South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete goalie Liam McGibbon denies Scarborough’s Cameron Budway during last week’s 4-1 home victory.

Cape Elizabeth’s Andrew Hartel goes up for two points during the Capers’ 50-41 win over Falmouth last week.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Cape Elizabeth-Falmouth boys’ basketball and South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete-Scarborough boys’ hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The new year is upon us and the winter sports season, like winter itself, has been very active.

Here’s a look at where things stand and what’s to come:

Boys’ basketball

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ basketball team dropped its season-opener, at home to defending Class A champion Greely, but the Capers have won five in a row since, capped by victories last week over Falmouth (50-41) in a countable game played at the Red Claws Christmas Showcase at the Portland Exposition Building, and over Westbrook (65-60), in a game originally scheduled to be played at home, but moved to Westbrook after the heat went out in Cape Elizabeth’s gymnasium.

Against the Yachtsmen, Finn Bowe had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Andrew Hartel added 13 points, seven rebounds and blocked three shots.

“It always feels good to come out on top against (Falmouth),” said Bowe. “They’re a great team. They always bring it, no matter who’s playing for them.”

“I think we just took a couple quarters to get into the game, then once we started moving, we didn’t stop and we didn’t look back,” Hartel said. “It’s really fun to play here and it’s good practice for us hopefully playing here again in the tournament.”

“We had guys going through the motions in practice yesterday and I had to remind them we’re playing Falmouth and it won’t be easy,” added Cape Elizabeth coach Jim Ray. “I knew they’d play hard.”

In the win over the Blue Blazes, Bowe had 24 points and Hartel added 14. The Capers welcome Brunswick in a playoff rematch Friday and play host to Yarmouth in a critical Class B South showdown Tuesday of next week.

Two-time defending Class AA champion South Portland improved to 3-2 with recent wins at Oxford Hills (53-49) and Sanford (82-42). Connor Buckley had 18 points, Noah Malone added 11 and Liam Coyne had 10 in the victory over the Vikings. Against the Spartans, Buckley had Coyne had 14 points apiece. The Red Riots host Massabesic Friday and Deering Saturday, then play host to Windham Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough improved to 5-2 with recent home victories over Edward Little (61-56) and Noble (83-35). Against the Red Eddies, Brian Austin had 19 points, Nick Fiorillo 13 and Morgan Pratt 12. In the win over the Knights, Fiorillo led the way with 25 points, Pratt added 16 and Reece Lagerquist finished with a dozen. The Red Storm host Cheverus Friday and go to Deering Tuesday of next week.

Greater Portland Christian School takes an 0-4 record into Saturday’s game at Waynflete. Monday, the Lions go to A.R. Gould.

Girls’ basketball

South Portland’s powerhouse girls’ basketball team improved to 6-0 on the season after recent home wins over Oxford Hills (55-42) and Sanford (62-26). Against the Vikings, Meghan Graff and Katie Whitmore both scored 18 points, while Maggie Whitmore added 14. In the win over the Spartans, Graff had 19 points and Maggie Whitmore added 18. The Red Riots go to Massabesic Friday, visit Windham Monday and play at Portland Thursday of next week.

Scarborough improved to 4-3 on the year after downing host Edward Little (41-18) and Noble (57-43). Sophie Glidden led the way with 18 points in the win over the Red Eddies. Against the Knights, which gave Red Storm coach Mike Giordano his 250th career victory (see story), Madison Blanche and Bella Dickinson both had 15 points. Scarborough visits Cheverus Friday and is home against Deering Tuesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth split a pair of games last week, losing at home to Kennebunk (42-38) and winning at Westbrook (46-44). Isabel Berman had 10 points in the loss. In the victory, Berman had 16 points and Brooke Harvey led the way with 17. The Capers (3-3) are at defending Class A South champion Brunswick Friday and visit Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

Boys’ hockey

The South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team was 2-3 at press time after a historic 4-1 home win over Scarborough last week. Bradley McMains had a goal and Aidan Schifano added two assists as the squad beat the Red Storm for the first time since Feb. 5, 2004.

“It’s remarkable,” said South Portland/Freeport/Waynflete coach Joe Robinson. “I’m proud of the guys. They’ve worked hard. We played a full 45-minute game. It’s a big step for us. Scarborough may be a little down, but they’re still a solid program.”

South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport goes to Massabesic Saturday and visits Brunswick Monday.

Scarborough got a goal from Zachary Chaisson, his first varsity goal, in the loss to South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport.

“Our hope is we learn from this,” Red Storm first-year coach Jake Brown said. “Our discipline has been really good. We don’t have any breathers. We’ll have productive practices and look to come ready to play.”

Scarborough fell to 2-5 after a 5-1 loss at Falmouth Saturday and a 5-1 home loss to Cape Elizabeth Tuesday. Nolan Matthews had the goal against the Yachtsmen. In the loss to the Capers, Cam Budway scored. The Red Storm were at Cheverus in a playoff rematch Thursday and go to Biddeford Saturday.

Cape Elizabeth improved to 6-0 after recent wins over visiting Brunswick (5-4) and at Scarborough (5-1). Ryan Collins, Ethan Gillespie, Alex Glidden, Gavin Simopolous and Phil Tarling all had goals against the Dragons. In the win over the Red Storm, Sean Agrodnia scored twice and Collins, Tarling and Gus Frankwicz all had one goal. The Capers hosted Edward Little Thursday. They welcome Maranacook Saturday and go to Gardiner Wednesday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland held off Scarborough in its most recent outing, 4-3, and took a 4-3 record into Wednesday’s game at Cheverus/Kennebunk. The squad then welcomes defending state champion St. Dom’s Saturday.

Scarborough took a 2-6 mark into Wednesday’s game at York. The Red Storm are at St. Dom’s Monday.

Indoor track

Scarborough and South Portland’s indoor track and field teams have one league meet under their belts.

The Red Storm boys came in first and the girls were second to Noble in a six-team meet.

The Red Riots boys and girls finished second behind Thornton Academy in a four-team meet.

League meets resumed Wednesday when Scarborough and South Portland joined Bonny Eagle and Marshwood for a four-team meet. 

Cape Elizabeth opens its league season Friday with a meet which also includes Freeport, Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region and York.

Swimming

Scarborough’s boys and girls defeated Deering in a recent swim meet. The boys prevailed by a score of 113-45 and the girls won, 104-65.

South Portland’s boys defeated Falmouth, 101-47, while the girls lost to the Yachtsmen, 105.5-72.5.

Cape Elizabeth swept Greely, as the defending Class B champion girls prevailed, 94-88, and the boys were victorious, 88-61.

Cape Elizabeth’s swim teams host Bonny Eagle Friday, while Scarborough is home against Windham and South Portland hosts Greely.

Wrestling

Portland’s wrestling team, which is a co-op squad this year with South Portland, took part at Noble Invitational last week. Portland/South Portland tallied 56 points to place 15th (Nokomis was first with 170). Portland/South Portland, which is 4-2 on the season, was back in action Wednesday at home versus Westbrook/Gorham. The squad goes to Massabesic Wednesday of next week.

Scarborough hosted Cheverus Wednesday, takes part in the Spartan Invitational in Sanford Friday, then goes to Noble Wednesday of next week.

Skiing

The skiing season will get underway this week for schools in both in the SMAA and WMC.

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