(For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Falmouth boys’ basketball, South Portland-McAuley girls’ basketball and Cape Elizabeth-Yarmouth boys’ hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

It might not yet feel like winter, but the winter sports season has given us enough information to confirm that Forecaster Country is home to some of the best athletes in the state and that the next couple months will be memorable.

Here’s a glimpse at what you might have missed in the first two weeks of the new season.

Boys’ basketball

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B champion boys’ basketball team got off to a rough start, losing at Greely (73-47) and Falmouth (69-66). Quinn Hewitt had 13 points against the Rangers and scored 24 points (Finn Bowe added 19) in the back-and-forth setback to the Yachtsmen.

“We got stops at the end to get the ball back and have a chance, but we just couldn’t capitalize,” lamented Capers coach Jim Ray, about the loss to Falmouth. “That’s how it goes sometimes. They were tough.”

Cape Elizabeth then beat visiting Morse (60-42, behind 16 points from Jack O’Rourke), visiting Fryeburg Academy (46-33, behind 13 points from Hewitt), host Biddeford (61-39, as Bowe and Hewitt both had 15 points) and host Traip Academy (66-35). The Capers hosted Westbrook Tuesday and resume play Jan. 2 at Marshwood.

South Portland lost two of its first three games, 75-56 at Portland and 45-38 at Gorham, sandwiched around a 67-35 home victory over Westbrook. The Red Riots then downed visiting Bonny Eagle (65-38) and Noble (78-34). Jack Fiorini had 20 points against the Bulldogs and 11 in the loss to the Rams. Sam DePaolo scored a team-high 11 points versus the Blue Blazes. Against the Scots, Fiorini led the way with 14 and in the win over the Knights, Fiorini had 13 points. South Portland was at Scarborough Tuesday and visits Sanford Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough opened with a 48-45 win at Westbrook, then lost at home to Thornton Academy (64-36), at Sanford (66-42) and at home to Cheverus (62-58), before bouncing back to eke out a 43-42 win at Bonny Eagle. Against the Blue Blazes, Morgan Pratt had 19 points and Emmett Peoples added 16. Pratt had 13 in the loss to the Golden Trojans, Peoples led the way with 14 versus the Spartans, Peoples, Jacob Gardner and Andrew Porada all had a dozen points in the loss to the Stags and in the win over the Scots, Peoples scored 12 points. After hosting South Portland Tuesday, the Red Storm welcomes Windham Wednesday of next week.

Greater Portland Christian School was 3-4 at press time. The Lions opened with losses at Pine Tree (43-38), at home to Islesboro (60-29), at A.R. Gould (45-36) and at Seacoast Christian (51-33), then downed visiting Rangeley (50-47) and host North Haven twice (58-30 and 59-34). GPCS is back in action Jan. 2 at Islesboro.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, South Portland opened with a 46-37 loss at McAuley. After downing visiting Deering, 40-37, the Red Riots fell at home to Gorham, 40-38, then bounced back to win at Cheverus (58-34) and Massabesic (41-15). In the opener, Meghan Graff had 16 points, but it wasn’t enough.

“Obviously, we didn’t run an effective offense and we didn’t get much in transition,” South Portland coach Lynne Hasson lamented. “They’re tough to rebound against, so we didn’t get many second opportunities.”

Maddie Hasson, who was held to four points by McAuley, had 28 against Deering. Graff led the way against Gorham with 15 points and Hasson had 29 (half the team’s total) at the Stags. The Red Riots were home with Sanford Tuesday and welcome Scarborough Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough opened with a hard-fought 34-28 loss at preseason favorite Gorham, then downed visiting Sanford (48-38) and won at Windham (45-40) and Noble (47-27). Sophie Glidden had a team-high 11 points versus the Rams. Brooke Malone had 14 points and Jordyn Cowan added 12 against the Spartans. In the win over the Eagles, Glidden and Malone each had nine points. Glidden led the way at the Knights with 17 points. The Red Storm hosted McAuley Tuesday and go to South Portland Tuesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth started the season by losing at home to defending Class B champion Greely (45-24) and Falmouth (51-37) and at Morse (45-35) and Fryeburg Academy (58-25) before getting in the win column against visiting Biddeford (52-31) and Traip Academy (49-40). Against the Rangers, Maddie Bowe had 13 points. She had 21 points in the loss to the Shipbuilders and 17 versus the Raiders. In the win over the Tigers, Bowe had 25 points and Carter Harvey led the way against the Rangers with 22 points. The Capers were at Westbrook Tuesday and host Marshwood Jan. 2.

GPCS was 4-2 at press time. The Lions beat visiting Islesboro (45-25), host Seacoast Christian (42-24) and host North Haven twice (51-37 and 35-29) and lost at Pine Tree Academy (40-35) and at home to Rangeley (62-22). GPCS is back in action Jan. 2 at Islesboro.

Boys’ hockey

Scarborough’s defending Class A champion boys’ hockey team has passed its first four tests, downing host St. Dom’s (3-1), visiting Cheverus (5-0), visiting Biddeford (3-2, in overtime) and visiting Edward Little (4-1). Cam Nigro, Skylar Pettingill and Cam Smith had the goals against the Saints. In the win over the Stags, Nigro had a hat trick. Matt Caron had two goals, including the overtime winner against the Tigers. In the win over the Red Eddies, Caron had two more goals. The Red Storm were at Thornton Academy Wednesday and visit Portland/Deering Wednesday of next week.

South Portland’s co-op team with Freeport and Waynflete opened with a 3-2 loss at Lake Region, then beat visiting Poland/Gray-New Gloucester, 6-0. After losing at home to Gardiner, 4-2, the Red Riots downed visiting Lake Region, 6-2. That win was followed by losses at York (5-0) and Mt. Ararat/Morse (5-4). 

Cape Elizabeth opened with home victories over Maranacook (11-0) and Leavitt (3-1), then tied host Kennebunk, 2-2, and lost at Edward Little, 3-2 and Yarmouth (7-1). Ben Ekedahl, Matt Riggle and Phil Tarling all scored twice against the Black Bears. Sean Agrondia had two goals against the Hornets. In the loss to the Clippers, the Capers got an early goal from Tim Corsello, but failed to convert on three 5-on-3 power plays and went down to defeat.

“It could have been 6-on-1 tonight, but I don’t care how many extra men you have, if the penalty killers outwork you, you won’t score goals,” Cape Elizabeth coach Matt Buotte lamented. “We got outworked in every single zone tonight. I think the score line was reflective of what we deserved. It could have been worse.”

Cape Elizabeth hoped to bounce back Wednesday at Gorham. The Capers host Brunswick Monday.

“I’m glad we can turn right around and play again Wednesday and we won’t have to sit and stew about it too long,” Buotte said. “Our season can go one of two directions, (down the drain), or we can turn around with a strong performance Wednesday and right this thing. I think we have the guys to do that. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Scarborough extended its win streak to eight games and improved to 8-0-1 after recent victories over visiting Biddeford (6-0), at York (4-1) and at Yarmouth/Freeport/Gray-New Gloucester (11-5). Lucy Bogadanovich had two goals against the Tigers and Sami Shoebottom erupted for six goals against Yarmouth/Freeport/GNG. The Red Storm went to Portland/Deering Wednesday and return to action Jan. 2 at home versus Cheverus.

The Cape Elizabeth/South Portland/Waynflete co-op team beat Portland/Deering (5-1) and lost at home to Falmouth (8-1) last week and entered Tuesday’s home game versus undefeated Greely at 3-6. Laura Baginski scored twice in the win. Cape Elizabeth/South Portland/Waynflete is at Biddeford Wednesday.

Indoor track

Early season indoor track results have been promising.

Scarborough’s boys’ and girls’ track teams both beat Noble and Portland in their first meet.

Last week, the Red Storm boys beat Westbrook, Biddeford and Marshwood. Griffin Madden won three events, taking the senior 55 (6.92 seconds), senior 55 hurdles (7.93) and senior high jump (5 feet, 8 inches).

Scarborough’s girls placed second to Westbrook. Gaby Panagakos won three events, taking the junior 55 (7.79), junior 200 (28.77) and the junior 400 (1 minute, 3.30 seconds). 

South Portland’s teams were both second in their first meet.

Last weekend, both Red Riots teams beat Cheverus, McAuley and Portland. The boys were led by Nathan Begonia, who won the junior 55 (7.27) and the junior triple jump (33-2.75). The girls had two multiple-event winners, Juliana Selser, who took the junior 200 (28.35) and the open 600 (1:34.61), and Callie O’Brien, who won the senior 55 (7.76), senior 55 hurdles (9.35).

Cape Elizabeth’s boys were third and the girls came in sixth in an eight-team meet to start the season. Matthew Concannon won the boys’ junior 55 (7.21) and junior 200 (25.28). Luc Houle took the boys’ junior shot put (39-2.5). Katie Olberholtzer won the girls’ senior high jump (4-10).

Southwestern Maine Activities Association league meets resume Saturday, Jan. 2 and Western Maine Conference league meets return Friday, Jan. 8.

Swimming

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ swim team opened with wins over Scarborough (109-61), South Portland (124-38) and Deering (119-16). The Capers girls downed Scarborough (110-70), South Portland (137-46) and Deering (116-65). Cape Elizabeth hosted Cheverus Wednesday and welcomes Falmouth Wednesday of next week.

Scarborough’s boys lost to Cape Elizabeth (109-61), then beat Deering (131-23) and Westbrook (126-45). The girls lost to Cape Elizabeth (110-70), then beat Deering (109-60) and Westbrook (123-44). The Red Storm were at Falmouth Tuesday and the girls host McAuley Wednesday of next week. 

South Portland’s boys beat Falmouth, 87-84, then lost to Cape Elizabeth (124-38) and beat Greely, 90-73. The Red Riots girls lost to Falmouth (113-66), Cape Elizabeth (137-46) and Greely (115-63). South Portland was at Westbrook Wednesday.

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team won three of its first five matches. The Red Storm opened with losses to Noble (64-12) and Portland (48-27), then beat Deering (42-24), Cheverus (42-27) and Deering (48-18). Scarborough was at Windham Wednesday, joins Cheverus and Westbrook at Massabesic Saturday and takes part in the Noble Invitational Tuesday.

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

Sidebar Elements

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South Portland junior Lydia Henderson plays defense during the Red Riots’ season-opening loss at McAuley.

Cape Elizabeth’s Jeb Boechenstein battles for the puck during Monday’s 7-1 home loss to Yarmouth. 

Cape Elizabeth’s Sophie Garland-Dore (4) and Kristen Penley compete in the junior 55 at last weekend’s league indoor track meet. 

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