The 2013-14 winter sports season is underway in the Mid-Coast and there has already been plenty of excitement.

Boys’ basketball

Morse’s boys’ basketball team has gotten off to a red-hot start, winning its first four games. The Shipbuilders, second to Spruce Mountain in the Western Class B Heal Points standings, defeated host Leavitt (62-47), visiting Winslow (65-63), host Erskine (41-26) and visiting Medomak Valley (44-36). After hosting Gardiner Tuesday, Morse goes to Waterville Friday of next week.

In Eastern A, Mt. Ararat opened with a pair of impressive wins: 57-54 at Messalonskee and 56-49 over visiting Oxford Hills, before losing at Brewer 57-53. Against the Eagles, Shyheim Ulrickson had 18 points and Mike Crawford added 17. Ulrickson also led the way against the Vikings with 20 points and Mason Griffin added 15.

“It was a big win for the team,” said Mt. Ararat coach Aaron Watson. “We weren’t ranked in the top eight (in the preseason), but we’ve beaten two teams that were. It’s a nice start for us.”

The Eagles (fourth in Eastern A at press time) hosted Cony Tuesday and Mt. Blue Thursday and play at Lewiston Saturday.

Brunswick is also impressing to the tune of 3-1. The Dragons won at Cony (78-64) and Edward Little (45-43) to start the season. After falling at home to defending Class A champion Hampden Academy, 64-55, Brunswick got back in the win column with a 76-60 home victory over Lewiston. The Dragons (second in Eastern A) were at Oxford Hills Thursday and go to Bangor Saturday. 

The Hyde boys won their first three games: 64-16 over visiting Rangeley, 55-28 over visiting Seacoast Christian and 70-32 at A.R. Gould. The Phoenix (fourth in the Heals) returns to action Jan. 4 at Seacoast Christian.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Brunswick is off to a hot 3-1 start. The Dragons held off visiting Cony, 56-53, in the opener.

“I’ve got 13 of the nicest kids ever on this team,” said Brunswick coach Sam Farrell. “They love playing together and they work their tails off. This group hasn’t won a lot of games over the last few years. We learned a lot about winning games tonight.”

Brunswick then dropped a 67-66 home heartbreaker to Edward Little before defeating host Hampden Academy (54-44) and Lewiston (62-61). The Dragons
(second in the Eastern A Heals at press time) hosted Oxford Hills Thursday and welcome Bangor Saturday.

Mt. Ararat started with losses to visiting Messalonskee (45-31), host Oxford Hills (59-42) and host Brewer (43-42). After going to Cony Tuesday and Mt. Blue Thursday, the Eagles (12th in Eastern A) are home against Lewiston Saturday.

In Western B, Morse lost its opener, 38-32, to visiting Leavitt. After a 47-27 loss at Winslow, the Shipbuilders beat visiting Erskine, 46-42. Morse (11th in the Heals) was at Gardiner Tuesday, then returns to action next Friday at Waterville.

In Western D, Hyde lost at home to Rangeley (53-30), downed visiting Seacoast Christian (35-23) and fell to visiting Kents Hill (35-22) to start the year. The Phoenix (ninth in the Heals) is back in action Jan. 4 at Seacoast Christian.

Hockey

On the ice, the Mt. Ararat/Lisbon boys’ co-op team started 2-1 with a 3-0 loss to Lawrence/Skowhegan and wins over Lake Region/Fryeburg/Oxford Hills (5-1) and Windham (2-1). The Eagles fourth in the Eastern A Heals hosted Cony/Monmouth Tuesday and Bonny Eagle Wednesday and go to Edward Little Friday.

Brunswick was 2-2 and sixth at press time after beating hosted Edward Little (2-1) and visiting Cheverus (2-1) and losing at Yarmouth (5-4, in overtime) and at Thornton Academy (4-1). The Dragons go to Cape Elizabeth Saturday.

On the girls’ side, Mt. Ararat took a 2-5 record into Tuesday’s home game versus two-time defending state champion Greely. The Eagles (fifth in the East Region Heals) host Leavitt/EL Friday.

Brunswick (1-6 and sixth in the standings) hosted Falmouth Wednesday, welcomes Greely Friday and plays at Biddeford Saturday.

Swimming

Brunswick and Morse’s swim teams kicked off the season with a dual meet. The Dragons girls prevailed, 96-72, while the Shipbuilders boys won, 95-75.

Wrestling

Mt. Ararat’s wrestling team won its opener, 45-18, over Oxford Hills.

Morse started 0-4 with losses to Windham (48-24), Wells (43-18), Gardiner (54-24) and Belfast (52-18).

Roger S. Duncan contributed to this story.

Sidebar Elements

---

Brunswick sophomore guard Gillian Doehring evades a Cony defender during the Dragons’ 56-53 season-opening victory.

Brunswick junior guard Julia Champagne steals the ball during the Dragons’ season opening win over Cony.

Copy the Story Link