Cape Elizabeth’s Max Patterson wins the junior high jump at last week’s league meet. The Capers were third as a team.

South Portland’s Liam Coyne takes a shot during last week’s 62-53 loss at defending champion Portland in a rematch of last year’s state final.

South Portland’s Maria Degifico, left, Olivia Cloutier, Ashlee Aceto and Kaleisha Towle cheer near the end of the Red Riots’ 47-38 win at Portland last week. South Portland was undefeated at press time.

(Ed. Note: For the complete South Portland-Portland boys’ basketball and South Portland-Portland girls’ basketball 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:

Boys’ basketball

South Portland’s boys’ basketball team had its six game win streak snapped last Thursday when it fell at two-time defending Class AA champion Portland, 62-53, in a rematch of the past two state finals. The Red Riots led for a short time in the fourth quarter and got 24 points from Noah Malone and 18 from Liam Coyne, but fell short.

“Last year’s state game left a bad taste in our mouths,” said South Portland coach Kevin Millington. “We were there with them. We didn’t think that in the first half, but we learned that in the second half. They’re the champs and it will be tough to beat them, but we have as good a chance as anybody.”

The Red Riots’ game at Bonny Eagle Saturday was postponed. South Portland (7-2 and second in the Class AA South Heal Points standings at press time) goes to Deering Friday, visits Thornton Academy Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and welcomes Noble Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough extended its win streak to six games last Thursday with a 56-50 home win over Gorham, then fell to 8-3 and first in Class AA South Monday after a 68-39 setback at Biddeford. Nick Fiorillo had 20 points in the victory. After hosting Massabesic Friday, the Red Storm welcome Portland in a makeup game Saturday afternoon (see theforecaster.net for game story) and play at Sanford Tuesday of next week.

Cape Elizabeth was 7-2 and first in Class B South following a 58-43 loss at Lake Region last Thursday. Andrew Hartel had 16 points in defeat. The Capers are at York Friday, visit Kennebunk Saturday and go to Yarmouth Tuesday.

Greater Portland Christian School fell to 0-7 and 11th in Class D South following Friday’s 80-36 loss at A.R. Gould. The Lions were home against Seacoast Christian Wednesday.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, South Portland improved to 9-0 and first in the Class AA South Heals last Thursday with a 47-38 win at Portland. South Portland raced to a big first half lead, but had to hold on for dear life after the Bulldogs rallied within a point in the fourth quarter. Meghan Graff and Maggie Whitmore both had 13 points and Eva Mazur added 11.

“(Portland’s) so good,” Maggie Whitmore said. “It came down to leadership in the end. It came down to who wanted the ball. It’s a huge win for building our team to the future.”

“We had that run at the beginning and then they came back,” Mazur said. “They were a huge challenge. It was good for us to have adversity and overcome it. They’re so quick and athletic. I’m really proud of us. We got more stressed than other games, but we still managed to work it out.”

“I think this says when we have to gut it out, we can be mentally tough,” added South Portland coach Lynne Hasson. “Portland’s good and very athletic and their fullcourt pressure bothered us. We couldn’t handle it and we started to panic. We didn’t do what we needed to do. We played too fast at times. We weren’t very good at the foul line. We need to get better. That’s what this game was about. These girls aren’t used to playing 32 minutes. That was an adjustment.”

Wednesday’s showdown of undefeateds at Maine Girls’ Academy was postponed due to snow with no makeup date announced. The Red Riots host Deering Friday, welcome Thornton Academy Saturday and go to Noble Tuesday of next week.

Scarborough was 7-3 and fourth in AA South following Monday’s 41-28 home victory over Biddeford. Sophie Glidden led the way with 18 points. The Red Storm go to Massabesic Friday, host Windham Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and welcome Sanford Tuesday of next week.

In Class B South, Cape Elizabeth was clinging to the ninth and final playoff spot at 4-6 after a 52-45 home loss to Lake Region and a 36-35 home win over Falmouth. In the loss, Erin O’Rourke had 17 points and Isabel Berman added 13. Berman had 15 points, including the winning 3-pointer, against the Yachtsmen. After hosting York Friday, the Capers welcome Yarmouth Tuesday.

Hockey

On the ice, Cape Elizabeth remained undefeated and atop the Class B South Heals at press time. The Capers won their eighth straight, 7-1, at Gardiner last Wednesday, as Phil Tarling had a hat trick. After settling for a 3-3 tie at Cony Saturday (Tarling, Alex Glidden and Ryan Collins scored), Cape Elizabeth improved to 9-0-1 with a 10-1 win at Kennebunk Monday, as Collins had four goals. The Capers hosted Edward Little Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story).

The South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team was 5-4 and sixth in Class A South at press time following a 6-2 win at Mt. Ararat/Morse/Lisbon last week, the squad’s fourth in a row, and a 4-2 loss at Biddeford Monday. South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport hosted Marshwood Thursday and welcomes Kennebunk Saturday. Wednesday brings a trip to Marshwood.

Scarborough has dropped six straight and fell to 2-8 and eighth in Class A South after falling at home to Massabesic (1-0) and at Cheverus (3-0). The Red Storm visit Portland/Deering Saturday.

On the girls’ side, the Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team was 7-5 and third in the South after a 7-0 win at Mt. Ararat/Morse, a 6-2 home victory over York and a 3-2 win at Portland/Deering. Against the Wildcats, Nicoletta Coupe had a hat trick and Sophie Venditti added a pair of goals. Coupe had two goals, including the winner versus Portland/Deering. Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/SP goes to York Saturday, hosts Scarborough Monday and plays at Biddeford Tuesday.

Scarborough was 4-7-1 and fifth in the South following a 3-3 home tie versus Falmouth and a 7-2 win at Falmouth. Marielle Smith had two goals in the tie. In the victory, Lucy Bogdanovich and Paige Spooner both scored twice. The Red Storm go to Brunswick Saturday, visit Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland Monday and travel to Lewiston Wednesday of next week.

Indoor track

Scarborough’s powerhouse boys’ indoor track team defeated Biddeford, Massabesic and Cheverus in a makeup meet Monday.

The Red Storm got first-place performances from Salvator DeBenedetto in the junior 55 (7.28 seconds) and junior long jump (17 feet, 7.75 inches), Tommy Stratis in the junior 200 (24.6), Tristam Coffin in the junior 800 (2 minutes, 12.33 seconds) and open mile (4:44.66), Alexander Callahan in the junior high jump (5-4), Ian Gott in the junior triple jump (36-6.5), Ben Hatch in the senior 55 (6.8), Nolan Lamontagne in the senior 200 (24.62), Jarret Flaker in the senior 400 (50.69) and senior 55 hurdles (8.06), Noah Drapeau in the senior 800 (2:04.63), Ben Hatch in the senior long jump (20-2), Anthony Clavette in the senior triple jump (39-8), Nathan Mars in the senior shot put (42-7.5), Harrison Osborne in the open two-mile (10:22.79) and their senior 4×200 (1:39.76) and open 4×400 (3:57.61) relay teams.

Scarborough’s girls were fourth and got wins from Emily Labbe in the junior 200 (27.26), Ryanne Cox in the junior 800 (2:36.59), Madison Marinko in the junior long jump (16-00.25), Molly Murnane in the senior 55 (7.43) and senior 400 (1:00.39), Bethany Sholl in the senior 800 (2:30.92) and Anna Gardner in the open pole vault (9-6). 

South Portland’s boys defeated Gorham, Falmouth, Kennebunk and Sanford. The Red Riots got wins from Andrew Lewis in the junior 400 (1:04.06), Ayden Bradford in the junior triple jump (31-11.5), Nathaniel Ellington in the junior shot put (42-1), Joseph Emery in the senior high jump (5-2) and senior triple jump (35-0) and Maxwell Holmes in the senior shot put (33-6.75). 

South Portland’s girls came in second behind Falmouth and got first-place performances from Rebekah Hunnewell-Dunphe in the junior shot put (30-0), Juliana Selser in the senior 800 (2:22.40), Emily Bolduc in the senior 55 hurdles (9.66), Anna Folley in the open 600 (1:38.32) and their open 4×400 (4:37.35) and open 4×800 (14:09.34) relays.

Cape Elizabeth took part in a seven-team WMC meet last week. The boys were third and the girls placed fourth.

The Capers boys got wins from Max Patterson in the junior high jump (5-4), Joe Clancy in the junior shot put (35-5), Matthew Concannon in the senior 55 (7.00) and Luc Houle in the senior shot put (41-4.25).

Girls’ first-place finishers included Darcy Cochran in the junior 55 (7.69), Jaya McClure in the junior 400 (1:04.67), Kristen Penley in the senior 55 (8.14) and open long jump (16-00.25) and their junior 4×200 (1:57.18) relay teams.

Friday, Cape Elizabeth joins Greely, Lake Region, North Yarmouth Academy, Poland, St. Dom’s/Lisbon, Traip Academy and Wells and Saturday, South Portland takes part in a meet with Biddeford, Noble and Windham, while Scarborough competes with Kennebunk, Portland and Thornton Academy.

Swimming

Cape Elizabeth and South Portland squared off in the pool last Friday. The Capers girls prevailed, 117-62, and the Cape Elizabeth boys won as well, 109-59.

In the girls’ meet, the Capers got wins from Maria Smith in the 200 freestyle (2 minutes, 21.80 seconds), Olivia Tighe in the 100 butterfly (59.60 seconds), Hope Campbell in the 100 free (1:00.81), Caroline Mahoney in the 500 free (5:23.52) and 100 backstroke (58.60) and their 200 medley (1:57.57), 200 free (1:45.82) and 400 free (4:19.93). The Red Riots got first-place showings from Margaret Jones in the 200 individual medley (2:28.69), Molly Mawhinney in the 50 free (27.58) and 100 breaststroke (1:13.48) and Glen Ratliff in diving (147.65 points).

On the boys’ side, Cape Elizabeth event winners included Sam Loring in the IM (2:15.74) and 100 free (53.73), Hajmil Carr in diving (131.80), Oliver Kraft in the fly (57.52) and backstroke (57.53), Matt Yim in the breaststroke (1:13.41) and its medley (1:50.19), 200 free (1:41.30) and 400 free (3:42.77) relays. South Portland first-place finishers included Sam Goodine-Doane in the 200 free (1:57.11), Brayden Gilbert in the 50 free (24.83) and Logan Kavanagh in the 500 free (5:36.52).

Scarborough met Gorham and swept the Rams, with the girls prevailing, 110-66, and the boys winning, 98-55.

Boys’ winners included Sam Greenberg in the 200 free (2:04.60), Gavin McLeod in the IM (2:14.31) and backstroke (1:03.14), Gunnar Phetteplace in the fly (1:10.90), Kemal Durdag in the 100 free (56.94) and breaststroke (1:16.40) and the 200 free (1:44.38) and 400 free (4:02.28) relay teams.

Girls’ first-place finishers included Jane Greenberg in the 200 free (2:16.31) and breaststroke (1:20.03), Hannah Griffin in the IM (2:17.51) and 100 free (56.08), Emma MacDonald in the 50 free (28.01), Morgan Porter in the 500 free (5:36.78), Charlotte Pratt in the backstroke (1:05.94),  and the medley (2:09.58) and 400 free (3:59.12) relays. 

Friday, Scarborough hosts Cape Elizabeth, Maine Girls’ Academy and Waynflete and South Portland welcomes Westbrook.

Skiing

Cape Elizabeth’s boys’ Alpine ski team won a league meet Monday at Shawnee Peak. Killian Lathrop was the top individual finisher in the giant slalom with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 1.20 seconds and he won the slalom as well (1:36.36).

Wrestling

Scarborough and the Portland/South Portland co-op wrestling team was scheduled to take part at the Kennebunk Duals Saturday, but that was meet was postponed by bad weather.

After downing Cheverus (39-31) and losing to Massabesic (40-38), Portland/South Portland co-op team took a 6-3 record into Wednesday’s home match versus Deering and Wells.

Scarborough fell to 2-1 after a 57-12 loss at Noble last week. The Red Storm wrestle at York Saturday.

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

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