Falmouth’s Kyle Kaserman goes flying during the Yachtsmen’s 5-4 loss at Lewiston in a state game rematch last week.

Greely’s Gavin Poperechny wins the senior 55 hurdles as last week’s first league indoor track meet. The Rangers came in first as a team.

Freeport’s Caroline Smith goes up for two of her 16 points in Saturday’s 56-46 home win over Old Orchard Beach.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Freeport-Old Orchard Beach girls’ basketball game story, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

This winter might never end, but at least there are some compelling sports stories to keep us warm. A new year has brought much success and the best is yet to come.

Here’s a glimpse:

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Boys’ basketball

Greely’s defending Class A champion boys’ basketball team extended its two-season win streak to 29 after downing host Gray-New Gloucester (65-43) and Gorham (61-29) last week to improve to 7-0 on the year. Against the Patriots, Jack Kane led the way with 15 points, while Andrew Storey added 13 and Zach Brown had a dozen. In the win over the Rams, Brown had 13 points, Logan Bagshaw 12 and Storey 10. The Rangers hosted York Tuesday, go to Freeport Thursday, Oxford Hills Saturday and Yarmouth Monday (see theforecaster.net for game story).

Falmouth dropped its fifth game in a row last Tuesday, 46-31, at Kennebunk, then improved to 4-5 Friday with an 83-60 home win over Mt. Ararat. Sam Manganello had 20 points, Jack Bryant 19 and Nik Hester 18 (with 15 rebounds) in the victory. The Yachtsmen hosted Westbrook in a key showdown Tuesday, go to Massabesic Thursday and visit Thornton Academy Monday.

Yarmouth won three times last week to improve to 6-2 on the season. First, the Clippers held off host Waynflete, 54-53, behind Aidan Hickey’s late three-point play. Ashanti Haywood had 16 points and Caden Middleton added 11. Yarmouth then avenged last year’s agonizing regional final loss with a 57-40 home victory over defending Class B South champion Wells, as Haywood had 16 points and Nolan Hagerty added 12, and Saturday, the Clippers were 44-35 home victors over Traip Academy, as Hagerty led the way with 14 points and Noah Eckersley-Ray added 10. The Clippers were at Cape Elizabeth Tuesday for a key Class B South showdown (see theforecaster.net for game story), look to avenge a recent loss at Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, play host to Lake Region Saturday and welcome undefeated, defending Class A state champion Greely Monday (see theforecaster.net for game story). 

Freeport was scheduled to host Morse last Thursday, but that game was postponed to Tuesday of next week. The Falcons took a 4-2 mark into Tuesday’s home game against Poland. After hosting Greely Thursday, Freeport visits Mt. Ararat Saturday.

North Yarmouth Academy held off host Buckfield (43-41) and fell at Seacoast Christian (59-42) last week. Te’Andre King had 19 points, including the winning basket in the final second, against Buckfield. The Panthers (2-6) went to Pine Tree Academy Tuesday and visit Sacopee Valley Saturday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Falmouth got in the win column last week for the first time and then for a second. After starting 0-6, the Yachtsmen downed visiting Kennebunk (41-36) and won at Mt. Ararat (54-42). Grace Soucy had 15 points and Grace Dimick added 12 against the Rams. In the win over the Eagles, Soucy and Candice Powers both had 14 points. Falmouth was at Westbrook Tuesday, hosts Massabesic Thursday, goes to Cape Elizabeth Saturday and hosts Thornton Academy Monday.

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Greely improved to 6-2 after a pair of huge wins last week. The Rangers first downed visiting Gray-New Gloucester, the defending Class B state champion, 66-44, as Anna DeWolfe returned from an ankle injury and led the way with 22 points, while Brooke Obar added 21 and Camille Clement had 17. Saturday, Greely knocked off two-time defending Class AA champion Gorham, 66-62, as DeWolfe had 26 points, Obar 18 and Clement 13. The Rangers were at York Tuesday, host Freeport Thursday, play at reigning Class AA North champion Oxford Hills Saturday and visit Yarmouth Monday (see theforecaster.net for game story). 

Freeport extended its win streak to four and improved to 5-1 with a 56-46 home win over Old Orchard Beach Saturday afternoon. The Falcons, playing without three key contributors, went up by 13 points in the third quarter, but the Seagulls rallied within a point before Freeport finished strong to prevail behind 16 points apiece from Allie Goodman and Caroline Smith and 11 from Catriona Gould.

“We picked it up on defense and pushed the ball in transition,” Goodman said. “It means a lot winning against a good team. It’s good for our confidence.” 

“We’re working together and we’ll keep up our defensive intensity,” said Smith. “We’re having a lot of fun.”

“It was a gutsy win,” added Falcons coach Mike Hart. “We never quit. We were down two starters and with a shorter bench, the girls came out and played hard. Some kids had great minutes. I’m proud of them. They worked hard today.”

Freeport was at Poland Tuesday, visits Greely Thursday, hosts Mt. Ararat Saturday and plays at Morse in a makeup game Tuesday of next week.

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Yarmouth sandwiched wins over visiting Waynflete (24-22) and at Traip Academy (36-28) around a 45-42 setback at Wells to last week to even its record at 4-4. Sara D’Appolonia had nine points against the Flyers, 11 against the Warriors and 16 in the win over the Rangers. Margaret McNeil also had 11 points in loss to Wells. The Clippers were home with Cape Elizabeth Tuesday, go to Gray-New Gloucester Thursday, travel to Lake Region for a playoff rematch Saturday and host Greely Monday (see theforecaster.net for game story).

NYA improved to 4-3 with wins last week over visiting Pine Tree Academy (45-26) and host Seacoast Christian (57-33). Helen Hamblett had 14 points in the victory over Pine Tree. The Panthers welcomed Pine Tree Academy again Tuesday, play host to St. Dom’s Thursday and visit Sacopee Valley Saturday.

Boys’ hockey

Greely’s boys’ hockey team remained red-hot last week, following up its historic Dudley Cup win over Falmouth with a 7-3 victory at Kennebunk to improve to 4-1. Matt Kramlich led the way with four goals. The Rangers host Gardiner Saturday and go to York Monday. 

Yarmouth takes a 2-2 record to Portland/Deering Thursday. After hosting Waterville Saturday, the Clippers welcome Gorham Monday. 

Falmouth was 5-3-1 after a 5-4 loss at Lewiston in a Class A state final rematch and a 5-3 home win over Portland/Deering last week. Theo Hembre had two goals in the victory. The Yachtsmen went to Biddeford Wednesday and host Bangor Monday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Greely/Gray-New Gloucester made it five wins in a row last Wednesday with a 7-0 victory at Mt. Ararat/Morse. Molly Horton led the way with two goals. Greely/Gray-NG (10-1) goes to Winslow Saturday and York Monday. 

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Yarmouth/Freeport fell to 1-9-1 after a 4-0 home loss to Biddeford Monday. Yarmouth/Freeport is back in action Wednesday of next week when it hosts Mt. Ararat/Morse.

Falmouth fell to 3-5 after a 7-2 loss at Lewiston last week. Kyla Gallup and Abi Lebel had the Yachtsmen’s goals. Falmouth went to St. Dom’s for a state game rematch Wednesday, visits Scarborough Friday, goes to Edward Little/Leavitt Saturday and welcomes Scarborough Monday.

Indoor track

Yarmouth standout Luke Laverdiere took part in the Dartmouth Relays in New Hampshire last weekend and he was fourth the boys’ mile in 4 minutes, 23.92 seconds. 

Greely opened the Western Maine Conference season by sweeping a nine-team meet which also included NYA and Yarmouth.

The Rangers girls got wins from Carolyn Todd in the senior 400 (1 minute, 5.64 seconds) and open two-mile (12:04.72), Elizabeth Brown in the senior high jump (5 feet), Chloe Smith in the open 800 (2:29.67), Marin Provencher in the open mile (5:52.59), Maggie McCormick in the open pole vault (9-6), Maddy Irish in the open triple jump (31-11.5) and their junior 4×200 (2:11.03) and open 4×200 (2:00.02) relay teams.

Boys’ first-place finishers included Naveen Caron in the junior 55 (7.24 seconds) and junior 200 (25.60), Gavin Poperechny in the senior 55 hurdles (8.62), Nicolas Brown in the senior high jump (5-4), Matthew Todd in the open 800 (2:08.05), Luke Marsanskis in the open mile (4:53.85) and open two-mile (10:37.90) and the open 4×200 relay team (1:41.06). 

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The Clippers boys came in sixth and their girls were seventh. Yarmouth got a win from Michael McNeil in the boys’ junior shot put (38-5.25).

The Panthers boys and girls were both eighth.

Freeport boys were second and girls third in a five-team meet. The boys got wins from Brett Holden in the junior 55 (7.23), Jacob Gormley in the junior 200 (26.11), Jacob Tomm in the senior 55 (6.97), Nick Mitch in the senior 400 (55.47), Joe Ashby in the open 800 (2:10.02) and its junior 4×200 relay team (1:45.36)). The girls got first-place finishes from Tara Magliaccio, who won the junior 55 (7.81) and junior 400 (1:03.53), Shaina Curry, who captured the junior high jump (4-4), and Sarah Gray, who was first in the junior shot put (28-8.5).

Falmouth’s SMAA meet last Thursday was postponed by bad weather.

Friday, Freeport and Yarmouth take on Fryeburg Academy, Gray-New Gloucester, Poland, Traip Academy and Wells, Greely and NYA join Cape Elizabeth, Lake Region, Lisbon, St. Dom’s and York, while Falmouth competes against Gorham, Kennebunk and South Portland Saturday.

Swimming

Greely’s boys’ and girls’ swim teams were swept by Cape Elizabeth last week. The girls lost to the defending Class B champion Capers, 94-88, and the boys were defeated, 88-61. The Rangers then split with South Portland, with the girls prevailing, 104-80, and the boys losing, 93-67.

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Falmouth’s girls beat Westbrook, 112-58, while the Yachtsmen boys were beaten by the Blue Blazes, 60-59.

Yarmouth split with Portland, as the girls won, 96-61, and the boys lost, 83-70.

Friday, Falmouth competes at Kennebunk, Greely welcomes Westbrook and Yarmouth hosts Sanford.

Skiing

While some ski meets have been postponed due to the brutally cold weather, there was some limited action last week.

Falmouth’s boys and girls came in first in an SMAA Alpine giant slalom meet at Shawnee Peak last week. Benjamin Adey won the boys’ meet with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 2.29 seconds. The girls were led by runner-up Caroline Keller (1:10.09).

Freeport, Maine Coast Waldorf and Yarmouth’s boys finished first, second and third respectively in a Nordic freestyle meet at Pineland last week. Nick Neveu, of MCW, was first individually in a time of 17 minutes, 32 seconds. The Falcons were led by runner-up John Giddens (17:46). The fastest Clipper was Grady Welsh (fourth, 18:40). The girls meet saw Yarmouth come in first, Freeport place second and MCW finish third. The Falcons produced individual champion Lily Horne (19:54). Louisa Ahearne led MCW with a runner-up showing (20:13). The Clippers were paced by Hannah Corey (fourth, 21:18). 

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In a freestyle meet at Fryeburg, Falmouth’s boys placed first while Greely was fourth. The Yachtsmen had the individual champion in Ethan Livingood (13:16.5). Leif Harvey paced the Rangers with a 10th-place finish (15:30.5). 

In the girls’ meet, won by Fryeburg Academy, Falmouth came in second, but had the top finisher in Eva Clement (15:25.1). 

Monday, Freeport, Greely and Yarmouth took part in a six-team Alpine slalom meet at Shawnee Peak. The Clippers girls were first, while the Rangers came in third and the Falcons were fifth. Yarmouth’s Greta Elder was first individually with a two-run combined time of 1:45.25. Elizabeth Hanson paced the Rangers with a sixth-place finish (1:54.21). The Falcons were led by Kaia Williams (13th, 2:09.68).

In the boys’ meet, won by Cape Elizabeth, Yarmouth finished second, Freeport third and Greely fourth. The Clippers were led by Thomas Morris (fourth, 1:40.21). Alexander Richard led the Rangers by placing fifth (1:44.59). The Falcons’ top finisher was Paul Biberstein (ninth, 1:52.23).

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


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