(Ed. Note: For the complete Scarborough-Portland boys’ basketball and Scarborough-Greely girls’ hockey game stories, please visit theforecaster.net)

A calendar year is coming to a close, but the new winter sports season is just getting going. Local athletes have already made their mark in several sports and the best is yet to come. Here’s a glimpse:

Boys’ basketball

The news on the boys’ basketball front has been very positive in the early going.

South Portland is off to a solid 5-0 start, beating visiting Windham (56-39), host Biddeford (68-43), visiting Westbrook (54-36), host Thornton Academy (56-54) and visiting Kennebunk (69-39). The Red Riots host Massabesic Friday, go to Scarborough Jan. 2 and have a home showdown versus defending Class A champion Deering Jan. 4.

Scarborough has been competitive in its first season under coach Tony DiBiase. The Red Storm opened with a 66-49 victory over visiting Gorham. Scarborough then lost at Westbrook (63-59) and Marshwood (77-74) before downing visiting Windham (68-49). Last Friday, the host Red Storm gave visiting Portland fits before losing, 63-53, to fall to 2-3 on the season. Scarborough is back in action Saturday at Biddeford and hosts South Portland Wednesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth has won four of its first five contests. After losing at home to Falmouth in the opener, 72-49, the Capers downed visiting Freeport (66-34), host Gray-New Gloucester (64-38), visiting Greely (56-47) and host Lake Region (63-41). Cape Elizabeth goes to Fryeburg Saturday and has a home test with Western C contender Waynflete Jan. 3.

In Western D, Greater Portland Christian School started 0-4 with losses to host Seacoast Christian (55-13), visiting Acadia Christian (40-31), host Pine Tree Academy (65-26) and visiting Islesboro (56-34). The Lions are back in action Jan. 11 at North Haven.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, South Portland has turned heads with a 5-0 start. The Red Riots opened with a 48-27 triumph at Windham, then downed visiting Biddeford (53-38), host Westbrook (61-42), visiting Thornton Academy (57-37) and host Kennebunk (47-27). The Red Riots are at Massabesic Friday, where longtime coach Mike Giordano will go for his 200th career victory. South Portland plays host to Scarborough Wednesday of next week.

The Red Storm is once again off to a hot start. Scarborough won at Gorham (56-23), at home over Westbrook (60-24) and Marshwood (44-31) and at Windham (64-45) and Portland (57-44) to improve to 5-0. After hosting Biddeford Monday, the Red Storm visits South Portland Jan. 2.

In Western B, Cape Elizabeth has more than held its own against a tough schedule. The Capers lost, 54-42, at Falmouth to start the year, then upset host Freeport, 45-33. Competitive losses to visiting Gray-New Gloucester (45-42), host Greely (37-31) and visiting reigning regional champion Lake Region (46-23) followed. After hosting Fryeburg Saturday, Cape Elizabeth goes to Western C favorite Waynflete Jan. 3.

In Western D, GPCS improved to 4-0 after wins last week at Pine Tree Academy (44-37) and at home over Islesboro (41-33). The Lions are idle until Jan. 8 when they host Rangeley.

Boys’ hockey

Scarborough’s boys’ hockey team has engaged in some exciting games in the early going this season. After opening with a 2-1 home win over perennial power Lewiston, the Red Storm traveled to face another storied program, St. Dom’s, and suffered a 1-0 setback. After blanking host York, 1-0, Scarborough edged visiting Falmouth in overtime, 4-3, then rolled at Kennebunk, 13-1, to improve to 4-1. After hosting Gorham Saturday, the Red Storm goes to Cape Elizabeth Jan. 3.

South Portland started 0-4 with losses to visiting Edward Little (7-0) and host Windham (5-4), Westbrook (5-4, in overtime) and Cheverus (13-0). The Red Riots hosted Noble Thursday, welcome Windham Saturday and go to Bonny Eagle Jan. 5.

Cape Elizabeth opened with a 4-2 home loss to York, tied visiting Yarmouth, 2-2, won at Portland, 4-1, then lost at Greely (7-3) and Biddeford (4-2), to fall to 1-3-1. The Capers are idle until Jan. 3, when they welcome Scarborough.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Scarborough appeared invincible in its first seven games, winning by a composite 39-1, but Saturday, the Red Storm twice couldn’t hold leads and had to settle for a 2-2 home tie with defending state champion Greely. Scarborough returns to action Jan. 2, when it hosts Cape Elizabeth.

Speaking of the Capers, Cape Elizabeth’s co-op team with Waynflete started 1-2-1, but is now 3-2-3 after a 2-2 tie with Winslow Saturday. “Capeflete” is at Cheverus Saturday.

Indoor track

Scarborough and South Portland’s indoor track teams already have two meets under their belts.

On the first weekend, Scarborough’s boys and South Portland’s girls were first in a meet which also included Deering, Massabesic and Portland. The Red Storm girls were runners-up, while the Red Riots boys placed third.

This past weekend, Scarborough and South Portland again were in the same meet, along with Massabesic, Westbrook and Windham. The Red Storm boys were first, with the Red Riots second. Scarborough’s Jerry Kenney was the junior division meet MVP. On the girls’ side, South Portland was tops and Scarborough runner-up. Red Riot Lauren Magnuson won the junior division meet MVP. Red Storm Avery Pietras was the senior division MVP.

Both teams return to action Jan. 2 when they share a meet with Biddeford, Cheverus, Gorham, McAuley and Westbrook.

Cape Elizabeth opens the Western Maine Conference season Jan. 4 versus Fryeburg, Lake Region, Lisbon, NYA, Poland, St. Dom’s, Traip and Wells.

Swimming

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ swim team opened with a 116-51 loss to Cheverus, then beat Biddeford (124-51) and Westbrook (109-51). The Capers go to South Portland Friday and host Scarborough next Friday.

The Red Storm opened with a 48-46 win over defending Class B champion Greely, then downed Falmouth (97-79) and Deering (106-79). Scarborough is home with Cheverus Friday.

South Portland beat Falmouth (84-77), then lost to Deering (115-54) and Cheverus (89-66). 

On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth beat Cheverus in the opener, 117-39, then downed Biddeford (146-18) and Westbrook (124-28). The Capers go to South Portland Friday and host Scarborough and Windham next Friday.

The Red Storm opened with a 57-37 loss to reigning Class B champion Greely, the lost to Falmouth (96-83) and Deering (108-72). 

South Portland lost to Falmouth (106-68), Deering (115-54) and Cheverus (82-68).

Skiing

The Alpine and Nordic ski seasons begin in earnest in the new year.

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team dropped its first six matches. The most recent was a 51-28 decision to Windham Saturday.

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

Sidebar Elements

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Scarborough senior Kevin Manning lines up three of his 19 points during the Red Storm’s hard fought 63-53 home loss to Portland last Friday.

Scarborough’s Devan Kane denies a Greely skater during the Red Storm’s 2-2 tie with the defending state champion Rangers Saturday. Kane stole the show by making 36 saves.

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