Greely’s Olivia Marsanskis competes in the junior 55 hurdles at last weekend’s league meet. Marsanskis was second and the Rangers placed second as a team.

Freeport’s Willets Meyer knocks down a Scarborough skater during the South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete co-op boys’ hockey team’s 5-2 victory Saturday.

Yarmouth’s Kurt Heywood is denied by the St. Dom’s goalie during the teams’ 1-1 tie last week.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Yarmouth-St. Dom’s and SP/Freeport/Waynflete-Scarborough boys’ hockey game stories, see theforecaster.net)

The puck is about to drop on the girls’ hockey playoffs and conference titles in indoor track, skiing and swimming are also on tap.

And if that’s not enough February excitement, the boys’ and girls’ basketball tournament will be underway this time next week.

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Here’s an overview of the week that was and a look at the drama that’s to come.

Girls’ hockey

Falmouth’s girls’ hockey team earned the No. 3 seed for the South Region playoffs after completing an 11-5-2 regular season with a 5-2 loss to visiting Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland and home victories over Biddeford/Thornton Academy (9-0) and Gorham/Bonny Eagle (9-1). The Yachtsmen hosted No. 6 Portland/Deering (5-13) in the quarterfinals Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story). The teams met once this winter, way back on Nov. 24, a 7-6 win for the visiting Yachtsmen.

If Falmouth advances, it will go to second-ranked Scarborough (13-4-1) in the semifinal round Friday or Saturday. The Red Storm won the regular season meeting, 2-1, Jan. 21 in Falmouth.

In the North Region, Yarmouth/Freeport wound up fourth after losing at home to Winslow/Gardiner, 3-2, Saturday in its finale to wind up 11-7. The teams met again in Wednesday’s quarterfinal round, as Winslow/Gardiner (8-9-1) came to Yarmouth. 

If Yarmouth/Freeport advances to the semifinals, it will go to top-ranked Lewiston (18-0) Friday or Saturday. The Blue Devils won the lone regular season meeting, 10-0, at home Dec. 29.

Defending state champion Greely/Gray-New Gloucester wound up sixth in the North at 6-12 after closing with losses at Lewiston (8-0) and at home to Edward Little/Leavitt (3-2). Greely/Gray-NG went to No. 3 St. Dom’s (12-4-2) for the quarterfinals Wednesday.

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If Greely/Gray-NG sprung the upset and advanced, it would meet No. 2 Edward Little/Leavitt (14-3-1) in the semifinals Friday or Saturday. 

The South Region and North Region Finals are Wednesday of next week and the state game will be Saturday, Feb. 16 in Lewiston.

Boys’ basketball

With two games remaining, all five local boys’ basketball teams are on target to make the playoffs.

Two-time defending Class A champion Greely was first in the Class A South Heal Points standings at press time after extending its win streak to six games and improving to 13-3 with victories last week at Cape Elizabeth (61-54) and at home over Yarmouth (63-60). Logan Bagshaw had 21 points and Zach Brown added 20 in the win over the Capers. 

“We didn’t shoot well in the first quarter but we brought it back and started shooting better in the second quarter and playing in transition,” said Bagshaw.

“I think we’re playing better and that’s the ultimate goal as the calendar is flipping to February,” said Greely coach Travis Seaver.

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Against the Clippers, Andrew Storey had 24 points, Bagshaw added 20 and Brown finished with 11, including two go-ahead foul shots with 20 seconds to go. 

The Rangers hosted York Tuesday in a game that will go a long way toward determining whether or not they’ll hold on to the top seed in the region, then close at home versus Fryeburg Academy Thursday.

Falmouth was 12-4 and fourth in Class A South at the start of the week following a 51-46 home win over Marshwood and a 62-54 home loss to Bonny Eagle. Mike Simonds had 25 points and Macklin Williams added 11 in the victory. In the setback, Simonds had a team-high 23 points. The Yachtsmen hosted Westbrook Tuesday and close at Kennebunk in a possible tournament preview Thursday. 

In Class B South, Freeport was 10-6 and sixth in the Heals following a 58-42 home loss to York and a 67-53 win at Lake Region. Toby Holt scored a team-high 19 points in the setback. In the victory, Holt had 19 points and Gabe Wagner added 18. The Falcons hosted Wells Tuesday and close at Gray-New Gloucester Thursday.

Yarmouth dropped a 63-60 decision at Greely Friday to fall to 6-10 and eighth in Class B South. The Clippers erased an 18-point deficit in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t pull it out despite 20 points from Jon Torres, 11 from Ashanti Haywood and 10 from Jason Lainey. Yarmouth was home with Poland Tuesday and closes at home versus Lake Region Thursday.

In Class C South, North Yarmouth Academy began the week 9-7 and eighth in the standings after a 56-42 home loss to Temple Academy and a 53-15 win at St. Dom’s. Bryce Bernier had 16 points and Miles Chapman added 10 in the setback. Against the Saints, Te’Andre King had 27 points and 13 rebounds. The Panthers hosted Sacopee Valley Tuesday and close at home versus Waynflete Thursday.

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The boys’ basketball playoffs begin with preliminary round games on the home courts of the higher seeds next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, defending state champion Greely will be the top seed again for the Class A South tournament. The Rangers improved to 16-0 and extended their two-year win streak to 32 games after downing visiting NYA, 74-46, last Tuesday. Anna DeWolfe scored 27 points and Camille Clement added 13. Greely, seeking the program’s first undefeated regular season in 35 years, was at York Tuesday and closes at Fryeburg Academy Thursday.

Also in Class A South, Falmouth was 1-15 and 11th (only nine teams make the playoffs) after losses last week at Marshwood (55-39) and Bonny Eagle (61-40). Chelsea Gravier had 18 points against the Hawks. In the loss to the Scots, Carley Piers led the Yachtsmen with 15 points and Cameron Birks added 10. Falmouth played at Westbrook Tuesday and closes at home versus Kennebunk Thursday. The Yachtsmen are hoping to avoid missing the postseason for the first time since 2015-16.

In Class B South, Freeport was 14-2 and third in the Heals after extending its win streak to seven games with home wins over York (56-44) and defending Class B South champion Lake Region in a regional final rematch (30-23). Caroline Smith had another huge game against the Wildcats, producing 26 points, a dozen rebounds and six assists. Rachel Wall added 12 points and eight rebounds. In the win over the Lakers, Smith had 13 points and eight boards and Wall added eight points and 11 rebounds. The Falcons, who are looking to eclipse the 1988-89 squad (15-3) for the best regular season record in program history, went to Wells Tuesday and close at home Thursday against Gray-New Gloucester.

Yarmouth had a record of 10-6 and was ranked fourth at press time after downing visiting Old Orchard Beach, 43-30, last Tuesday behind 12 points from Calin McGonagle and 11 from Margaret McNeil. The Clippers were at Poland Tuesday and close at Lake Region Thursday.

In Class C South, NYA was 12-4 and fourth in the Heals following a 74-46 loss at Greely and a 56-44 win at St. Dom’s. Helen Hamblett and Serena Mower both scored 14 points against the Rangers. In the victory, Catherine Reid scored 24 points and Katie Larson added 17. The Panthers, who are enjoying their best season since the 1998-99 squad went 14-4, hosted Sacopee Valley Tuesday and welcome Waynflete in the finale Thursday.

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The girls’ basketball playoffs begin with preliminary round games on the home courts of the higher seeds next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Boys’ hockey

The boys’ hockey regular season still has a couple of weeks remaining and while defending Class B South champion Greely is in good shape, Falmouth and Yarmouth have work to do to earn a playoff berth.

The Yachtsmen began the week 3-10 and eighth in Class A South, but only seven teams make the postseason. Last week, Falmouth lost at home to Cheverus and Bangor by 3-1 scores. The Yachtsmen, who last missed the playoffs in 1991-92, the program’s first year at the varsity level, went to St. Dom’s Wednesday, visit defending Class A South champion Biddeford Saturday, then welcome St. Dom’s Wednesday of next week.

In Class B South, Yarmouth was 5-6-2 and eighth (only seven teams make the playoffs) after a 1-1 home tie versus St. Dom’s and a 6-0 victory at Kennebunk. William Giese scored to give the Clippers the lead against the Saints, but St. Dom’s tied it and that’s how the game ended.

“We’re fighting for our playoff life, so we’ll take half (Heal Points) anytime,” said Clippers coach Dave St. Pierre. “I thought we played well and battled hard. (St. Dom’s) is a talented hockey team that can put the puck in the net.” 

In the victory, Kurt Heywood and Aidan Miller both scored twice, while Isaac Grondin and Michael Guertler had one goal apiece. Yarmouth visits Gardiner Thursday, hosts Cheverus in a makeup game Saturday and travels to Greely Tuesday of next week.

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Speaking of the Rangers, they’re first in Class B South at 10-2 following a 6-3 loss at two-time defending Class A champion Lewiston and a 5-0 victory at Brunswick. Jake MacDonald scored twice in the loss. Greely was home with Gorham Wednesday, visits Thornton Academy Saturday and plays host to Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

The South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete co-op team improved to 6-6 and fifth in the region after defeating host Windham/Westbrook (9-0) and visiting Scarborough (5-2) last week. The Red Riots visited two-time defending Class A champion Lewiston Wednesday, host Thornton Academy Thursday and welcome Marshwood Saturday.

Indoor track

The final regular season of the indoor track season saw Falmouth’s boys come in second behind Scarborough, while the Yachtsmen girls finished third in an eight-team Southwestern Maine Activities Association meet.

Greely’s boys and girls were each second behind York in a seven-team Western Maine Conference meet. NYA’s girls placed sixth and the boys finished seventh. 

Freeport’s girls were third and Yarmouth came in fifth in a meet won by Gray-New Gloucester. The Clippers boys were fourth and the Falcons placed sixth.

The WMC Championship Meet is Friday in Gorham.

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The SMAA Championship Meet is Saturday in Gorham.

Swimming

In the pool, Falmouth swept Waynflete, with the boys prevailing, 107-49, and the girls beating the Flyers, 110-45.

Greely’s girls beat Deering, 95-73, while the Rangers boys lost to the Rams, 78-73.

Yarmouth’s girls tied Kennebunk, 82-82, while the boys lost, 100-66, to the Rams.

The Southwestern championships will be held this weekend.

Skiing

Falmouth’s boys’ Alpine ski team was first and the girls placed second at an SMAA giant slalom meet last week at Shawnee Peak.

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In a WMC GS meet last week at Shawnee Peak, Yarmouth’s boys were second behind Cape Elizabeth, Freeport was third and Greely fourth.

In the girls’ meet, Greely was third, Yarmouth placed fourth and Freeport was sixth. 

Monday, in a slalom meet at Shawnee Peak, Yarmouth’s girls came in first, Greely was third and Freeport fifth.

In the boys’ meet, won by Cape Elizabeth, Greely was runner-up, Freeport finished third and Yarmouth was fourth.

In the girls’ meet, won by Fryeburg Academy, Greely finished third, Yarmouth was fourth and Freeport placed sixth.

On the Nordic side, at a skate race last week at Fryeburg, Freeport’s boys won a 12-team meet. Yarmouth finished third, Falmouth was fourth, Maine Coast Waldorf was fifth and Greely placed sixth. 

Yarmouth’s girls finished second behind Portland, Freeport placed third, MCW finished fourth, Falmouth was seventh and Greely came in eighth.

Press Herald staff writer Steve Craig contributed to this story.

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


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