Greely’s girls’ basketball team was perfect in 2018-19 and celebrated a second consecutive Class A state title.

Catherine Reid helped the North Yarmouth Academy girls’ squad enjoy its best season this century and reach the Class C South Final.

Nicco Pitre helped the Falmouth boys get to the Class A South Final.

The 2018-19 basketball season will be remembered in Forecaster Country for more dominance in Cumberland and North Yarmouth and strong efforts from several other local programs.

Greely’s boys won the Class A state title for the third year in a row, while the girls went back-to-back, before their star was named the state’s finest female player.

Falmouth’s boys’ team made a nice run to the regional final before running into Greely.

In Class B South, Freeport and Yarmouth’s boys’ squads made it to the quarterfinals, but were ousted by Cape Elizabeth and Maranacook respectively.

Yarmouth’s girls also lost in the quarterfinals, but Freeport managed to advance to the regional final for the second year in a row.

In Class C South, the North Yarmouth Academy girls’ team enjoyed its best season this century and made it to the regional final.

Here’s one last look at the best memories from this basketball season:

Michael’s Top Five Stories

5) Falmouth boys reach regional final

Falmouth’s boys enjoyed another strong campaign this winter, going 13-5 in the regular season, earning the No. 3 seed in Class A South, then after rallying from a halftime deficit to beat No. 6 Brunswick in the quarterfinals, the Yachtsmen downed second-seeded York in the semifinals. Falmouth wasn’t able to solve now three-time champion Greely in a 64-48 regional final setback, but they’re set up to make a run at a title next year.

4) Freeport girls steal headlines again

Freeport’s girls’ team reached the regional final in 2018 for the first time in over four decades, but the Falcons weren’t expected to go back this winter, due to a coaching change, plus the departure of several key contributors. Freeport would be just fine, however, as new coach Seth Farrington put the right pieces in the right places and junior standout Caroline Smith and a strong supporting case produced a 14-4 record, good for the No. 3 seed in Class B South. The Falcons then defeated No. 6 Mountain Valley in the quarterfinals and survived seventh-ranked Cape Elizabeth’s upset bid in the semifinals. Freeport gave eventual state champion Gray-New Gloucester, the top seed, a scare in the regional final, as Smith scored 24 points, but the Falcons lost, 42-31. Freeport also will be on the short list of favorites when next winter begins.

3) NYA girls enjoy best season in 20 years

There was a lot of buzz around the NYA girls’ team heading into the season, as an already promising squad, featuring veterans Helen Hamblett, Katie Larson, Maggie Larson and Sydney Plummer, was bolstered by players from the erstwhile Maine Girls’ Academy, including Serena Mower and do-everything Catherine Reid. The Panthers then went out and lived up to billing, going 14-4 in the regular season, earning the No. 3 seed in Class C South, then beating No. 6 Monmouth Academy (52-35) in the quarterfinals and second-seeded Winthrop (55-34) in the semifinals. NYA played in its first regional final since 1999 and despite a promising start, lost to eventual champion Boothbay, 49-31.

2) Greely boys three-peat

Greely’s boys proved a little more mortal this winter, but not when it mattered most. The Rangers lost three regular season games, but closed on a eight-game win streak to earn the top seed in Class A South again. Greely then left no doubt that again, it was the finest team around, beating eighth-seeded Mt. Ararat (70-46) in the quarterfinals, No. 4 Kennebunk (69-62) in the semifinals and third-ranked Falmouth (64-48) in the regional final before handling upstart Lawrence, 62-45, in the state game to three-peat for the first time in program history.

1) DeWolfe caps sensational career with Gold Ball, top award

Senior standout Anna DeWolfe helped the Greely girls’ squad keep up with the boys at the top of the heap, as she capped one of the finest careers in state annals. DeWolfe and the Rangers met every challenge and went 18-0 in the regular season. As the top seed in Class A South, Greely rolled to a second straight state championship, downing No. 8 Fryeburg Academy (66-28) in the quarterfinals, beating No. 4 Kennebunk (67-52) in the semifinals, ousting second-ranked Brunswick (54-33) in the regional final, then defeating Hampden Academy (54-42) in the state game. In that one, DeWolfe suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter, but wouldn’t be sidelined, returned and led the way with 28 points. DeWolfe wasn’t done yet, as she won the coveted Miss Maine Basketball award Friday, her final achievement before taking her show to Fordham University in New York City.

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

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