The 2010-11 winter sports season has begun and there has already been plenty of excitement in our midst.

Here’s a glimpse as we near the holiday hiatus.

Boys’ basketball

Mt. Ararat’s boys’ basketball team is off to the best start locally. The Eagles won, 49-20, at Morse in the opener, held off visiting Brunswick, 61-52, then lost, 66-57, at Cony to fall to 2-1. Against the Dragons, Josh Walker had 19 points. In the loss, Luke Liedman and Walker both had 13 points.

“It’s weird to score five more field goals and hit six more 3-point shots than your opponent and lose by nine,” said Mt. Ararat coach Aaron Watson. “You can’t win a game when your opponent gets to shoot 50 free throws. I’m proud of the comeback our kids staged. They showed a lot of heart to battle back late.”

Mt. Ararat was home with Oxford Hills Tuesday and hosts Hampden Academy next Tuesday.

The loss to the Eagles was Brunswick’s second in a row to start the year. The Dragons fell, 45-43, at home to Oxford Hills in the opener. After Friday’s home contest against Edward Little was postponed, Brunswick visited Morse Tuesday and hosted Lewiston Thursday. The Dragons host Messalonskee Tuesday of next week.

Morse is 0-3, having lost to Mt. Ararat (49-20), Oxford Hills (56-28) and Lewiston (46-25). The Shipbuilders were home against Brunswick Tuesday and went to Cony Thursday. They host Lawrence new Tuesday.

Hyde dropped its opener, 75-22, to visiting Islesboro. The Phoenix return to action Jan. 5 at A.R. Gould.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Morse is 3-0 after downing Mt. Ararat (50-43), Oxford Hills (77-35) and Lewiston (49-34). The Shipbuilders went to Brunswick Tuesday and hosted Cony Thursday. They welcome Lawrence next Tuesday.

Brunswick took its first two outings, 59-41, at Oxford Hills and 64-56 over visiting Mt. Ararat. The Dragons’ game at Edward Little Friday was postponed. They hosted Morse Tuesday, visited Lewiston Thursday and welcome Messalonskee Tuesday of next week.

Mt. Ararat lost to Morse (50-43) and Brunswick (64-56) to start to season, but improved to 1-2 Friday after a 45-42 home victory over Cony. The Eagles visited Oxford Hills Tuesday and go to Hampden next Tuesday.

Hyde split its first two games, losing, 29-26, to visiting Sacopee and defeating host Islesboro, 36-15. The Phoenix are idle until Jan. 6 when they host Old Orchard Beach.

Hockey

Brunswick’s boys’ hockey team dropped its first two games, 8-2, to visiting Maranacook and 2-1, at Poland. The Dragons were home with St. Dom’s Monday and go to Waterville next Monday.

Mt. Ararat is 1-1-1 to date. The Eagles tied host Cony, 2-2, lost, 5-3, at home to Camden, then beat host Windham, 8-2. After hosting Hall-Dale Thursday, Mt. Ararat is idle until Wednesday when it plays at Skowhegan.

On the girls’ side, Brunswick is 1-4-1 after a 2-1 loss at Winslow last Wednesday.

Indoor track

Mt. Ararat excelled in the Bowdoin Relays Saturday. The boys tied Scarborough for the top spot, while the girls won outright.

The regular season begins next week.

Swimming

Mt. Ararat’s swim teams split with Lewiston in a recent meet. The boys lost, 82-81. The girls eked out an 85-82 victory.

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Kristi Willey scrambles for a loose ball against Cony on Friday night. The Eagles rallied late for their first win of the 2010-11 season, 45-42.

Mt Ararat sophomore Molly Estes  battles Cony’s Emily Sanford (right) and Melanie Guzman during Friday’s showdown.

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