February isn’t far off and that means it’s getting to be crunch time for winter athletes.

Each week, the games get bigger and the drama continues to flow in Forecaster Country.

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

Boys’ basketball

Cape Elizabeth’s defending Class B boys’ basketball state champion continues to be right in the thick of things in the newly formed Class A South. At press time, the Capers were 10-3 and third behind Greely and Falmouth in the Heal Points standings after edging visiting Kennebunk, 52-51, and downing visiting Freeport, 56-30, in recent action. Against the Rams, Finn Bowe hit the winning shot, a 3-pointer with four seconds left. Bowe led the team with 17 points and Quinn Hewitt added 10. In the win over the Falcons, Bowe had 15 points and Marcus Donnelly added 10. Cape Elizabeth has a showdown at Yarmouth Friday, then welcomes Greely in a pivotal test Tuesday. Longtime Capers coach Jim Ray enters the weekend two victories shy of 300 for his career.

In Class AA South, South Portland fell to 8-4 and fourth in the Heals after Monday’s 63-52 loss at Falmouth in a playoff rematch. Matt Pelletier had 13 points and Jack Fiorini added 10. The Red Riots hosted Thornton Academy in a makeup game Wednesday, go to Massabesic Friday and visit Windham (the longtime coaching home of new South Portland coach Kevin Millington) Tuesday.

Scarborough takes a 3-9 record and the No. 6 ranking in Class AA South into Friday’s game at Noble. The Red Storm welcome Gorham Tuesday and host Noble in a makeup game Wednesday.

In Class D South, Greater Portland Christian School fell to 5-9 and 10th (nine teams make the playoffs) after a 65-32 home win over Highview Christian and losses at Valley (80-39) and Forest Hills (71-46). The Lions were at A.R. Gould Thursday and host Pine Tree Academy Monday.

Girls’ basketball

South Portland’s girls’ basketball team continues to dazzle. After being McAuley last week for the first time in eight seasons, the Red Riots went to Portland last Thursday and produced a half of dominance that had to be seen to be believed. South Portland closed the first quarter on an 18-0 run to lead, 22-2, then outscored the Bulldogs, 24-2, in the second period to enjoy a 46-4 halftime advantage. The Red Riots took their foot off the gas pedal from there and went on to a 60-29 victory behind 17 points from Maddie Hasson and 10 from Meghan Graff (both girls scored all their points in the first half). Reserve Casey Loring added seven points. Monday, South Portland made it 10 straight victories and improved to 11-2 and second behind undefeated Gorham in Class AA South with a 59-13 home win over Falmouth (Hasson had 23 points, Graff 14 and Lydia Henderson eight). The Red Riots were at defending regional champion Thornton Academy for a pivotal makeup game Wednesday and host Windham Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough dropped its third straight heartbreaker, 32-31, to visiting Westbrook last Thursday, then improved to 5-7 and fifth in Class AA South with a 54-43 home victory over Bonny Eagle Monday. Brooke Malone had eight points in the loss. The Red Storm host Massabesic Friday, go to McAuley Tuesday and host Noble in a makeup game Wednesday.

In Class A South, Cape Elizabeth lost, 48-46, at Kennebunk last Friday, then downed host Freeport, 38-28, Monday to improve to 4-9 and 10th in the Heals (only nine teams make the playoffs). The Capers welcome Yarmouth Friday and go to defending Class B champion Greely Tuesday.

In Class D South, GPCS was 5-8 and was clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot in the region after a 39-32 home loss to Highview Christian, a 39-30 setback at Valley and a 62-33 loss at Forest Hills. After going to Hebron Academy Thursday, the Lions host Pine Tree Academy Monday and welcome Hebron Tuesday.

Boys’ hockey

Scarborough’s boys’ hockey team, the defending Class A state champion, takes a 9-0 record and the top seed in Class A South into Saturday’s game at Cheverus. After going to Biddeford Monday, the Red Storm host Thornton Academy Wednesday.

The South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team lost at home to Portland/Deering, 3-0, last Thursday and lost at home to Massabesic, 3-2, Monday to fall to 3-7-1 and ninth in Class A South. South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport is at Camden Hills Saturday and goes to Marshwood Wednesday.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth takes a 4-4-2 record and the No. 5 ranking into Saturday’s home tilt with Greely. Kennebunk pays a visit Thursday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Scarborough remained undefeated at 13-0-1 and first in the South Region after Saturday’s home game against defending state champion Lewiston was postponed by bad weather to Monday, Jan. 25. The Red Storm first host Falmouth Friday in a pivotal showdown for playoff positioning. After going to Greely in a possible state final preview Wednesday of next week, Scarborough closes the regular season at Biddeford Jan. 30.

The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team was 4-10 and sixth in the South Region after a 4-2 home loss to Biddeford and an 11-0 loss at Falmouth. Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/SP hosts Cheverus Saturday, has a makeup game at Edward Little/Leavitt Monday, then closes with games at Portland/Deering and Gorham/Bonny Eagle.

Indoor track

Saturday’s’ SMAA action was postponed to Monday by bad weather. When teams returned to action, Scarborough and South Portland took part in a four-team meet with Bonny Eagle and Massabesic.

In the boys’ competition, the Red Storm finished first and the Red Riots were second. Scarborough got multiple wins from Anthony Clavette in the junior 55 hurdles (9.56 seconds) and junior high jump (5 feet, 2 inches) and Griffin Madden in the senior 55 hurdles (7.99) and senior high jump (5-6). South Portland was led by Noah Blake, who won the senior 55 (6.92) and the senior long jump (18-11.5).

In the girls’ meet, South Portland came in first and Scarborough was third. Emily Bolduc won two events for the Red Riots, the junior triple jump (27-0.5) and the junior 55 hurdles (9.74).

The final regular season meet is Saturday. Scarborough battles Deering, McAuley and Windham and South Portland competes against Biddeford, Gorham and Noble.

The SMAA championship meet is Feb. 6.

Cape Elizabeth joined six other teams in a WMC meet last weekend. The boys were second to Greely, while the girls placed sixth.

The boys got wins from Luc Houle in the junior shot put (35-11.5), Harry Queeney in the senior high jump (5-6) and the junior 800 relay team (Hans Kremer, Ethan Avantaggio, Jacob Budichewsky and Matthew Concannon, 1 minute, 44.65 seconds). The girls were led by their 4×800 relay team (Lily Bergh, Samantha Feenstra, Megan Nicholson and Liva Palma), who came in first in 11:04.21.

The Capers join Falmouth, Freeport, Gray-New Gloucester, Lake Region, Lisbon, Traip Academy and York in a league meet Friday.

Swimming

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ swim team downed Greely last weekend, 118-47, and the Capers girls also beat the Rangers, 120-63. Cape Elizabeth hosts Westbrook Friday.

South Portland’s boys lost to Cheverus, 88-73, and the girls were beaten by the Stags, 110-58. The Red Riots host Scarborough Friday.

Skiing

Scarborough’s girls were first and the boys second in a recent four-team SMAA slalom meet at Shawnee Peak. The Red Storm girls were led by Isabel Cayer, who was the individual runner-up with a two-run combined time of 2 minutes, 12.31 seconds and Olivia Stanton, who was third (2:14.28). The boys were paced by Justyn Sears, who came in third in 1:59.95.

Cape Elizabeth’s girls were second and the boys didn’t score in a four-team giant slalom meet in their last outing. Devon Lathrop won the boys’ meet in 1:06.87. Emma Dvorozniak was third in the girls’ meet (1:09.06) and Caroline Paclat placed fourth (1:09.15).

Wrestling

Scarborough’s wrestling team fell to 6-6 after a 42-36 loss to Kennebunk. The Red Storm take part in the Hammerhead Duals in York Saturday and go to Bonny Eagle Wednesday.

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

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Cape Elizabeth’s Ethan Avantaggio soars over an obstacle in the junior 55 hurdles at last weekend’s league meet. Avantaggio placed second in the event.