(Ed. Note: We recapped the basketball season last week)

Mother Nature was kind to us this winter. The local sports action was a pleasure as well.

Forecaster Country athletes turned heads on the ice, track, wrestling mat, slopes, trails and in the pool.

Before we move on to what might actually be an early spring, here’s one last look back at and tribute to the stars of winter.

Winter 2011-12 team state champions

Scarborough Red Storm boys’ indoor track, Class A
Scarborough Red Storm girls’ indoor track, Class A

Winter 2011-12 individual state champions

Indoor track

Alec James, Scarborough, Class A boys’ pole vault

Swimming

Evan Long, Cape Elizabeth, Class A boys’ 50 freestyle

Skiing

Sam Barber, Cape Elizabeth, Class B boys’ Alpine giant slalom

Michael’s top five stories

5) Barbers rule slopes

Cape Elizabeth’s Sam Barber was the champion of the Class B boys’ Alpine giant slalom, while Max Barber finished second. In the slalom race, Sam Barber was third and Max came in ninth. The Capers came in third as a team.

4) Another strong season for Scarborough girls’ hockey

The Scarborough girls’ hockey team produced yet another solid regular season, winning 14 of 18 games (while tying another). The Red Storm won its final eight contests of the regular season to earn the No. 3 seed in the West Region, but for the second year in a row suffered a disappointing playoff loss, falling by a goal to York in the West Region semifinals.

3) Capers, Red Storm reach semis

Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough’s boys’ hockey teams both made it to their respective regional semifinals. The Capers were unbeaten in their first six games this spring before finishing 9-6-3, good for third in Western Class B. Cape Elizabeth’s run ended in its first playoff game, as it fell to No. 2 York, 4-2. The Red Storm finished 12-4-2, earned the No. 3 seed in Western A, then beat Biddeford in the playoffs for the first time in program history in the quarterfinals. The season came to an end in the semifinal round with a hard fought loss to Falmouth.

2) Highlights in the pool

Both Cape Elizabeth swim teams were third at the Class A state meet and strong individual performances were plentiful. Evan Long captured the boys’ 50 freestyle. There were several other top five showings on both the boys’ and girls’ sides. Scarborough and South Portland also were very competitive.

1) Scarborough track doubles its pleasure

For the second year in a row and third time in four seasons, both Scarborough indoor track teams won Class A championships. It certainly didn’t come easily for the boys, who needed a Deering disqualification and a strong showing in the meet-ending 800 relay to eke out a one-point decision over the Rams. The girls rode their unrivaled depth to an eighth successive championship. There’s little reason to believe that the Red Storm’s dominance will end anytime soon.

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