The new year has arrived and possibilities are endless for local winter sports teams.

After limited action during the holidays, things are about to ramp up dramatically.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ basketball

As the new year dawns, three local boys’ basketball teams entertain legitimate title aspirations.

In Class A South, Greely entered Tuesday’s game at Yarmouth (see theforecaster.net for game story) ranked first in the Heal Points standings with a 7-1 record. The Rangers closed 2015 with a 60-31 win at Morse (Jordan Bagshaw had 16 points, Matt McDevitt 13 and Ryan Twitchell 12), then rolled at Poland Saturday, 85-56, as Bagshaw had 25 points, Twitchell added 15 and Caleb Normandeau finished with 13. Greely welcomes Biddeford Saturday and goes to Fryeburg Academy Tuesday.

Falmouth is hot on the Rangers’ heels, taking a 6-1 mark and the No. 2 ranking in Class A South into Tuesday’s home tilt versus Lake Region. The Yachtsmen’s last game resulted in a 61-48 home victory over Mt. Ararat. Colin Coyne led the way with 14 points, while Thomas Coyne and Sam Skop both added 13. Falmouth goes to Marshwood Friday and welcomes Kennebunk Tuesday.

Yarmouth entered the week ranked first in Class B South after improving to 7-1 after downing visiting Sacopee Valley (89-42) and Lincoln Academy (66-46). Against the Hawks, Noah Eckersley-Ray had 12 points, while Nolan Hagerty, Musseit M’Bareck and John Thoma all added 11. Hagerty and Devin Shields-Auble both had 15 points, C.J. Cawley added 14 and Bailey Darling finished with 11 versus the Eagles. The Clippers hosted Greely in a pivotal showdown Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome Freeport Saturday and play host to Wells Tuesday of next week.

Freeport enjoyed its first win streak since 2008 when it followed up a 53-30 home victory with a 55-44 home win over Traip Academy. After a 56-50 home loss to Gray-New Gloucester (despite 16 points from Jack Davenport), the Falcons fell to 2-5 and ninth in Class B South with a 59-52 loss at Maranacook. Freeport was at Waynflete Tuesday, visits Lake Region Thursday, plays at Yarmouth Saturday and travels to Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, North Yarmouth Academy fell to 0-6 and 17th after closing 2015 with a 62-44 loss at A.R. Gould. Haven Cutko had 29 points in defeat. The Panthers host Buckfield Thursday, go to Traip Academy Saturday and host Waynflete Tuesday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Greely, the defending Class B state champion, improved to 6-2 with recent home wins over Morse (76-41) and Poland (67-46). Against the Shipbuilders, freshman phenom Anna DeWolfe had 21 points, while Molly Chapin added 15 and Moira Train had 11. DeWolfe had 27 points and Train added 12 versus the Knights. The Rangers (second to York in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time) were at Yarmouth Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), visit Biddeford Saturday and host Fryeburg Academy Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth improved to 3-4 and 11th in Class A South after edging host Mt. Ararat, 32-29, in overtime, in its final game in 2015. Candice Powers led the way with 13 points. The Yachtsmen returned to action Tuesday at Lake Region. They host Marshwood Friday and go to Kennebunk Tuesday of next week.

In Class B South, Freeport is quietly putting together a memorable season. The Falcons won four straight, capped by a 53-45 victory at Traip Academy, then lost at home to Gray-New Gloucester (50-39) before improving to 5-2 and seventh in the Heals) with a 63-14 romp at Maranacook. Against the Rangers, Regan Lynch led the way with 14 points. In the loss, Kayla Belanger had a team-high nine points. Against the Black Bears, Lynch had 14 points, Megan Cormier 11 and Taylor Rinaldi 10. After hosting Waynflete Tuesday, Freeport goes to Lake Region Thursday, welcomes Yarmouth Saturday and hosts Old Orchard Beach Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth increased its win streak to three with a 34-19 victory at Sacopee Valley three days before Christmas (Alison Clark led the way with 12 points), then fell to 4-4 after a 34-26 loss at Lincoln Academy Saturday (Clark had a team-high eight points). The Clippers (ninth in Class B South) hosted Greely Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), go to Freeport Saturday and visit Wells Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, NYA took an 0-5 record and the No. 19 ranking into Tuesday’s game at Hyde. The Panthers host Buckfield Thursday, are at Traip Academy Saturday and welcome Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Boys’ hockey

Falmouth’s powerhouse boys’ hockey team is hitting its stride. The Yachtsmen lost their season opener to Cheverus in overtime, but have since won seven in a row, capped by victories at Edward Little (5-0), at home over Portland/Deering (7-2) and at Greely in the New Year’s Day Dudley Cup (2-0). Against the Red Eddies, Parker Wyatt, Chris Camelio, Marcus Cady, Robbie Armitage and Theo Hembres all scored. 

“We stayed out of the penalty box,” said Falmouth coach Deron Barton. “That’s first and foremost. And we had two cycles of good quality shifts, with possession of the puck down low in their end. You could kind of see the confidence building and then eventually the puck goes in.”

Camelio, Brendan Hickey and Henry Norris all had two goals against Portland/Deering. Armitage and Norris scored in the win over the Rangers. The Yachtsmen (7-1 and first in the Class A South Heal Points standings) host Lewiston Thursday, then welcome defending Class A champion Scarborough in a playoff rematch Tuesday.

In Class B South, Yarmouth started 2016 where it left off in the old year, victorious. Saturday, the Clippers dominated visiting Maranacook, 10-2, to improve to 6-0 and first in the Heals behind Noah Grondin’s hat trick, two goals from Anders Newberg and six assists from Patrick Grant. Yarmouth was at Thornton Academy Wednesday, hosts Waterville Saturday and goes to Brunswick Wednesday of next week.

Greely beat visiting Leavitt, 2-0, and lost at home to Falmouth by the same score in recent action. Jack Saffian had both goals and Josh Lawless had the shutout in the victory. The Rangers (2-5 and eighth in Class B South) were home with Biddeford Tuesday, go to Kennebunk Saturday and visit Gorham Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Greely took a 10-0 record and the top seed in the North Region into Wednesday night’s home showdown with undefeated St. Dom’s (see theforecaster.net for game story). The Rangers stayed perfect by virtue of a 12-0 win at Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland and a 3-0 home victory over Falmouth. In the first win, Ellie Schad, Danita Storey and Maura Verrill all scored twice. Against the Yachtsmen in the Dudley Cup on New Year’s Day, Storey scored the 100th goal of her illustrious career and Faith Price and Courtney Sullivan also found the net. Greely hosts Yarmouth/Freeport/Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and goes to Brunswick Monday.

Yarmouth/Freeport/GNG was 4-7 and sixth in the North after a 5-0 win at Brunswick and a 10-1 home loss to Edward Little/Leavitt. Kyaira Gordon had two goals in the victory. Yarmouth/Freeport/GNG visits Greely Saturday.

In the South Region, Falmouth fell to 7-1-2 and second behind Scarborough after a 3-0 loss to Greely. The Yachtsmen went to Biddeford Wednesday, visit Portland/Deering Saturday and host Gorham/Bonny Eagle Wednesday of next week.

Indoor track

The Western Maine Conference indoor track season resumes Friday at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.

Swimming

Greely’s swim team kicked off the 2016 portion of its schedule Wednesday at home versus Scarborough.

Falmouth is at Deering and Yarmouth goes to Thornton Academy Friday.

Skiing

With the arrival of snow last week, the Alpine and Nordic ski seasons are set to begin.

Sun Journal staff writer Wil Kramlich contributed to this story.

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

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Falmouth’s Josh Noyes battles with EL’s Max Giard for control of the puck during the Yachtsmen’s recent 5-0 victory.

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