The winter sports season begins its frenzied postseason this weekend when local wrestlers compete in the Western A regional meet in Skowhegan.
Basketball and hockey teams still have some work to do as their regular seasons near a close. Swimming and track are gearing up for February as well.
Here’s a look at the week that was and what’s to come.
SUBHEAD-Boys’ basketball
On the hardwood, Morse beat visiting Messalonskee 48-35 Friday, then lost 60-49 at Cony Tuesday. The Shipbuilders are now 12-3 and reside in third place behind Edward Little and Brewer in the latest Eastern Class A Heal Points standings.
Morse has its home finale versus the Red Eddies Friday, then closes the regular year at Mt. Ararat Tuesday and Brunswick Thursday.
The Eagles are sixth in the standings. Mt. Ararat lost 69-42 at Hampden Academy last Friday despite 16 points from Cam Vermette. The Eagles improved to 9-6 Tuesday with a 64-50 home win over Leavitt. Vermette went off for 28 points. Josh Walker added 17.
Mt. Ararat is home against Brunswick Friday, welcomes Morse Tuesday and plays at Cony Thursday.
Brunswick is 13th in the latest Heals and needs to climb into the top 11 to reach the postseason. The Dragons lost 58-55 to visiting Brewer Friday, but won 62-46 at Lewiston Tuesday.
Brunswick (7-8) goes to Mt. Ararat Friday, visits Cony Tuesday, then closes the regular season at home against Morse Thursday.
In Western C, Hyde is fifth in the Heals after three straight wins. Friday, the Phoenix downed host Seacoast Christian 69-15. Saturday, Hyde went to Kents Hill and won 76-40. Monday, the Phoenix improved to 8-2 with a 61-24 home romp over NYA.
Hyde played at Rangeley Wednesday (too late for this edition), hosts Gould Friday and plays at Calais Saturday.
SUBHEAD-Girls’ basketball
On the girls’ side, Brunswick is second to Skowhegan in the Eastern A Heals. The Dragons improved to 11-4 with recent wins over visiting Brewer (79-68) and Lewiston (52-26). In the win over the Blue Devils, senior standout Claire Baecher hit the 1,000 point mark for her career. Brunswick will be at Mt. Ararat Friday, hosts Cony Tuesday, then closes its regular season at Morse Thursday.
Mt. Ararat is now 10th in the Heals. The Eagles are 6-9 after losing 45-35 at Hampden Friday and 59-47 at Leavitt Tuesday. Mt. Ararat hosts Brunswick Friday, goes to Morse Tuesday and closes at home against Cony Thursday.
Morse is 2-13 and 14th in the Heals after a 57-42 setback at Messalonskee and a 62-59 home loss to Cony. The Shipbuilders go to Edward Little Friday, then close the season with home games against Mt. Ararat Tuesday and Brunswick Thursday.
In Western C, Hyde suffered its second loss, 66-56 to visiting NYA Friday, improved to 7-2 with wins over visiting Kents Hill (43-40) Saturday and host Hebron (53-22) Monday.
The Phoenix (seventh in the Heal Points standings) were at Rangeley Wednesday (too late for this edition), host Gould Friday and go to Calais Saturday.
SUBHEAD-Hockey
On the ice, Brunswick’s boys improved to 7-6 Monday with a 3-2 overtime win over visiting Messalonskee. The Dragons also defeated host Edward Little 4-3 Saturday. Brunswick (eighth in the Eastern A Heals) was home against Lisbon Thursday (too late for this edition) and hosts Brewer Saturday.
Mt. Ararat is 1-8-2 following Saturday’s 4-4 home tie against Lisbon/Oak Hill. The Eagles (12th in Eastern A) went to Skowhegan Wednesday (too late for this edition) and visit Lisbon/Oak Hill Monday.
The Brunswick girls lost 3-1 at Falmouth Saturday to drop to 1-12. The Dragons are eighth in the East Region Heals. They were at Yarmouth Wednesday (too late for this edition), visit Maranacook Saturday and close the season Monday at Lewiston.
SUBHEAD-Indoor track
On the track, Brunswick’s boys scored 150 points to easily outdistance Mt. Ararat (88), Erskine (52) and Belfast (10). The girls’ meet was a bit closer, but the Dragons won that as well with 101 1/2 points. Mt. Ararat was second with 78 1/2.
Local teams will next take part in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championship meet Saturday, Feb. 7.
SUBHEAD-Swimming
In the pool, Morse hosted Brunswick and Mt. Ararat was at Belfast Tuesday (no results were available at press time).
Teams are idle until the KVAC championship meet Feb. 7.
SUBHEAD-Wrestling
On the mat, Morse came in fifth and Mt. Ararat was sixth out of 21 teams at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championships Saturday at Cony High School in Augusta.
The Shipbuilders had three individual champions as D.J. Brackett won the 112-pound division, Spencer Chipman took top honors at 145 pounds and Tyler Russell was first at 171 pounds.
Mt. Ararat’s Kelly Golek (103) and Zach Chandler (171) were runners-up.