(Ed. Note: For the full Yarmouth-Poland boys’ basketball and Greely-Lewiston girls’ hockey game stories, please see theforecaster.net)

As the winter season passes the midway point, there’s been ample excitement on the court, ice, track, trails, slopes and in the pool.

Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ basketball

Yarmouth boys’ basketball senior standout Josh Britten entered last Tuesday’s home game versus Poland on the cusp of a personal milestone. Britten then went out and scored his 1,000th career point, leading the Clippers to a 63-56 win over the Knights. Britten (who finished with 25 points on the night) reached the threshold with a 3 early in the second half. Yarmouth coach Adam Smith instantly called a timeout and the celebration was on. Moments after his teammates and coaches swarmed him, Britten made his way over to the front row of the crowd to his parents.

“They’re my biggest fans,” said Britten, who gave them the game ball to hold onto. “It’s awesome. It’s a really good feeling. I actually had no idea I made it to 1,000 until they announced it. It’s not something we talk about before games or at any part in the season. I don’t want to think about it. I’d rather play to win and play for my team. It was a great surprise, it’s good to get it under my belt, finally, but it’s definitely fun moving on.”

Yarmouth held on to win, thanks also to 11 points from sophomore Nate Shields-Auble and nine from senior Sam Torres.

“Fortunately we had enough turnovers that gave us some easy opportunities that kept us in the lead when we needed it because we struggled in the half court,” said Smith. “We struggled offensively as well as defensively, but as a team, they stuck together long enough to pull out a victory which was, in the end, the best part of the whole event.”

Friday, the Clippers dropped an agonizing 40-39 decision at Cape Elizabeth and fell to 8-2 (and fourth in the Western Class B Heal Points standings). Britten had 13 points in that one. Yarmouth was at Western C power Waynflete Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), hosts Gray-New Gloucester Friday and visits Traip Tuesday.

Falmouth remains unbeaten, barely, and atop the standings. The Yachtsmen (10-0) dominated visiting Gray-New Gloucester, 71-26, last Tuesday (Matt Packard scored 11 points, Matt Kingry, Jack Simonds and Scott Jensen all had 10). Saturday, Falmouth got pushed for 40 thrilling minutes before holding off visiting Greely, 53-51, in double overtime. Packard won it with a layup at the end of the second OT. He and Grant Burfeind both finished with 11 points. The Yachtsmen were at Lake Region Tuesday, visit Cape Elizabeth Friday and host Wells Saturday.

Greely, despite the loss at Falmouth, is coming on. The Rangers went 2-1 last week. First, Greely held off host Traip, 86-76, as senior Liam Maker had a career game, scoring 47 points (18 in the fourth quarter alone), believed to be a program record. The Rangers then held off visiting Freeport, 64-56, behind 18 points and 14 rebounds from sophomore Michael McDevitt, 14 points from Maker and a dozen from senior Cooper Allen. In the setback, sophomore Bailey Train erupted for 28 points. Greely (6-5 and sixth in Western B) welcomes preseason favorite York Saturday and goes to Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

Freeport is 1-9 and 16th in the region after recent losses at Greely (64-56) and to visiting Lake Region (63-55). Senior Josh Weirich had 17 points and classmate Mitch Loeman added 13 against the Rangers. Sophomore Chandler Birmingham went off for 22 points in the loss to the Lakers. The Falcons are at Wells Friday and go to Gray-New Gloucester Saturday. Tuesday, they host Poland.

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy is 2-7 and 15th in the Heals after Saturday’s 51-30 loss at Gray-New Gloucester. Senior Asad Dahia had a team-high 17 ponts. The Panthers are home with Old Orchard Beach Friday and visit Hyde Tuesday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Greely is 9-2 and third behind Leavitt and Lake Region in the Western B Heals. The Rangers went 3-0 last week, downing visiting Traip (42-31), host Freeport (53-38) and visiting Falmouth (43-37). Junior Jaclyn Storey had 17 points against Traip, 12 against the Falcons and 11 versus the Yachtsmen. Seniors Caroline Hamilton and Haylee Munson each had 10 points against Freeport. Hamilton had a team-high 16 in the win over Falmouth. Greely is at York Friday and hosts Gray-New Gloucester Tuesday.

Falmouth began the week 6-4 and seventh in the Heals after edging host Gray-New Gloucester (38-36) and falling at Greely (43-37). In the win, freshman Ally Hickey had the game winner and wound up with eight points (as did senior Laney Evers). Hickey finished with 13 in the loss. The Yachtsmen hosted Lake Region in a makeup game Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcome Cape Elizabeth Friday and go to Wells Saturday.

Freeport dropped to ninth with a 5-5 record after going 1-2 last week. The Falcons started with a 43-41 home win over Fryeburg as sophomore Nina Davenport had 14 points and junior Leigh Wyman 11. Freeport then lost at home to Greely (53-38, despite 21 from Davenport) and unbeaten Lake Region (63-59, as Davenport had 24 points and Wyman added 17). The Falcons host Wells Friday and Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and go to Poland Wednesday.

Yarmouth began the week 3-7 and 11th in the region after edging host Poland (44-43) and losing a tough one to visiting Cape Elizabeth (41-39). In the victory, senior Morgan Cahill and sophomore Grace O’Donnell both had a dozen points. In the setback, Cahill led the way with 20 points. The Clippers hosted Waynflete Wednesday, visit Gray-New Gloucester Friday and welcome Traip Tuesday.

In Western C, NYA enjoyed a 57-30 win at Buckfield last Tuesday, then lost at home to Gray-New Gloucester Saturday, 70-34. Senior Morgan Scully erupted for 27 points (21 in the third quarter alone) in the victory. Against the Patriots, Scully scored 14 points, sophomore Chloe Leishman 10. The Panthers (4-5 and 11th in the Heals) go to Old Orchard Beach Friday and host Hyde Tuesday.

Boys’ hockey

On the ice, Greely continues to impress in Western B. The Rangers improved to 6-0-1 Saturday with a decisive 4-0 home win over Cape Elizabeth, the team projected to be Greely’s top contender in the region. Ben Hackett, Drew Hackett, Pete Stauber and Tim Storey all scored, while Kyle Kramlich pitched the shutout in net. The Rangers (a close second to York in the Western B Heals) host Yarmouth Saturday and go to Lewiston Monday and St. Dom’s Wednesday.

Greely junior Kyle Megathlin was named the December Western B Defenseman of the Month. He had five assists and played smothering defense. Freshman teammate Mitchel Donovan was named Rookie of the Month. Donovan had two goals and six assists.

Yarmouth fell to 3-3-1 and seventh in Western B after a 4-3 home loss to Camden Hills Saturday. Alex Kurtz had two goals in defeat. The Clippers are at Greely Saturday and visit Leavitt Wednesday.

In Western A, Falmouth is now 5-3 and fourth in the standings after beating host South Portland (9-1) and falling at home to Bangor (6-3). Mitch Tapley had two goals in the win. The Yachtsmen are at top-ranked Thornton Academy Saturday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Falmouth remains the state’s lone unbeaten team and is first in the West Region Heals with a 13-0 mark after beating visiting York (2-1) and Portland (9-1) in recent days. Standout senior Megan Fortier scored twice against the Wildcats and had two more goals against the Bulldogs (as did Gabby St. Angelo and Jayde Bazinet). After going to St. Dom’s Wednesday, the Yachtsmen host Winslow Saturday.

In the East, Greely is second to Brunswick in the standings after wins last week over visiting Lewiston (3-1) and host Yarmouth (6-1) which lifted its record to 11-2. Sarah Kurland, Paige Tuller and Meg Finley scored against the Blue Devils, as the Rangers rallied from an early deficit.

“It was nice to see (us) to pick it up in the second period,” said Greely coach Nate Guerin. “It is usually when we are slower. We had a bit of a slow start. We found whatever it was and took care of it.”

In the win over the Clippers, six different players scored and Emma Seymour made 16 saves. The Rangers are at Brunswick Saturday and host Leavitt Wednesday.

Yarmouth is 4-9 and sixth in the Heals after bouncing back from the Greely loss with a 7-5 win at Winslow Monday. Ariel Potter scored three times. The Clippers go to St. Dom’s Saturday.

Indoor track

After competing against each other in the first week, the Falmouth and Greely indoor track powerhouses took part in separate meets last weekend.

The Yachtsmen boys and girls both finished first in a six-team meet.

Reid Pryzant won three events for the boys, taking the triple jump (38 feet, 3.25 inches), long jump (18-11.5) and senior 55 hurdles (8.24 seconds). Jacob Buhelt also was a multiple event winner, placing first in the senior 400 (55.15) and the senior 55 (6.93). The girls won four individual events and two relays.

The Rangers girls beat seven other teams (Freeport and NYA tied for fourth and Yarmouth was sixth), while the boys were runner-up to York (the Clippers placed third, the Panthers fourth and the Falcons seventh).

The Greely girls won 10 individual events and two relays. Kaley Sawyer led the way with first place finishes in the long jump (14-11.5) and triple jump (33-1). Freeport got a victory from Katie O’Neil in the junior 200 (29.90). NYA’s Hannah Twombly took the mile (5:55.57). Yarmouth’s Jocelyn Davies (senior high jump, 4-8) and its junior 800 relay team (2:06.28) were both runners-up.

In the boys’ meet, the Rangers got wins from Nestor Taylor in the senior 400 (55.30), Liam Campbell in the 800 (2:04.03) and James Ferrar in the junior shot put (39-8.75). The Clippers saw Thomas Robichaud in the pole vault (10 feet) and their junior 800 relay team (1:44.26) place first. The Panthers got runner-up showings from Oscar Zou in the junior 55 (7.19) and their senior 800 relay team (1:41.93). The Falcons got a runner-up performance from Taylor Saucier in the 800 (2:05.20).

Friday at USM, Freeport and Yarmouth meet Cape Elizabeth, Fryeburg, Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region and York at 3:30 p.m., and Falmouth, Greely and NYA compete with Hyde, Poland, Traip and Wells at 6:30 p.m.

Swimming

In the pool, Greely continues to impress, sweeping a meet against Cheverus last week, with the boys triumphing, 52-42, and the girls prevailing, 57-37. Sarah Easterling set a new pool record in the 200 individual medley (2 minutes, 11.94 seconds). Easterling, along with Katie Whittum, Emily Domingo and Sara Schad, set a new pool record in the girls’ 200 freestyle relay (1:42.96). Ryan Plante, Evan Campbell, Jonthan Dunnett and Dan Spencer set a new pool record in the boys’ 200 free relay (1:33.06). The undefeated Rangers are home against Windham Friday.

Falmouth split at South Portland. The girls won, 116-63, while the boys lost, 96-65. The Yachtsmen go to Cape Elizabeth Friday.

Yarmouth returns to action Thursday at Bonny Eagle.

Skiing

Ample snowfall meant plenty of action for local skiers in recent days.

Last Wednesday, every local school but Greely participated in a Nordic classical race at Black Mountain.

In the boys’ meet, Yarmouth was first, NYA second, Falmouth third, Merriconeag sixth and Freeport 12th. The Panthers had the second (Cam Regan, 14 minutes, 18.2 seconds) and third (Ian Moore, 14:41.8) individual finishers. The Clippers were paced by fourth-place Chester Jacobs (14:45.2). The top Yachtsmen finisher was Jamie McCatherin (fifth, 14:59.9). Jack Pierce (13th, 15:51.2) led Merriconeag. The Falcons were led by Alex Sturtevant (41st, 17:15.7).

In the girls’ race, Yarmouth was first, Merriconeag second, Falmouth fourth and Freeport eighth. Individually, Yarmouth’s Caitlin Crawford was second (17:11.7), Merriconeag’s Zoe Chace-Donahue placed third (17:15.2), Falmouth’s Catherine Hebson came in 10th (18:55.2) and Freeeport’s Emily Martin was 27th (20:55.6).

Saturday, Falmouth, Greely and NYA took part in the Hornet Classic.

The Panthers won the boys’ meet, while the Yachtsmen were runner-up and the Rangers 15th. Regan was first individually (14:13.5). Falmouth was paced by Jay Lesser (third, 14:51.6). Ian Byron (59th, 18:39.5) was Greely’s top finisher.

On the girls’ side, Falmouth was second to host Leavitt. Greely came in 17th and NYA placed 20th. Hebson came in sixth (20:29.1). Eva Bates (24th, 22:59.8) led Greely. NYA’s top finisher was Isabella Munro (57th, 24:52.6).

Alpine skiers got in on the fun Monday in a giant slalom race at Shawnee Peak. Leika Scott of Falmouth placed first individually with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 1.90 seconds. The Yachtsmen were third behind Fryeburg and Freeport (Lake Region also too part). The Falcons were paced by Sarah Pier (third, 1:07.11).

On the boys’ side, Falmouth was first, Freeport second. The Falcons Ryder Bennell placed second (1:03.44). The Yachtsmen were led by Austin Couch (third, 1:03.49).

Greely and Yarmouth competed in a slalom race (along with Cape Elizabeth and Gray-New Gloucester), also at Shawnee Peak. The Clippers won the boys’ race, with the Rangers second and the rivals flip-flopped on the girls’ side where Greely won.

Individually, Greely’s Elyse Dinan was first on the girls’ side (1:34.75). Yarmouth’s Drew Grout was runner-up among the boys (1:27.57).

Freelance writers Nathan D. Fournier and Ryan Robb 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 Evan Eklund soars over the bar to win the pole vault at last weekend’s indoor track meet.

NYA’s Hannah Twombly leads the pack en route to winning the mile last weekend.

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