Deering’s Ben Onek goes up for a shot in traffic during the Rams’ 50-41 win at South Portland Friday.

Waynflete’s Diraige Dahia soars for a layup during the Flyers’ 55-47 home win over Yarmouth last week.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Waynflete-Yarmouth boys’ basketball and Portland/Deering-Falmouth boys’ hockey game stories, see theforecaster.net)

Just a little over two weeks remain in the regular season for every sport but boys’ hockey and local teams have much to be excited about.

Here’s a look at what happened last week and a glimpse ahead:

Boys’ basketball

Deering’s boys’ basketball team was 7-5 and fourth in the Class AA North Heal Points standings at press time after a 63-61 loss at defending state champion Edward Little and a 50-41 win at South Portland. In the setback, Ben Onek had 23 points and 12 rebounds. Darryl Germain added 18 points, including five 3-pointers.

“There’s no break in this team,” Deering coach Todd Wing said. “They believe that they can be right there at the end. I believe in them. We’re playing our best basketball right now that we’ve played all year. And we’re playing it against the best teams.”

In the victory, Onek scored a game-high 21 points and Loki Anda added 11.

“(Ben) owned the second and fourth quarters,” Wing said. “And that’s what we need. He’s our horse, but a lot of guys contributed.”

“We came into this game feeling hungry,” Germain said. “They made some shots and we were down 8-0, but we came back and finished strong.”

The Rams hosted Massabesic Tuesday, welcome Windham Friday and play host to Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week. 

Portland improved to 9-4 and fifth in Class AA North after downing visiting Lewiston (68-55) and host Cheverus (72-42). Against the Blue Devils, Simon Chadbourne had 26 points, Pedro Fonseca added 16 and Jeremiah Alado finished with 10. In the win over the Stags, Alado led the way with 18 points, Fonseca had 14, Chadbourne finished with 11 and Trey Bellew tallied 10. The Bulldogs go to Thornton Academy Friday and host Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 7-6 and sixth after Friday’s 72-42 home loss to Portland. Nick Gallli led the Stags with 10 points. Cheverus was at Oxford Hills Monday and goes to Noble Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete was second to Winthrop at 9-2 after a 55-47 home win over Yarmouth and a 74-69 victory at Traip Academy. In the win over the Clippers, Dominick Campbell led a balanced attack with 11 points.

“We wanted to come out strong and finish strong and that’s what we did,” Campbell said. “A win was very important. It’s good for our mindset to get back to a winning mentality.”

“I think it was very important to win and I think the kids recognized the importance of it,” Flyers coach Rich Henry said. “I called more timeouts tonight than I have in a long time to settle us down. When we settled down, we usually had a pretty good spurt.”

Against the Rangers, Diraige Dahia and Solomon Levy each had 20 points. Waynflete was home with Freeport Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and goes to Sacopee Valley Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Portland entered the week 6-7 and fourth in the Class AA North Heals following a 60-42 win at Lewiston and a 47-44 setback at Cheverus. In the victory, Amanda Kabantu had 16 points, Gemima Motema added 15, Davina Kabantu had 13 and Jill Joyce finished with 10. In the loss, Amanda Kabantu had 13 points and Elizabeth Yugu added 11. After hosting Cheverus Friday, the Bulldogs go to Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus was 5-8 and sixth in Class AA North after extending its win streak to three by downing visiting Portland, 47-44. Margaret Kelly led the way with 16 points and Lauren Jordan added 11. The Stags were home with Oxford Hills Tuesday, go to Portland Friday and welcome Noble Tuesday of next week.

Deering fell to 1-10 and eighth after a 41-23 setback to defending Class AA champion Edward Little and a 47-33 home loss to South Portland. Elizabeth Drelich had six points against the Red Eddies and in the setback against the Red Riots, Mandy Mastropasqua paced the Rams with 10 points. Deering was at Massabesic Tuesday, goes to South Portland Wednesday, travels to Windham Friday and hosts Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete was still seeking its first win at press time after falling to 0-10 and 18th in the region with a 42-41 home loss to Traip Academy Friday. Kilee Sherry led the Flyers with nine points. Waynflete was at Sacopee Valley Monday and Freeport Tuesday, then welcomes Hebron Academy Thursday and plays host to Sacopee Valley Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

The Cheverus/Kennebunk co-op girls’ hockey team remains atop the South Region Heals at 13-2 after Saturday’s 8-2 home win over Portland/Deering. The squad hosted Greely/Gray-New Gloucester in a state game rematch Monday.

Portland/Deering fell to 3-10 and seventh in the region after a 10-2 home loss to Lewiston and an 8-2 loss at Cheverus/Kennebunk. Portland/Deering hosts Yarmouth/Freeport Wednesday and welcomes the Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op squad Saturday.

Cape/Waynflete/SP was 6-7 and fourth in the South after a 4-2 loss at Scarborough and an 8-1 home win over Biddeford/Thornton Academy. The team was home with Winslow Monday and visits Portland/Deering Saturday.

Boys’ hockey

On the boys’ side, Portland/Deering was 4-5 and third in the Class A South Heals following losses at defending regional champion Biddeford (4-1) and at home to Falmouth (4-3). Against the Yachtsmen, Portland/Deering fell behind early, 2-0, tied it on goals from Nicholas Becker and Walter Lewandowski, then gave up a short-handed goal and another before a late tally from Jake Luce left it just short.

“The big thing is getting healthy and working on a couple of things that we need to continue to work on,” Portland/Deering coach Jeff Beaney said. “It’s a good group of kids, but not everyone is on the same page right now.

“The goal is to shoot for a home playoff game and then get up to Lewiston. I do think it’s a coin flip at the end of the year. Whoever is playing well at the right time and is getting the goalkeeping will get it done.”

Portland/Deering plays at Cheverus Thursday and welcomes Lake Region Saturday.

Cheverus fell to 2-7 and eighth in Class A South after Friday’s 5-4 loss at Bangor. After going to Lake Region Monday, the Stags host Portland/Deering Thursday, go to South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport Saturday and visit Falmouth Tuesday of next week.

The SP/Freeport/Waynflete co-op squad was 4-5 and fourth in the region after a 5-3 loss at Cape Elizabeth last Thursday. The team hosts Marshwood Thursday and Cheverus Saturday.

Indoor track

In SMAA indoor track action last weekend, Deering’s boys were second to Scarborough in a six-team meet, while the Rams girls placed fifth. Both Portland teams came in fourth. 

Cheverus’ girls were runners-up to Thornton Academy, while the boys’ team placed fourth.

Swimming

In the pool, Cheverus’ defending Class A champion boys’ swim team defeated Massabesic Friday, 83-44, while the girls also downed the Mustangs, 98-71.

Deering’s boys beat Westbrook, 75-63, while the girls lost to the Blue Blazes, 89-79.

Waynflete’s boys’ team defeated Bonny Eagle, 81-22, while the girls beat the Scots, 77-47.

Results for the Portland-Thornton Academy meet weren’t available at press time.

Skiing

Portland’s girls’ Nordic ski team was second at Saturday’s Maranacook Waves competition and the Portland boys placed fourth. Waynflete’s girls’ finished eighth and the boys placed 10th.

On the Alpine side, Cheverus’ girls were sixth in a slalom meet at Shawnee Peak. 

Wrestling

Cheverus hosted a 12-team wrestling invitational Saturday and the Stags came in fifth (York/Traip Academy was first). Deering finished seventh.

Cheverus was 11-6 on the season at press time, while Deering had a record of 3-9.

Portland takes a 10-4 mark into a meet Wednesday at Cheverus.

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

Copy the Story Link