NAPLES—Lake Region put together a strong winter run, and with spring still a few weeks distant, it’s time to take a look back at the Lakers’ recent efforts.

Boys Basketball
John Mayo’s Gentlemen Lakers turned in a strong season: Though they went 7-11, finished 10th and missed the playoffs by less than three Heal Points, they competed in a very strong division, B South. The top eight teams in that batch – from Wells in first place to Freeport in eighth – all had roughly comparable records, with the Warriors at 12-6 and the Falcons at 10-8.

LRHS picked up wins over the course of their schedule against the likes of Sacopee Valley (12th), Traip (eighth in C South), Poland (13th in B South), Poland (again) and Traip (again). Their most fiery stretch came mid-season, when they downed Wells and Cape Elizabeth (No. 2) back-to-back, proving that they had both the grit and the skill inside them – they only needed to channel it more effectively.

Several seniors depart the team this winter: Tristen Chaine, Paul Walker, Ayden Grass, True Meyers, Tyler Breton, Robert Crockett and Ethan Chadwick.

Girls Basketball
Paul True’s Lady Lakers assembled yet another impressive run in 2017-2018. The team kicked off their winter with an auspicious triumph over reigning State Champs Gray-New Gloucester. They continued to roll with victories vs. Sacopee Valley (ninth) and Wells (sixth) before suffering their first defeat at the hands of York (fourth in A South).

By the end of the regular season, LRHS had heaped up 13 wins, and dropped just five losses; they thus entered the bracketing ranked fourth. Their first opponent, Oak Hill, they defeated handily, 52-28 in the quarters; their next opponent – longtime friendly rivals G-NG, they managed to slip past 34-31. In the Regional Final, they clashed with Freeport; the Falcons, in the midst of their best season in many years, couldn’t get the job done against the playoff-seasoned Lady Lakers, though. LRHS won the bout 42-34 and moved on to States.

Unfortunately, Lake Region’s last dustup in their long pursuit of another gold ball (they won one in 2014) ended in defeat. Winslow emerged triumphant from that game, 43-29.

Seniors Melissa Bonenfant, Rachel Shanks, Chandler True, Lauren Jakobs and Aisley Sturk leave their high school years behind in June. All five have been key contributors to the team, so graduation will hit the program hard. However, talent still remains on the roster: Shauna Hancock, for instance, will only be a sophomore next winter. Hancock was a regular scorer for LRHS this year.

Indoor Track
Mark Snow and Dana Caron ushered a small contingent to States this winter. On the boys’ side of things, a foursome competed in two relays: Dawson Smith, Devyn Hatch, Nathan Casali and Tim Moore battled in the 4×200, where they finished 20th, and in the 4×800, where they finished 11th.

Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, Sophia Leighton took 10th in the 800; Danica Chadwick 14th in the 55 Hurdles, 19th in the Long Jump and 12th in the Triple Jump; Leighton, Julia Murch, Grace Plummer and Emily Colson 20th in the 4×200; Hannah Chadwick 10th in the High Jump, 16th in the Long Jump and second in the Triple Jump; and Sam DeSouza third in the Shot Put.

DeSouza, then, qualified for New Englands, where she finished 26th.

Hannah Chadwick set a new school record in the Triple Jump at States, leaping 34-06.50. Chadwick, Danica Chadwick and Emily Colson assembled a new school record in the Combined Triple Jump at the USM Relays, where they collectively leapt 91-11.00. Hatch, Moore, Casali and Cam Meserve ran a Sprint Medley Relay time of 4:24.06 at the same meet, also setting a new school record.

Snow and Caron had 16 seniors this winter. Hannah Chadwick will be joining the USM track team next year, and DeSouza will be joining the Franklin Pierce squad.

Overall, the LRHS boys finished 14-16 and the girls 13-14.

“The core group of seniors has been awesome to work with for four years,” said Snow. “Some others have joined them over the years. In all, it will be very hard to replace their leadership and production. If next season is as successful, I’m sure it will be largely due to the focus and dedication that this year’s group has shown us over the years.”

Adam Birt can be reached at abirt@keepmecurrent.com. Follow him on Twitter @CurrentSportsME.

Laker Tristen Chaine tries for two in a mid-season bout with Poland.

The Lady Lakers celebrate immediately after their Regional Final win over Freeport.