Deering’s 4×400 relay team, featuring Travis Soule, left, Nick James, Jack Lynch and Luc Harrison, set a new league record Saturday with a time of 3 minutes, 32.57 seconds.

Portland senior Terion Moss goes up for a shot during Saturday’s game at Scarborough. Moss reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career, but the Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the year, 69-66.

Deering senior Nicsoni Bushiri tries to elude an Edward Little defender during last week’s 67-50 home loss.

The past week featured its share of memorable, down-to-the-wire games which altered the standings entering the stretch run. With the regular season beginning to wind down, here’s a glimpse at where local teams stand:

Boys’ basketball

Portland’s two-time defending Class AA state champion boys’ basketball team fell from the unbeaten ranks Saturday, dropping a thriller at Scarborough. First, the Bulldogs extended their win streak to 15 after downing host Lewiston (80-48) and Cheverus (59-37). Pedro Fonseca and Terion Moss both had 17 points in the win over the Blue Devils. Against the Stags, Trey Bellew had 16 points and Simon Chadbourne added 14. Saturday, Portland took an early 17-7 lead at the Red Storm, but Scarborough embarked on a staggering 31-5 run to put the Bulldogs down by 16. Portland roared back with a 23-4 surge to retake the lead, but down the stretch, Scarborough made enough plays to prevail, 69-66. Along the way, Moss eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau for his career, becoming just the third player in the program’s storied history to do so (joining Robert Pillsbury, 1,229, and Rocco Toppi, 1,006). Moss had a team high 19 points and Chadbourne added 16.

“We were in a position to win and we didn’t and they were in a position to win and they did, so hats off to them,” longtime Portland coach Joe Russo said. “This was good for us. It might not have been helpful if we snuck it out. Sometimes losses are good, especially a loss like this. It was nice to come back and get a challenge until the end. This will get our attention.”

The Bulldogs (11-1 and first in the Class AA North Heal Points standings) look to bounce back Friday when they host dangerous Thornton Academy. Bangor comes to town for a makeup game Saturday and Portland travels to Bonny Eagle Tuesday of next week.

Deering began the week sixth in AA North with a 5-7 record after falling at home to Edward Little (67-50) and two-time defending AA South champion South Portland (54-42). Against the Red Eddies, Ben Onek had 19 points and Darryl Germain added 16, but it wasn’t enough. Onek led the way with 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss to the Red Riots.

“We’ve got to keep on going,” said Deering coach Todd Wing, following the loss to Edward Little. “We knew it would be a tough stretch and we’re gaining experience. Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.”

The Rams hoped to snap a six-game skid Tuesday at Massabesic. After visiting Windham Friday, Deering returns home Tuesday of next week to meet Thornton Academy.

Cheverus fell to 4-8 and seventh after losing at Sanford (56-52) and at home to Portland (59-37) last week. Against the Spartans, Owen Burke led the Stags with 14 points, while Matt Duchaine had 12 and Tobias Ephron 11. Duchaine and Pat Foster had eight points apiece versus the Bulldogs. Cheverus was home with Oxford Hills Tuesday, welcomes Massabesic Saturday and plays host to Noble Tuesday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete improved to 9-3 and fifth after extending its win streak to six games by downing visiting Gray-New Gloucester (64-47), visiting Traip Academy (66-45) and host Poland (60-37). Diraige Dahia had 17 points and Dominick Campbell added 15 against the Patriots. In the win over the Rangers, Dahia had 17 points and Abdirahim Mohamed finished with 13. Against the Knights, Christian Brooks led the way with 17 points, while Dahia had 12, Alex Saade 11 and Campbell 10. The Flyers went to Freeport Tuesday, welcome Lake Region Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and play host to Sacopee Valley Tuesday of next week.

Girls’ basketball

Portland’s girls’ team knocked Maine Girls’ Academy from the undefeated ranks Friday night. The Bulldogs first downed visiting Lewiston, 49-26, last Monday behind Davina Kabantu and Gemima Motema both had 17 points. Against the Lions, Motema had 13 points, including the winning 3-pointer, as Portland eked it out late. The Bulldogs (8-3 and first in the Class AA North Heals) next have a showdown at Cheverus Friday (see theforecaster.net for game story). Saturday, Portland goes to Bangor, Monday, it has a makeup game at Noble and Tuesday of next week, the Bulldogs welcome Bonny Eagle.

MGA preceded its loss to Portland with a 64-35 win at Kennebunk behind 12 points from Serena Mower, 11 from Jill Joyce and 10 from Catherine Reid. In the setback, Katie Fitzpatrick had 14 points and Joyce added 10. The Lions (9-1 and second in Class AA South) hosted Thornton Academy Tuesday, welcome undefeated South Portland in a makeup game Wednesday (see theforecaster.net for game story), play at Sanford Friday and host Massabesic Tuesday of next week.

Cheverus stretched its win streak to four games and moved up to second in Class AA North with a 7-4 record following victories over visiting Sanford (55-43) and host Massabesic (49-37) last week. Against the Spartans, Lauren Jordan had 18 points and Emme Poulin added 16. Poulin scored 17 points and Abby Cavallaro finished with 14 in the win over the Mustangs. The Stags went to defending AA North champion Oxford Hills Tuesday, welcome Portland Friday and play at Noble Tuesday of next week.

Deering’s skid hit six games after losses last week at Edward Little (55-32) and South Portland (49-40). Delaney Haines had 20 points against the Red Eddies. In the loss to the Red Riots, Haines had 16 points, while Mandy Mastropasqua added 13. The Rams (4-7 and fifth in AA North) hosted Massabesic Tuesday, welcome Windham Friday and go to Thornton Academy Tuesday of next week.

Waynflete was 4-6 and 12th in Class C South at press time following losses to visiting Poland (53-32) and at Traip Academy (53-40). Lydia Giguere had 12 points against the Knights and finished with 14 against the Rangers. The Flyers hosted Freeport Tuesday, welcome St. Dom’s Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story), go to Gray-New Gloucester Saturday and visit Sacopee Valley Monday.

Boys’ hockey

Cheverus’ boys’ hockey team extended its win streak to three games last week by downing visiting Scarborough (3-0) and Westbrook/Windham (6-1). David Woodford had all three goals against the Red Storm and Cam Dube had a hat trick, while Colby Anton added two goals in the win over Westbrook/Windham. The Stags (6-2-1 and second to Biddeford in the Class A South Heals) visited two-time defending Class A champion Lewiston Wednesday and go to Cape Elizabeth Saturday (see theforecaster.net for game story).

Portland/Deering was 5-4-2 and third in A South after sandwiching wins at Massabesic (4-2) and at home over Scarborough (4-0) around a 2-1 home loss to Thornton Academy. Cam Clifford, Joe Herboldsheimer, Cam King and Walter Lewandowski all scored against Massabesic. In the win over the Red Storm, Herboldsheimer, King, Joe Pichette and Donnie Tocci all scored. Portland/Deering hosts defending Class A South champion Falmouth Thursday (see theforecaster.net for game story) and goes to South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport Saturday.

Speaking of the South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team, it was 6-5 and holding on to the sixth and final playoff spot in Class A South following 4-2 losses at Biddeford and at home to Marshwood and a 9-3 home win over Kennebunk. The squad goes to Marshwood Wednesday and is home against Portland/Deering Saturday.

Girls’ hockey

On the girls’ side, Cheverus/Kennebunk was 12-1 and first in the South Region at press time following a 7-0 shutout victory at Winslow/Gardiner. After hosting Biddeford Thursday, Cheverus/Kennebunk is at Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland Saturday and visits Falmouth Monday.

Portland/Deering was second in the region at 10-4 after a 3-2 home loss to Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland last Monday. Caroline Lerch and Kit Rosmus had the goals. After last Wednesday’s game at two-time defending state champion St. Dom’s was postponed, Portland/Deering went to Falmouth Monday and hosts Mt. Ararat Wednesday.

The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team was 8-5 and third in the South Region after a 3-2 win at Portland/Deering and a 5-1 victory at York. The squad hosted Scarborough Monday and went to Biddeford Tuesday and plays host to Cheverus/Kennebunk Saturday.

Indoor track

Deering’s boys’ indoor track team continued its strong season Saturday by beating Bonny Eagle, Falmouth and Massabesic and making history in the process. The Rams’ 4×400 relay team, consisting of Travis Soule, Nick James, Jack Lynch and Luc Harrison broke the league record previously held by Gorham in a time of 3 minutes, 32.57 seconds. Deering also got wins from Antonio Ciccomancini in the junior 55 (7.08 seconds), junior 200 (24.84) and junior long jump (18 feet, 3.25 inches), Abukar Abu in the junior 55 hurdles (9.03), Soule in the senior 55 (7.00), Jerry Mixangelo in senior 400 (53.37), Chris Kombo in the senior long jump (37-11), Kabala Muka in the senior shot put (42-5.25), Alec Troxell in the open two-mile (10:09.57) and Lynch in the open pole vault (9-0).

In the girls’ meet, won by Falmouth, Deering came in second and MGA placed fifth. The Rams were led by Annah Rossvall, who won the senior 400 in 1:00.89, breaking Caitlin Lally’s school record. She also was first in the senior triple jump (31-8). Deering also got wins from Mimi Banksmith in the junior 55 (7.96) and junior 200 (28.67), Maddy Connor in the junior high jump (4-6), Nicole Johnson in the senior shot put (27-6), Haley Foreman in the open 600 (1:42.75), Hadley Poirier in the open mile (5:47.53), Darcy Lally in the open pole vault (8-6) and its open 4×400 relay team (4:26.79).

Cheverus’ girls were third in a five-team meet, while the boys placed fourth. The girls got wins Victoria Bossong in the junior 55 (7.69) and open 600 (1:33.02), Emma Gallant in the junior 400 (1:00.21), Sophie Schuele in the junior long jump (14-8.75) and junior triple jump (31-9.25), Evelyn Hanley in the senior 55 hurdles (9.34) and their open 4×400 relay team (4:22.83). Boys’ first-place finishers included Sean Tompkins in the junior 55 (6.88) and junior 200 (23.82), Joe Macaluso in the junior long jump (18-3.5), Nathan Cook in the junior triple jump (35-11.5) and Giovanni Fornaro in the senior shot put (43.7.75).

Portland took part in a four-team meet. The girls were third and the boys placed fourth. The girls got wins from Karina Booth in the senior 55 hurdles (9.9), Jaidyn Appel in the senior high jump (5-1.5), Boys’ first-place finishers included Milo Bloom in the junior 55 (8.99) and the open 4×800 relay team (9:30.74).

Thursday, in the regular-season ending meet, Cheverus, Deering, Portland and South Portland all do battle.

Swimming

Deering’s swim team swept a recent meet against Sanford, as the boys prevailed, 110-57, and the girls were victorious, 105-65. Ben Archibald qualified for the state meet in the boys’ 100 butterfly. On the girls’ side, Gabby Bekoka qualified in the 50 freestyle and Lucy Tumavicus qualified in the 100 breaststroke.

MGA and Waynflete competed against Scarborough. The Red Storm girls beat the Lions, 527-269, and the Flyers lost to Scarborough, 541-140. The Red Storm’s boys defeated Waynflete, 405-191.

No results were available at press time for the Cheverus-Windham or Portland-Gorham meets.

Friday, Cheverus hosts MGA, Deering welcomes Massabesic, Portland swims at Scarborough and Waynflete goes to St. Dom’s.

Skiing

Local Nordic ski teams took part in the Maranacook Waves race Saturday.

In the girls’ meet, won by Gould Academy, Deering placed fifth, Waynflete was 11th and Portland 16th. Individually, Deering’s Sierra Aponte-Clarke was 10th with a time of 18 minutes, 44.2 seconds and Grace Tumavicus was 11th in 18:46.7. Elizabeth Thomas was the top Bulldog, placing 19th in 19:44.7. The Flyers were led by Clara Sandberg (37th, 21:42.1).

In the boys’ meet, won by Maranacook, Portland came in seventh, Deering placed 11th,Waynflete finished 16th and Cheverus placed 26th. The Bulldogs were led by fourth-place individual Liam Niles (15:45.2). Deering’s William Jordan (16:08.8) and Peter Jordan (16:10.7) were ninth and 10th, respectively. The Flyers were paced by Nicholas Werner (50th, 19:00.3). The Stags’ top finisher was Michael Luna (74th, 21:04.7).

On the Alpine side, Cheverus girls’ standout Annesley Black won another race last week, taking a giant slalom with a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 5.29 seconds to help the Stags place fourth in a five-team meet. Cheverus’ boys were also fourth and were led by Joe Allen (10th, 1:17.90).

Wrestling

The Portland/South Portland co-op wrestling team entered Wednesday’s meet at Sanford with a 7-4 record after wins last week over Cheverus (39-31) and Deering (48-27) and losses to Massabesic (40-38) and Wells (58-15). Saturday, Portland/South Portland takes on Biddeford, Marshwood and Scarborough.

Cheverus fell to 4-7 after losing to Portland/South Portland (39-31) and Massabesic (39-30). The Stags joined Kennebunk and Westbrook/Gorham at Windham Saturday.

Deering fell to 1-6 after losses last week to Portland/South Portland (48-27) and Wells (66-0). The Rams join Scarborough at Massabesic Wednesday.

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

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