(Ed. Note: For the complete  Freeport-Wells girls’ basketball game story, please visit theforecaster.net)

There was plenty of drama during last week’s action.

The hour is getting late for those teams hoping to qualify for the playoffs and for those who are in, getting optimal position is still the biggest concern.

Here’s a look at what transpired last week and what’s upcoming:

Boys’ basketball

The Falmouth boys’ basketball team improved to 12-0 last week with wins over rivals host Greely (68-45) and visiting Cape Elizabeth (53-41). Jack Simonds had 20 points and Charlie Fay 15 versus the Rangers. In the win over the Capers, longtime assistant coach Jamie Hilton filled in for Dave Halligan and as he’s done virtually every time he’s stepped in over the years, led the Yachtsmen to a victory, thanks to 16 points from Fay and 14 from Simonds. Top-ranked Falmouth returns to action Friday when it takes a 30-game regular season win streak to Wells. The Yachtsmen are home with Poland Saturday and go to Lake Region Tuesday.

Greely began the week 7-5 and seventh in the region. After losing to visiting Falmouth (Mike McDevitt had 18 points in defeat), the Rangers lost at home to York (53-33, despite a dozen points from McDevitt). Greely is home with Gray-New Gloucester Friday, goes to Fryeburg Saturday and Yarmouth Tuesday.

The defending Class B state champion Clippers remained up-and-down last week with a 62-38 home loss to Western C power Waynflete and a 54-38 victory at Gray-New Gloucester. Adam LaBrie had 14 points and David Murphy 13 in the loss. Against the Patriots, Murphy and Christian Henry both had 13 points. Yarmouth (6-6 and 10th in the Heals) is home with Traip Friday, visit Freeport Saturday and play host to Greely Tuesday.

Freeport fell to 1-11 (and 18th in Western B) after recent competitive losses at Lake Region (67-49) and at home to Wells (76-59) and Gray-New Gloucester (61-56). Chandler Birmingham went off for 35 points against the Lakers. Jack Davenport scored 12 points versus the Warriors and finished with a team-high 17 against the Patriots. Birmingham had 15 in that one. The Falcons go to Poland Friday, host Yarmouth Saturday and visit Fryeburg Tuesday.

In Western C, North Yarmouth Academy began the week 4-8 and 12th in the Heals (only 11 teams make the playoffs) after losing last week to visiting Gray-New Gloucester (63-36) and host Old Orchard Beach (77-45). Burke Paxton had 12 points against the Patriots. In the loss to the Seagulls, El Tayeb Dahia led the way with 16 points and Chase Gendron added 14. The Panthers were home with Western D power Hyde Tuesday and welcome Sacopee Saturday.

Girls’ basketball

Greely’s girls’ team increased its win streak to nine games last Tuesday with a 30-25 win at Falmouth (Ashley Storey had eight points), but all good things must end and the Rangers’ run did Friday with a loss at home to longtime nemesis York, 62-39 (Storey had 14). Greely (10-2 and fifth in the Western B Heals) goes to Gray-New Gloucester Friday, hosts Fryeburg Saturday and is at Yarmouth Tuesday.

Freeport appeared to be putting it all together last Tuesday with a first-time-this-century win over visiting reigning regional champion Lake Region (48-32, thanks in large part to 23 points from Nina Davenport), but the Falcons lost a tough one at Wells (38-36) Thursday and fell against Monday at Gray-New Gloucester (52-39) to fall to 6-6 and ninth. Against the Warriors, Davenport had 22 points and nine rebounds, but Freeport couldn’t get over the hump late and Aubrey Pennell’s potential game-winning 3 at the horn was blocked.

“It was a recipe for disaster,” said Freeport’s first-year coach Jim Seavey. “We had a big win. Probably the biggest in the program’s history, regular season-wise for sure, and no school yesterday. That meant no practice, so we couldn’t reiterate to them that the big thing was avoiding a lull after a big win. These kids haven’t been in this position before. Give Wells all the credit in the world. They came to play. They were fighting for their playoff lives and we played like we were satisfied with the other night. It’s frustrating, but that’s high school sports. You never know what you’re going to get.

“It’s been a roller-coaster, no question. I felt like the other night got us over the hump, but it takes more than one win. This league’s very competitive. Wells was a preseason favorite. I knew coming in after Tuesday that we’d be in for a dogfight and sure enough, that’s what we got.”

Pennell had a team-high 12 points in the loss to the Patriots.

Freeport hosts Poland Friday, Yarmouth Saturday and Fryeburg Tuesday.

Falmouth saw its skid hit five games last Tuesday with a 30-25 home loss to Greely (Anne Hickey had 10 points), but got in the win column Friday and improved to 5-7 with a dramatic 27-25 victory at Cape Elizabeth on Meg Palombo’s late 3. Ally Hickey had a team-high 13 points. The Yachtsmen (13th in Western B, where only 12 teams make the cut) host Wells Friday, go to Poland Saturday and welcome defending regional champion Lake Region Tuesday.

Yarmouth is still seeking its first win. Last week, the Clippers lost at Waynflete (58-37) and at home to Gray-New Gloucester (71-35). Fifteen first half turnovers did Yarmouth in at the Flyers. Monica Austin had 13 points and Lane Simsarian added 11. Austin tallied 10 in the loss to the Patriots. The Clippers (0-12 and 18th) go to Traip Friday and visit Freeport Saturday, Tuesday, Yarmouth plays host to Greely.

In Western C, NYA began the week 2-8 and 17th after losses at Gray-New Gloucester (79-21) and at home to Old Orchard Beach (63-17). Chloe Leishman had 13 points against the Patriots and 11 versus the Seagulls. The Panthers were at Hyde Tuesday, visit Hebron Thursday and go to Sacopee Saturday.

Boys’ hockey

On the ice, the defending Class B state champion Greely boys roll on. Last week, the Rangers had a game at Leavitt postponed by weather, then defeated visiting St. Dom’s (4-1) Saturday and visiting Yarmouth (5-2) Monday. Against the Saints, Ted Hart had two goals. Hart added three versus the Clippers. Greely (second to Camden Hills in the Western B Heals) goes to Biddeford Saturday.

Prior to losing at Greely, Yarmouth enjoyed a 10-1 home win over York (Patrick Grant had three goals, while Mark Brown, Isaak Dearden and Kevin Haley all scored twice). Dearden had both goals against the Rangers. The Clippers (2-7-2 and clinging to the fifth and final playoff spot in Western B) host Leavitt Saturday.

Falmouth didn’t play last week. The Yachtsmen (8-2 and second to Scarborough in Western A) go to two-time defending Class A champion Thornton Academy Saturday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Greely’s unbeaten streak hit eight games Saturday with a 7-3 victory at Brunswick (Meg Finlay and Mary Morrison both tallied two goals). The Rangers (11-2-1 and third behind Lewiston and Leavitt/EL in the East Region Heals) play host to Winslow Saturday and have a showdown/state game rematch at Falmouth next Wednesday.

Yarmouth is in the playoff mix as well. The Clippers improved to 5-9-1 and fourth in the East after a 5-4 overtime home win over St. Dom’s Monday. Yarmouth (which had lost 4-1 at Biddeford Saturday), got three goals from Ariel Potter, including the winner in OT. Yarmouth plays at Brunswick Friday.

In the West, Falmouth’s win streak hit seven games last week with a 4-2 home win over Biddeford and a 5-1 triumph at Cape Elizabeth. Against the Tigers, four different players scored. Jayde Bazinet had two goals versus the Caper. Monday, the Yachtsmen were finally defeated, 4-2, at York, to fall to 11-5 (third in the Heals). Falmouth closes with two huge tests, a visit to top-ranked Scarborough Saturday and a home tilt with defending champion Greely Wednesday of next week.

Indoor track

Falmouth’s indoor track team swept an eight-team meet last weekend. NYA also took part. The Panthers girls came in sixth and the boys were seventh.

Yachtsmen girls’ winners included Olivia Baranowski (junior 55 hurdles, 10 seconds), Kiersten Dyhrberg (junior shot put, 27 feet, 11.25 inches), Charlotte Cutshall (senior 55, 7.86; and senior long jump, 15-11.75), Maggie Seitz (senior 200, 29.02), Sarah Sparks (senior 400, 1 minute, 5.28 seconds), Cassie Darrow (800, 2:36.48), Madeline Roberts (two-mile, 12:19.07)  and the senior 800 relay (1:5612). NYA’s Hannah Austin took the mile (5:42.61).

In the boys’ meet, Falmouth got wins from Tony St. Angelo (junior high jump, 5-6), Andy Clement (junior 200, 25.62), Jacob Buhelt (senior 200, 23.41), Azad Jalali (open 800, 2:05.39), Spencer Brown (mile, 4:48.71), Thomas Fortier (long jump, 18-0.25) and the junior (1:42.24) and senior (1:38.09) relays.

Greely’s girls won their meet, with Yarmouth placing fourth and Freeport fifth.

Individually, Greely winners included Kirstin Sandreuter (mile, 5:26.98; and two-mile, 11:22.75), Hannah Keisman (junior 200, 28.61), Jocelyn Mitiguy (junior 55 hurdles, 9.83), Julia Mitiguy (senior 400, 1:04.43), Jessica Wilson (open 800, 2:28.57), Alyssa Casarez (junior shot put, 31-3), Kaley Sawyer (senior 55 hurdles, 9.97; triple jump, 32-11.75; and senior high jump, 4-8), Nina Oberg (pole vault, 8 feet), Gwen Sawyer (senior shot put, 34-9.25)  and its junior 800 (1:56.21), senior 800 (1:56.15) and open 3,200 (10:46.13) relays, while Yarmouth got wins from Emma Egan in both the junior 400 (1:04.85) and the junior high jump (4-8). The Falcons got second-place finishes from Kelsey Grant in the senior 55 (8.01) and the senior relay (1:56.23).

The Rangers boys were runners-up to York, while the Clippers were third and the Falcons came in sixth.

Greely got victories from Jacob Isaacson in the senior 55 (7.04), James Ferrar in the senior shot put (46-3.5). Yarmouth’s Brendan Dioli won the junior 200 (25.6), Wes Crawford was first in the 800 (2:10.98), Ben Decker won the mile (4:31.21) and Thomas Robichaud took the senior 400 (56.45) and pole vault (10 feet). Freeport won the 3,200 relay (9:58.4).

Action resumes Friday when Freeport, Greely and NYA join Cape Elizabeth, Fryeburg, Lake Region, St. Dom’s and Wells in the early meet and Falmouth and Yarmouth join Gray-New Gloucester, Hyde, Lisbon, Poland, Traip and York.

Swimming

In the pool, Greely’s reigning state champion boys’ team is coming off wins at Cape Elizabeth (96-79) and Windham (51-43). Falmouth fell at home to Class A power Cheverus, 101-61. Yarmouth won, 109-53, at Sanford.

In girls’ competition, Greely lost to Cape Elizabeth (108-72) and defeated Windham (64-29). Falmouth gave Cheverus a scare, but lost, 86-78. Yarmouth lost to Sanford, 90-73.

This weekend, Greely is at Westbrook, Falmouth swims with Cape Elizabeth and South Portland and Yarmouth visits Portland.

Skiing

Alpine ski action resumed Monday at Shawnee Peak, where Falmouth’s boys defeated Yarmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Gray-New Gloucester in a slalom meet. The Yachtsmen had the top four finishers: Devereux Thomas (two-run combined time of 1 minute, 33.85 seconds), Alexander Gowen (1:35.73), Ben Hilfrank (1:38.14) and Cooper Lycan (1:38.49). The Clippers top finisher was Tucker Grout (fifth, 1:39.39). Falmouth also won the girls’ meet with Yarmouth tying Gray-New Gloucester for second. The Yachtsmen were paced by 1-2 finishers Alex Shapiro (1:52.14) and Krysia Lesniak (1:53.65). Anna Bouton came in third for the Clippers (2:03.82).

Freeport’s boys and Greely’s girls were first in a four-team (Fryeburg and Lake Region also took part) giant slalom meet.

The Falcons were paced by Ryder Bennell (1:06.33), who was runner-up to Greely’s (Sam Perlmutter (1:05.52). The Rangers were second as a team.

On the girls’ side, Elyse Dinan (1:08.47), Teal Otley (1:10.07) and Kelsey Otley (1:12.43) went 1-2-3 for the Rangers. Freeport’s top finisher was Taylor Enrico (fourth, 1:13.58).

In Nordic action, Falmouth and NYA took part in the Maranacook Wave race at Sugarloaf Saturday. The Yachtsmen boys were sixth in the 21-team field, while the Panthers placed 10th. Falmouth was paced by Sam Pratico (ninth, 15 minutes, 6.5 seconds). NYA’s top finisher was Haley Cunningham (41st, 17:07). Falmouth’s girls were 11th, while NYA came in 17th. The Yachtsmen’s fastest skier was Anna Morin (15th, 19:46.3). Melanie Regan led the Panthers with a 57th-place finish (22:20.6).

At the Starks Relay, Yarmouth’s boys were first, Merriconeag second, Falmouth third, Freeport fifth and Greely 10th. In the girls’ competiton, Merriconeag was first, Yarmouth second, Freeport third, Falmouth fourth and Greely eighth.

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

Sidebar Elements


Falmouth senior Charlie Fay weaves his way to the basket during the Yachtsmen’s 53-41 home win over Cape Elizabeth Friday. Falmouth stayed undefeated and atop the Western Class B Heal Points standings with the win.

Greely junior Ted Hart slips past a St. Dom’s defender during the Rangers’ 4-1 win Saturday night.

Falmouth’s Alyse Bazinet fires a shot during the Yachtsmen’s 5-1 home win over Cape Elizabeth Saturday.

NYA’s Hannah Austin holds off Falmouth’s Vishva Nalamalapu for a win in the mile at last weekend’s meet at USM.


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