The preliminaries are over and the winter sports season is about to ramp up dramatically.

Last week featured a mix of holiday tournament and regular season action. Now, the fun resumes for basketball, hockey and swimming, while indoor track and skiing will get underway as well.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ basketball

The 6-0 Falmouth boys’ basketball team took the top ranking in the Western Class B Heal Points standings into a huge showdown Wednesday night at preseason favorite York. The Yachtsmen took part in the holiday tournament at the Portland Expo last week and lost to Moore Catholic, N.Y. (63-57), Scarborough (54-51) and Susan Wagner of New York (56-36).

Freeport (1-4 and 15th in the region) hosted Yarmouth in its first 2012 game Wednesday. The Falcons welcome Falmouth Friday and go to Fryeburg Tuesday.

Greely took part in the holiday tournament, beating Mountain Valley (67-37) and Portland (59-37) to reach the championship game, where the Rangers lost to Scarborough, 51-46. Greely took a 3-3 mark and the No. 7 ranking into Wednesday’s home game with Lake Region. The Rangers are at Yarmouth Friday and Traip Tuesday.

Yarmouth dropped tournament games to Cheverus (53-40) and Moore Catholic of New York (71-38). The 5-1 Clippers (second to Falmouth in the Heals) was at Freeport Wednesday, hosts Greely Friday and welcomes dangerous Poland Tuesday.

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy began the new year 1-4 and 12th in the Heals. The Panthers hosted Hyde Wednesday, go to A.R. Gould Friday and welcome Buckfield Tuesday.

Girls’ basketball

Falmouth and Greely’s girls’ teams have done very well in the early going this winter and both took part at a holiday tournament at the Portland Expo last week.

The Yachtsmen dropped a 39-38 decision to Thornton Academy, then raced to a 25-2 lead after one quarter, a 34-3 bulge at the half and a 47-6 advantage after three periods en route to a 53-10 win over Kennebunk. Falmouth took a 5-1 record and the No. 6 ranking in the Western Class B Heal Points standings into Wednesday’s big home test with recent nemesis York. The Yachtsmen are home with Freeport Friday and go to Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

The Rangers of Greely defeated Waynflete, 47-27, behind 12 points from junior Jaclyn Storey, in holiday tournament action. At 5-1 (and second to defending state champion Leavitt in the Heals), the Rangers were at highly touted Lake Region Wednesday, visit Yarmouth Friday and play host to Traip Tuesday.

Freeport took part in a holiday tournament at Central Maine Community College, where it defeated Lisbon (58-31) and lost to Lewiston (54-47). The Falcons then hosted a tournament, where they downed Spruce Mountain (40-36) and Monmouth (61-25). The varsity also downed the alumni team, 44-25. Freeport was 2-3 and 13th in the standings heading into its home game with Yarmouth Wednesday. The Falcons go to Falmouth Friday and welcome Fryeburg Tuesday.

Yarmouth was 2-4 and 12th entering its game at Freeport Wednesday. The Clippers host Greely Friday and go to Poland Tuesday.

In Western C, NYA was 2-4 and 10th in the Heals entering a game at Hyde Wednesday. The Panthers visit Buckfield Tuesday.

Boys’ hockey

Falmouth’s boys’ hockey team was 2-1 and fifth in the Western A Heals when the week began. The Yachtsmen, still riding high after an upset victory over defending Class A champion Thornton Academy, took part in the Maine High School Hockey Invitational last week (no scores were available). Falmouth went to perennial powerhouse Lewiston Wednesday, hosts Waterville Saturday and plays at Scarborough Monday.

In Western B, Greely began the week 3-0-1 and fourth in the Heals. The Rangers also took part in the holiday tournament, but scores weren’t available. Greely hosts Camden Hills Thursday and has a showdown at defending Class B state champion York Monday.

Falmouth and Greely met in the annual non-countable Dudley Cup Monday evening and the Yachtsmen stayed unbeaten all-time, but this year didn’t win, as the teams settled for a 1-1 tie after three overtime periods.

Also in Western B, Yarmouth entered 2012 at 1-2-1 and seventh in the region. The Clippers were at Portland Monday and play at Massabesic/OOB Saturday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Falmouth continues to lead the way. The Yachtsmen improved to 9-0 and are first in the West Region after a big 2-1 win at No. 2 Scarborough Friday. Senior standout Megan Fortier had both goals. Falmouth hosts Cape Elizabeth Thursday and goes to Portland Saturday.

In the East Region, Greely is first with a 7-2 mark. The Rangers dropped a 3-2 overtime decision at Leavitt last Wednesday (Mary Morrison and CeCi Hodgkins had late goals to force the extra session), then bounced back Saturday with a 5-1 home victory over Winslow (as Morrison had a hat trick and Monica Howland scored twice). Greely welcomed St. Dom’s Wednesday, Brunswick Saturday and Lewiston Wednesday of next week.

The Rangers also beat Falmouth, 3-2, in OT, in the teams’ annual non-countable Dudley Cup game Monday night.

Yarmouth began 2012 with a 2-6 record (and the No. 6 spot in the East Region). The Clippers are coming off home losses to Biddeford (2-1) and Lewiston (6-2). Suzanne Driscoll had the lone goal against the Tigers. She and Katie Brown scored in the loss to the Blue Devils. Yarmouth was at Brunswick Monday and visits Leavitt Saturday.

Swimming

The Falmouth swim teams had a meet last week, versus Deering. The girls eked out an 86-84 win, while the girls lost, 85-55. The Yachtsmen are home with Westbrook Saturday.

Greely hosts Scarborough and Yarmouth is home with Biddeford Thursday.

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

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Greely senior Cooper Allen floats for a shot during the Rangers’ win over Mountain Valley at last week’s holiday tournament in Portland.

Greely sophomore Bailey Train skies to snare a rebound during last week’s holiday tournament action.t

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