Deering sophomore guard Liam Densmore has provided the Rams with an early season spark from 3-point range. Densmore scored three baskets, all from beyond the arc, against Bonny Eagle last Saturday. The Scots beat Deering 45-44 on a late shot to hand the Rams their first loss.

“Liam has done a nice job,” said Coach Dan LeGage.

“He has worked really hard. We knew he could shoot. The biggest adjustments for a first- year player are the speed and physicality at the varsity level,” he said.

Densmore, who shoots left-handed, played on the freshman team last season.

LeGage said Densmore spends hours in the gym working on his shot.

“He found a gym to shoot around in during the big snowstorm last week,” said LeGage.

SOUTH PORTLAND (7-0) and Deering (6-1), ranked third and fourth in the Heal point standings, play Friday night at South Portland’s Beal Gym.

“It’s a big one,” said LeGage.

“South Portland has all the pieces. They have veteran players and Tanner Hyland is off to a great start.”

Deering and South Portland rank first and second in team defense in the Southern Maine Activities Association. The Rams have allowed 38 points a game while the Red Riots are giving up 42.2 points a game. Offensively, Deering ranks second at 64.4 points a game. Bonny Eagle leads at 65 points a game. South Portland is fifth at 60.8 points a game.

Hyland, the Riots’ point guard, is second in league scoring with 21.0 points a game. He’s tied with Ryan Camire of Sanford. Hyland ranks second in assists with 5.4 a game and is fourth in steals at 3.4 a game.

Deering doesn’t play Portland, the top-ranked team in Western Maine Class A, until Jan. 24. They will meet again in a regular-season finale on Feb. 8.

NOBLE HIGH of North Berwick has already won more games than it did all of last season. The Knights are 3-4 after Wednesday night’s loss to Sanford (4-3). Noble is ranked ninth in Heal point standings.

Noble, under new coach Kenny Kimber, went 1-17 a year ago. The team opened the season with a 68-64 win at Massabesic. The Knights lost to Windham 71-60 in their second game before downing Kennebunk, 60-55. Predictable losses to Deering and Cheverus followed before Noble won its biggest game of the season, 43-40 at Westbrook.

It doesn’t get any easier for Noble as it plays at Bonny Eagle Friday night before hosting Massabesic next Tuesday.

“I feel we could be better,” said Kimber.

“The key is being prepared to play and continuing to gain confidence. If we keep playing like we did at Westbrook, we can win a few games.”

Grayson Waterman is the team’s top scorer at 15 points a game. Kyle Silion has played well, both as a starter and coming off the bench. 

FORMER BANGOR HIGH coach Roger Reed is serving as an assistant coach for his son, Mark Reed, the head coach at Hermon High. Reed resigned seven months ago after 27 seasons as Rams head coach. His teams won eight Class A state titles and 10 Eastern Maine titles. Reed wanted to return for a 28th season with Bangor, but school officials requested that he choose between coaching the team or pursing a seat in the Maine Legislature. The administration was concerned about whether he could handle both responsibilities, given the time required to serve in state government.

After he stepped down, Reed won the primary election and then the general election. He is representing District 23 (Hermon, Carmel, Etna and Stetson) in the Maine House. Reed called coaching with his son “a good fit and a quiet, nice opportunity.” Mark Reed played for his father at Bangor and the pair teamed up to win the state title in 1993, Bangor’s first under Reed.

The pair coached against each other a few seasons ago when the younger Reed was the head coach at Brewer.

Hermon is 4-2 and ranked fifth in Eastern Class B.

AFTER LOSING its opening game to powerhouse Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth has won six straight games after Thursday’s 52-34 win over Class C front-runner Waynflete. The Capers’ biggest win was a 56-47 decision over Greely on Dec. 18. The Capers, ranked third in Western Class B, will find out how far they’ve come when they play Falmouth and York on successive Fridays, beginning in two weeks.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH