambert and another from freshman Julia Lambert. Cheverus was at York Monday, visits Yarmouth Friday and plays at Scarborough in an important contest Saturday.

Portland continues to hang tough. The Bulldogs took a 3-3-1 mark to Biddeford Monday. They host York Wednesday and Falmouth Saturday. Portland (fifth in the West region) visits Brunswick Monday.

Waynflete’s co-op team with Cape Elizabeth was 2-6 (seventh in the West) entering the week. It hosts Scarborough Thursday.

Track

The indoor track regular season will commence Saturday at the Portland Expo.

Cheverus competes against Bonny Eagle and Windham. Deering battles Noble and Westbrook. McAuley meets Biddeford, Scarborough and South Portland. Portland takes on Gorham, Massabesic and Thornton Academy.

Swimming

Cheverus’ boys swim team is back in action Friday when it hosts Scarborough. The girls battle Scarborough and McAuley. Deering goes to South Portland. Portland hosts Yarmouth. Waynflete (with North Yarmouth Academy) swam at Bonny Eagle Monday.

Wrestling

Portland’s best wrestling season in years continued Thursday with a 48-36 home win over Windham. The Bulldogs host Kennebunk and Westbrook Wednesday.

Deering dropped a pair of matches Thursday, falling to Noble (77-3) and Westbrook (47-18). The Rams are idle until Jan. 12, when they host Massabesic.

Cheverus visits York Wednesday.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Deering sophomore Marissa MacMillan dishes off around Brunswick senior Tiffany Fraser at the Augusta Civic Center during last week’s Capital City Holiday Classic. The Rams went on for a 46-39 victory and edged McAuley in the final to win the title.

Deering sophomore Chelsea Saucier puts the clamps on Brunswick’s Tiana Burton during the teams’ holiday tournament game last week.