The new winter sports season has already produced plenty of triumph and excitement for local teams. Here’s a glimpse at what’s happened in the early going:

Boys’ basketball

South Portland’s boys’ basketball team won its first three outings, 44-32 at Windham, 65-53 over visiting Biddeford and 57-51 at Westbrook. Junior Jack Tolan had 21 points, seniors Logan Gaddar (12 points) and Jordan Muller (11) and junior Ben Burkey (10) also contributed. Tuesday, the Red Riots fell from the unbeaten ranks with a 43-41 home loss to Thornton Academy. Junior Tanner Hyland scored 13 points. Burkey added 12. South Portland was at Kennebunk Thursday, then returns to league action Friday, Dec. 30 at Massabesic.

Scarborough won its opener, 51-46, at Gorham, then lost to visiting Westbrook (44-38) and Marshwood (60-51) before balancing its record at 2-2 Tuesday with a 58-47 win at Windham. Senior Kolbey Adams had 18 points in the loss to the Hawks. Senior Ben Wessel and junior Dillon Russo both added a dozen. In the victory over the Eagles, Wessel erupted for 29 points. The Red Storm are at Portland Friday and host Biddeford Dec. 31.

Cape Elizabeth lost its opener at Falmouth, 60-37, then rattled off three straight victories, 53-35 at Freeport, 63-38 over visiting Fryeburg and 63-56 over visiting Gray-New Gloucester. Against the Falcons, juniors Henry Babcock and Chris Robicheaw each had 12 points, while senior Rob West added 10. Babcock scored 16 and senior Sam Donnelly and junior Chris Peterson both finished with 14. Tuesday night, the Capers fell to 3-2 with a 59-47 loss at Greely. Babcock had 21 points, Robicheaw 13, but it wasn’t enough. Cape Elizabeth hosted Lake Region Thursday in its 2011 finale.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Scarborough has returned to its championship form from two years ago. After missing the playoffs last winter, the Red Storm have won their first four under new coach Tom Maines. After holding off visiting Gorham (58-51) and rolling at Westbrook (57-39), Scarborough cooled off red hot Marshwood in South Berwick (54-48) and rallied past highly touted visiting Windham (46-44). Against the Hawks, junior Mary Redmond led the way with 12 points. Redmond had 22 to help the Red Storm come back to beat the Eagles. Freshman Ashley Briggs added 10. Scarborough hosts Portland Friday and goes to Biddeford Tuesday.

South Portland has split its first four games. After opening with a 55-47 home loss to Windham, the Red Riots won at Biddeford (37-33, in OT) and at home over Westbrook (29-28, senior Logan Neal had a team-high 11 points). Tuesday, South Portland lost at Thornton Academy, 47-43, despite 12 points from sophomore Brianne Maloney and 11 from senior Libby Grant. The Red Riots hosted Kennebunk Thursday, go to Deering Wednesday and close 2011 at home with Massabesic Dec. 30.

Cape Elizabeth dropped its first two games, to Falmouth (61-40) and Freeport (61-40), but won at Fryeburg (29-26) and Gray-New Gloucester (39-36). Sophomores Emma O’Rourke and Melanie Vangel each had six points in the win over the Raiders. Against the Patriots, sophomore Kate Miklavic led the way with 16 points. Senior Kayla Raftice added 10. Tuesday, the Capers fell to 2-3 after a 49-23 home loss to Greely. O’Rourke had a team-high 11 points. Cape Elizabeth was at Lake Region Thursday in its 2011 finale.

Greater Portland Christian School started the year 2-1 with wins over host Pine Tree Academy (34-19) and visiting Islesboro (33-29) and a loss at Rangeley (62-24).  Suzanne Gonzalez had a team-high nine points against Pine Tree. She had 13 in the win over Islesboro. In the loss, Gonzalez had 11 points. The Lions are idle until Jan. 3 when they go to Traip.

Boys’ hockey

On the ice, the Scarborough boys’ hockey team is off to an impressive 3-0-1 start. The Red Storm has enjoyed victories over visiting South Portland (6-0), host Noble (10-0) and visiting Bonny Eagle (8-0) and played visiting Cape Elizabeth to a 2-2 tie. Jordan Bathe and Garrett McDonald both had hat tricks against the Knights. Jack Rousselle had three goals and Trevor Murray scored twice in the win over the Scots. Murray and Derek Barden had goals and goalie Alex Cherry came up with several big saves in the tie. Scarborough hosted Kennebunk Thursday.

South Portland dropped its first three games, 6-0 to Scarborough, 6-0 at Marshwood and 4-3 in overtime to visiting Bonny Eagle. Kyle Halvorson, Brendan Horton and Nick Whitten all scored against the Scots. Tuesday, the Red Riots got in the win column with a 5-1 victory over Portland. Whitten scored twice. South Portland goes to Gorham Friday.

Cape Elizabeth beat visiting Yarmouth, 6-2, in the opener, then tied host York (1-1) and Scarborough (2-2). Nick Breed had the goal against the Wildcats. Breed and Austin Shields had tallies against the Red Storm. The Capers hosted Leavitt Thursday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Scarborough has won three straight and is now 6-2-1 on the season. The Red Storm won at York last Thursday, 3-1, and held off visiting Leavitt/Edward Little, 4-2, Saturday. Kristina Block had two goals in the win over the Wildcats. Scarborough (first in the West Region Heal Points standings) is idle until next Friday when it hosts Falmouth. The Red Storm is at Cheverus Dec. 31.

Cape Elizabeth fell to 2-4 after recent 9-1 losses at Brunswick and Falmouth. Junior Madeline Ciraldo had the goals in both setbacks. The Capers (sixth in the West) hosted Greely Wednesday and goes to Portland Friday.

Indoor track

Scarborough and South Portland have impressed in the new indoor track season, being held at the University of Maine instead of the Portland Expo this winter.

The Red Storm swept its first two meets on both the boys’ and girls’ sides.

The Red Riots boys were seventh in their first meet and runner-up in the second. On the girls’ side, South Portland came in fourth its first time out and was runner-up in the most recent meet.

Scarborough and South Portland return to league action Jan. 5.

Cape Elizabeth’s season won’t begin until after the new year.

Swimming

Local swim teams have seen plenty of each other in the early going.

Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth opened against each other. The Capers won the boys’ meet, 106-79, and the girls’, 140-44.

“Cape could be the best team in the state this season,” said Red Storm coach Eric French. “We knew with our lower numbers, it was going to be tough to beat them. We had 45 personal best times and 12 state cut times.”

Cape Elizabeth then swept Deering (boys, 125-54; girls, 114-62).

Scarborough hosted South Portland last week. The Red Storm took the boys’ meet, 120-62. The Red Riots were tops on the girls’ side, 95-83.

“We had a great week of practice and I was very happy with the way the team came together,” said French. “We knew South Portland was going to be a good meet. We had another 30 personal best times. We’re hoping to ride this train into 2012 and make some heads turn.”

Skiing

The Alpine and Nordic ski seasons get underway in earnest after the new year. All involved are hoping for snow before then.

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team was 11th out of 13 teams at the Westbrook Invitational to start the season, then lost at York, 58-18, Saturday.

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

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Scarborough junior Mary Redmond provides defensive pressure during Tuesday’s come from behind win over visiting Windham. Redmond scored 22 points to help the Red Storm to a 46-44 victory.

South Portland’s Andrew Whipple goes all out attempting to score a goal, but is denied during last week’s 4-3 overtime loss to Bonny Eagle.