Freeport’s Tara Migliaccio wins the junior division 200 at last week’s league meet.

Greely freshman Camille Clement looks to pass during the Rangers’ 51-38 win at Yarmouth Monday.

Greely’s Zach Brown goes up for two of his 31 points in Monday’s 56-46 win at Yarmouth.

(Ed. Note: For the complete Greely-Yarmouth and Yarmouth-Cape Elizabeth boys’ basketball, Freeport-Mt. Ararat and Greely-Yarmouth girls’ basketball and Falmouth-Bangor boys’ hockey game stories, with photos, see theforecaster.net)

The 2017-18 winter sports season has passed the midway point and while local squads have a lot to be proud of, there is also still a lot of work to do as each game, meet and event takes on added importance.

Here’s a glimpse:

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Boys’ basketball

Greely’s defending Class A state champion boys’ basketball team extended its two-year win streak to 33 games (one shy of the program record set in the late-1990s) and improved to 11-0 after recent victories over visiting York (76-41), host Freeport (64-50), host Oxford Hills (51-39) and host Yarmouth (56-46).

Zach Brown had 25 points, Jack Kane added 13 and Andrew Storey finished with 10 in the win over the Wildcats. Against the Falcons, Logan Bagshaw led the way with 19 points and Brown added 16. Bagshaw had 20 and Shane DeWolfe added 11 in the win over the Vikings. Against the Clippers, Brown scored 16 straight points for his team and wound up with 31 as Greely surged in the fourth quarter to prevail.

“I knew I had to take over,” said Brown. “I just started hitting my shots and (my teammates) just kept giving me the ball. I hit a 3 and I just went from there.” 

The Rangers (first in the Class A South Heal Points standings) are at Fryeburg Academy Friday and host Westbrook Tuesday of next week. Wins in both games would set a new program mark, something Greely is downplaying.

“Honestly, it’s not even a conversation,” said Seaver, who as a player helped produce the record from 1996 to 1998. “Our focus is just one game at a time. Obviously it means we’ve had some very good players. It’s a tribute to them. The goal is to win every game and if we do, great, that’s the goal.”

Falmouth was 7-5 and third in Class A South following wins over visiting Westbrook (46-38), at Massabesic (50-45) and at Thornton Academy (45-41). Alex Marcotte had 14 points, Nik Hester added 12 and Jack Bryant wound up with 10 against the Blue Blazes. Bryant led the way with 13 points and Marcotte added 12 in the win over the Mustangs. Against the Golden Trojans, with assistant Jamie Hilton filling in as coach, Sam Manganello had 17 points and Hester contributed 11. The Yachtsmen are back in action Tuesday of next week when they host Biddeford.

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In Class B South, Yarmouth was 7-4 at press time after sandwiching losses at Cape Elizabeth (48-44) and at home to Greely (56-46) around a 46-35 victory at Gray-New Gloucester. Against the Capers, Ashanti Haywood had a team-high 13 points.

“We’re still trying to gain confidence as a team, but we’re battling hard,” Clippers coach Adam Smith said. “These guys are improving. I’m excited about this group. When we play with confidence, we look good.”

In the victory, Jonny Torres led the way with 19 points. In the loss to the Rangers, Nolan Hagerty had 18 points, eight blocks and eight rebounds, but it wasn’t enough.

“(Greely) rose to the occasion,” said Smith. “That’s what good teams do. We played well for three-and-a-half quarters. We have plenty to build off. This was good for us.” 

Yarmouth hosted Lake Region in a makeup game Wednesday, goes to Freeport Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and hosts Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

Freeport has already clinched its best season in a decade. The Falcons sandwiched victories over visiting Poland (83-42) and host Mt. Ararat (67-60) around a 64-50 home loss to Greely last week to improve to 6-3 and 11th in Class B South. Against the Knights, Ethan Sclar had 13 points, Kaleb Barrett added 11 and Toby Holt finished with 10. Eriksen Shea led the way with 15 points in the loss, while Holt added 14. In the win over the Eagles, Shea had 19 points, Barrett added 14 and Holt had 13. Freeport was home versus Morse Tuesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), welcomes Yarmouth Friday and plays host to Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

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North Yarmouth Academy improved to 4-6 and ninth in Class C South after recent victories at Pine Tree Academy (50-32) and Sacopee Valley (56-43). Te’Andre King went off for 34 points and 14 rebounds against the Breakers. In the win over the Hawks, King had 29 points and 11 boards and Chris Hamblett added 14 points. The Panthers hosted Traip Academy Wednesday, welcome Old Orchard Beach Friday and play host to Gould Academy Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Greely has hit its stride and extended its win streak to six with recent victories at York (56-55), at home over Freeport (80-41), at defending Class AA North champion Oxford Hills (46-39) and at Yarmouth (53-39). Anna DeWolfe had 21 points, including the winning basket in the final seconds, against the Wildcats. Camille Clement added 11 points and Julia Martel and Brooke Obar each finished with 10. Against the Falcons, DeWolfe had 24 points, Obar 15, Clement 12 and Kelsey Currier 11. In the win over the Vikings, the Rangers had a dominant fourth quarter and prevailed behind 19 points from DeWolfe and 12 from Clement.

“Our momentum shifted when we started scoring points,” said DeWolfe. “They played outstanding defense, it was hard for us to score points.”

“We made a couple baskets and then we picked up full-court man (defense) and I think that helped generate our offense,” Greely coach Todd Flaherty said. “That’s happened a couple times before where we picked up our pressure and then that helps our offense out.”

In the win over the Clippers, Clement had 16 points in the third quarter and wound up with a game-high 23, while Obar added 19.

“I had to find a way to score,” said Clement, the youngest sister of former McAuley standout and 2014 Miss Maine Basketball winner, Allie Clement. “I was concerned, but we always find a way to pull it out.” 

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“It’s good for us to play in close games,” said Flaherty. “Last year, we didn’t get that many. This year, we’ve had a lot. It’s good for us to have to execute.” 

The Rangers (10-2 and first in Class A South) are home with Fryeburg Academy Friday and play at Westbrook Tuesday of next week.

Falmouth extended its win streak to four games after downing host Westbrook (44-43) and visiting Massabesic (50-49), then fell to 4-8 after losses at Cape Elizabeth (36-35) and at home to Thornton Academy (37-35). Grace Dimick had 11 points and Candice Powers added 10, including the winning basket, in the win over the Blue Blazes. Against the Mustangs, Grace Soucy had 16 points and Maddy Joyce added 11, including the winning shot with 30 seconds left. Dimick led the way in the loss to the Capers with 10 points. The Yachtsmen (seventh in Class A South) go to Biddeford Tuesday of next week.

Freeport extended its win streak to five games with a 55-42 victory at Poland last Tuesday, then fell at Greely (80-41) and downed visiting Mt. Ararat (53-39) to improve to 7-2 and fourth in Class B South. Caroline Smith had 27 points and Allie Goodman added 16 in the win over the Knights. In the first-ever countable meeting against the Eagles, the Falcons forced 28 first half turnovers and never looked back as Taylor Dostie and Jessie Driscoll each had 12 points and Smith added 10.

“Lately, I haven’t shot as much as I should,” Dostie said. “Tonight, I just started shooting and I felt it. It was nothing spectacular in warmups, but it went in and I kept shooting.” 

“We don’t share many opponents, so tonight, we just worked on what we do,” Freeport coach Mike Hart said. “We did a great job executing, especially our full-court pressure in the first half. We don’t typically play a zone, but I put one in because we’re short-handed. We rebounded well too.”

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The Falcons went to Morse Tuesday, host Yarmouth Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and travel to Waynflete Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth downed visiting Cape Elizabeth (49-36), then lost at defending Class B state champion Gray-New Gloucester (34-20) and at home to Greely 53-39) to fall to 5-6 and eighth in Class B South. In the victory, Clementine Blaschke and Sara D’Appolonia each had 15 points. Margaret McNeil had a team-high eight points against the Patriots. In the loss to the Rangers, Blaschke had 14 points and Yarmouth hung tough with its nemesis into the fourth quarter.

“We were right there,” said Clippers coach Chris Strong. “I’m proud of how everyone stepped up and handled pressure. We’re on the cusp. We need to have another win for sure and try to pull an upset somewhere.”

Yarmouth had a makeup game and playoff rematch at nemesis Lake Region Wednesday, visits Freeport Friday and travels to Cape Elizabeth Tuesday of next week.

NYA extended its win streak to four with victories last week over visiting Pine Tree Academy (42-29) and St. Dom’s (49-45), then fell to 6-4 Saturday after a 34-26 loss at Sacopee Valley. Sydney Plummer scored 14 points and Katie Larson and Maggie Larson each added 11 against the Breakers. Maggie Larson had a dozen points in the setback. The Panthers (sixth in Class C South) hosted Traip Academy Wednesday, welcomes Old Orchard Beach Friday and plays host to Hyde Tuesday of next week. 

Boys’ hockey

Falmouth’s boys’ hockey team dropped a 4-3 overtime decision at Biddeford last Wednesday, then improved to 6-4-1 (and third in Class A South) after a 4-2 home win over Bangor Monday. Theo Hembre scored all four goals.

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“We wanted to keep pressure on their defense,” Hembre said. “It just happened that I was the one who scored. My linemates got me the puck in open spots.”

“(Theo’s) been bubbling over,” said Falmouth coach Deron Barton. “We knew it was going to come eventually. We just didn’t know when. He’s struggled with finishing. He gets a lot of opportunities. Today, obviously he converted very well.”

The Yachtsmen go to Bangor Friday.

In Class B South, Greely extended its win streak to six games with a 9-2 home win over Gardiner Saturday and a 5-3 victory at York Monday. Jake MacDonald had a hat trick and Matt Dubbert scored twice against the Tigers. In the regional final rematch at York, the Rangers Kramlich had three goals and Andy Moore scored twice. Greely (6-1 and second to Cape Elizabeth in the Heals) visits Brunswick Saturday and hosts Yarmouth Tuesday of next week.

Yarmouth settled for a 3-3 tie at Portland/Deering last Thursday, eked out a 4-3 overtime home victory over Waterville Saturday, then improved to 4-2-1 Monday after a 1-0 home win over Gorham. Dom Morril scored twice and Kurt Heywood produced the tying tally against Portland/Deering. In the victory over Waterville, Matt Sanborn had two goals and Morrill won it in OT. Against the Rams, Cooper May had the goal and Dan Latham had a shutout in goal. The Clippers (fourth in Class B South) go to Gardiner Saturday and visit Greely Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Greely/Gray-New Gloucester extended its win streak to seven and improved to 12-1 after recent wins at Winslow/Gardiner (8-0) and York (5-1). In the first victory, Courtney Sullivan had a hat trick and Bridget Roberts and Leah Walker both scored twice. Against York, Roberts had a pair of goals. Greely/Gray-NG (second behind Lewiston in the North Region Heals) goes to two-time defending state champion St. Dom’s Monday, then hosts Brunswick Wednesday of next week.

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Yarmouth/Freeport fell to 1-10-1 and seventh in the North following a 5-2 loss at Brunswick last Tuesday. Yarmouth/Freeport hosted Mt. Ararat/Morse Wednesday, went to Winslow/Gardiner Thursday and visit Gorham Saturday.

In the South, Falmouth was 3-7-1 and sixth after an 8-0 loss at St. Dom’s, a 3-3 tie at Scarborough and a 7-2 home loss to Monday at home Scarborough. Reade Carmichael had all three goals in the tie. In the rematch against the Red Storm, Abi Lebel and Kayla Sarazin scored. The Yachtsmen go to Edward Little/Leavitt for a makeup game Thursday and welcome Portland/Deering Monday.

Indoor track

Falmouth’s boys and girls were third in a four-team make-up meet against Noble, Thornton Academy and Cheverus last week.

The boys got wins from Alvaro Fuentes in the junior 400 (54.37 seconds), Adrian Friedman in the junior long jump (16 feet, 11.25 inches), Kyle Bouchard in the senior 200 (24.57), John Auer in the senior 800 (2 minute, 8.90 seconds) and the open mile (4:33.96), Conner Piers in the open two-mile (10:29.16) and their junior 4×200 (1:40.93) and open 4×800 (10:07.06) relay teams.

Girls’ first-place finishers included Sophie Marcotte in the senior 200 (27.48) and senior long jump (16-5.25), Malaika Pasch in the senior 800 (2:26.17) and open two-mile (11:42.17), Chelsea Zhao in the open pole vault (8-6) and the junior 4×200 (1:59.41) relay team. 

Saturday’s SMAA meets were postponed to Monday. There, Falmouth’s girls beat South Portland, Gorham, Kennebunk and Sanford. The Yachtsmen got wins from Abbie Ryer in the junior 200 (29.35) and junior triple jump (28-9.5), Maddie Marks in the junior 55 hurdles (9.93), Caitlyn Camelio in the senior 55 (8.08), Marcotte in the senior 200 (27.38) and senior long jump (15-6.5), Sydney Williams in the senior 400 (1:10.31), Danielle Casavant in the senior high jump (4-10), and their junior 4×200 (1:58.49) relay team.

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In the boys’ meet, won by South Portland, Falmouth was third behind Gorham. The Yachtsmen got first-place performances from Fuentes in the junior 200 (24.46), Michael Smoluk in the junior 800 (2:24.52), Friedman in the junior long jump (16-6), Auer in the senior 800 (2:03.72), Seamus O’Brien in the senior long jump (17-5), Piers in the open two-mile (10:20.88), and their junior 4×200 (1:42.87), open 4×200 (1:41.75), open 4×400 (4:06.69) and open 4×800 (10:03.46) relay teams. 

In the Western Maine Conference, Greely’s girls downed five other teams. The Rangers got wins from Emma Raven in the junior shot put (27-00.25), Skylar Cooney in the junior 55 hurdles (9.64), Chloe Waldrep in the junior high jump (4-8), Julia Curran in the open two-mile (12:46.00), Maggie McCormick in the open pole vault (9-0) and their senior 4×200 (1:59.25) and open 4×800 (10:43.07) relay teams.

In the boys’ meet, Greely was second to York, while NYA placed sixth. The Rangers had first-place performances from Naveen Caron in the junior 55 (7.14) and junior 200 (25.32), Michael Geary in the senior 200 (24.39), Luke Stickney in the senior 400 (56.43), Adam Bruder in the open 800 (2:12.39), Luke Marsanski in the open mile (4:50.30), Matthew Todd in the open two-mile (10:18.55) and their open 4×800 relay team (8:49.61). The Panthers’ top finisher was Jack Bontatibus, who was runner-up in the junior shot put (34-11).

Freeport’s boys were second to Gray-New Gloucester and Yarmouth placed seventh in a seven-team meet. The Clippers got first-place performances from Luke Laverdiere in the open 800 (2:01.59), Michael McNeil in the junior shot put (39-8.5), Samuel Daley in the open pole vault (7-6) and Wyatt Bates in the senior high jump (5-3). 

In the girls’ meet, also won by Gray-New Gloucester, Freeport was fourth and Yarmouth seventh. The Falcons got wins from Tara Magliaccio in the junior 200 (28.10), Maya Bradbury in the open 800 (2:32.18) and their junior 4×200 relay (2:09.89). The Clippers got a first-place showing from Paige Reinfelder in the open pole vault (8-6). 

Friday, Greely and NYA compete against Cape Elizabeth, Lake Region, Poland, St. Dom’s, Traip Academy and Wells and Freeport and Yarmouth take on Fryeburg Academy, Gray-New Gloucester and York, while Saturday, Falmouth joins Bonny Eagle, Deering and Massabesic.

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Swimming

Falmouth’s girls’ swim team edged Kennebunk, 92-88, taking the victory in the final relay. The boys lost to the Rams, 102-53. The Yachtsmen host Thornton Academy Friday.

Yarmouth swept a meet over Sanford. The Clippers swim at Massabesic Friday.

Greely swept a meet over Massabesic, as the boys won, 44-38, to improve to 4-2 this season and the girls prevailed, 71-23, and are now 5-1 on the year. The Rangers visit Kennebunk Friday.

Skiing

The Falmouth/Waynflete boys’ Alpine ski team came in first in a six-team SMAA giant slalom meet last week. A.J. Noyes (a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 4.15 seconds) and Benjamin Adey (1:04.16) were the top two individuals. In the girls’ meet, Falmouth/Waynflete was second to Marshwood. Caroline Keller was second individually in 1:10.62.

Yarmouth’s girls’ won a four-team WMC slalom meet with Greely placing second. Angelique LaBelle led the Clippers with a fourth-place finish (1:11.50). The Rangers were paced by runner-up Elizabeth Hanson (1:10.46). 

Greely’s boys were third and were led by Harrison Holmes (seventh, 1:13.64).

On the Nordic side, Yarmouth was first in both genders in a classic race at Libby Hill. The Clippers girls had the top two finishers in Hannah Corey (22 minutes, 3 seconds) and Sophia Laukli (22:03). 

In the boys’ meet, Yarmouth was paced by Justin Pietropaoli (fourth, 21:11). Greely was fourth as a team and was led by Leif Harvey (10th, 21:45).

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


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