Every year we rave about the drama produced by local high school sports athletes, then the calendar flips and they go out and raise the bar another notch.

That was certainly the case in 2014.

From start to finish.

With another winter season underway and the calendar now reading 2015, here’s one final look back at the thrills that made up 2014.

Winter

Last basketball season saw Brunswick’s boys go 13-5, then knock off Mt. Ararat, 73-54, in the Eastern A quarterfinals, ending the Eagles’ campaign at 7-12. The Dragons’ dreams of a title were then dashed by Oxford Hills in an overtime heartbreaker in the semifinals (61-58). In Western B, Morse survived Lake Region in double overtime in the quarterfinals, then dropped a one-point decision to eventual regional champion Poland in the semis, as it finished 15-5. In Western D, Hyde went 16-2 in the regular season, then dominated Seacoast Christian and held off North Haven before falling to longtime nemesis Valley, 50-49, in the regional final to wind up 18-3.

On the girls’ side, Brunswick lost to Cony in the quarterfinals to finish 10-9. Hyde, Morse and Mt. Ararat fell short of the playoffs.

Brunswick’s boys’ hockey team went 10-8-2 and made it to the Eastern A semifinals before losing to Bangor, 5-1. Mt. Ararat finished 9-9, but fell short of the playoffs. On the girls’ side, the nascent Mt. Ararat squad reached the playoffs, but lost to Yarmouth/Freeport, 7-0, in the East Region quarterfinals to finish 5-13-1. Brunswick fell short of the postseason.

The Class A state track meet saw Brunswick’s girls come in fifth and the boys place 12th. Mt. Ararat’s boys were 15th. Morse’s boys tied for 24th in Class B.

Morse’s boys’ swim team was runner-up in Class B. The girls came in seventh. In Class A, Brunswick’s girls were runners-up to Cheverus, while the boys placed third. Mt. Ararat’s boys were 20th and the girls tied for 22nd.

In wrestling, Mt. Ararat tied for eighth, while Brunswick was 17th in Class A. Morse came in 17th in Class B.

Mt. Ararat did well in Nordic skiing, as the boys came in sixth and the girls place seventh.

Spring

In the spring, success continued.

On the baseball diamond, Brunswick won an Eastern A preliminary round game over Edward Little, then was eliminated by Bangor, 6-3, in the quarterfinals. Mt. Ararat didn’t qualify. In Western B, Morse was ousted by Poland in the quarterfinals to wind up 10-7.

All three softball teams fell short of the postseason.

Brunswick’s boys’ lacrosse team stole headlines. After a 10-2 regular season, the Dragons eliminated Lewiston, Mt. Ararat (to end the Eagles’ year at 9-5), then held off two-time defending Eastern A champion Cheverus by a goal to punch their ticket to the Class A Final. There, Brunswick played favored South Portland tough, but the Dragons lost, 10-8. In Eastern B, Morse lost by a goal to Camden Hills in the quarterfinals to wind up 9-4.

On the girls’ side, Morse reached the Eastern B semifinals before losing at Freeport to wind up 11-3. Mt. Ararat lost by a goal to Messalonskee in the Eastern A quarterfinals to finish 6-7. Brunswick also fell in the quarterfinal round, to eventual regional champion Cheverus, and wound up 5-8.

The Class A outdoor track and field state meet saw Brunswick’s girls place seventh and the boys tie for 12th and Mt. Ararat’s boys tie for 22nd, while the girls tied for 23rd. In Class B, Morse’s girls were 14th and the boys finished 20th.

Brunswick’s girls’ tennis team looked for a third straight championship, but lost to powerhouse Falmouth in the Class A Final. The boys got to the Eastern A semifinal before losing to Hampden Academy. Mt. Ararat’s boys made a spirited run to the state match and gave Falmouth everything it could handle before losing, 3-2. The Eagles girls lost to Hampden in the semifinals. In Western B, Morse’s boys lost to Yarmouth in the semifinals, while the girls were ousted by Maranacook in the quarterfinals.

Fall

There was plenty excitement this fall as well. 

Brunswick had the most success in football, making it to the Class B Final before losing to Marshwood, 44-18, to finish 9-2. Morse also made the playoffs, but lost to Falmouth in the Western B quarterfinals, 48-6, to wind up 4-5.

In girls’ soccer, Mt. Ararat reached the Eastern A Final before losing to Edward Little in overtime. Edward Little had ended Brunswick’s season in the semifinals. Morse was ousted by Cape Elizabeth in the Western B quarterfinals.

On the boys’ side, Brunswick got to the Eastern A Final before losing by a goal to Lewiston. Mt. Ararat was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Bangor.

No field hockey teams made it to the postseason.

Cross country saw several strong performances. The Brunswick girls led the way with a fourth-place state meet finish. The Dragons boys placed 14th. Mt. Ararat’s girls finished 11th, while the boys placed 15th. Morse girls were 11th in Class B.

Golf featured Mt. Ararat making it to the state match, where it came in seventh.

Winter

Another winter season is in full swing.

On the hardwood, Morse leads the Western Class B boys’ Heal Points standings at press time with a 6-1 record. In Western D, Hyde sits 4-0. In Eastern A, Brunswick sits 4-3 and Mt. Ararat is 2-5.

On the girls’ side, Hyde is off to a 3-0 start in Western D. In Eastern A, Brunswick is 3-3 and Mt. Ararat sits 3-4. In Western B, Morse is 3-3.

On the ice, Brunswick’s boys are 4-1, while Mt. Ararat sits 1-3. On the girls’ side, Brunswick was 1-8 at press time, while Mt. Ararat was 1-7.

Say goodbye to the wonderful year that was. We welcome 2015 and look forward to a new batch of highlights.

Happy New Year everyone!