After a year without, winter sports postseason action is about to return in abundance.

The girls’ hockey playoffs get underway this week, basketball will start its preliminary round of the tournament this weekend and other sports will soon hold conference and state meets.

There’s much excitement to come, but before we get there, let’s take a look back at the week that was:

Girls’ hockey

The Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland girls’ hockey co-op team had itself a final week of the regular season to remember and wound up earning the top seed for the South Region playoffs. Cape/Waynflete/SP, which got to the state final two years ago, finished 11-2-2 after beating Cheverus (4-2), visiting Lewiston (5-4, in overtime) and host York (3-0). Freshman Marina Bassett scored twice in the first victory. Against the Blue Devils, in a rematch of the most recent state final, Cape/Waynflete/SP got early goals from freshmen Libby Hooper and Catie Lee, but trailed, 4-2, entering the third period, where freshman Hartson Masunic scored to provide life before Bassett scored to force overtime, where Bassett played the hero, finishing after a great individual move to end it.

“I saw the goalie was on the other side, so I skated around and put it in,” Bassett said. “It feels awesome.”

“We showed a lot of resilience,” said Cape/Waynflete/South Portland coach Bob Mills. “It’s a really fun team. The girls have a deep desire to win. Having just beaten Cheverus 48 hours ago, it was really good for the coaches to see that amount of drive.”

In the win over York, Lee, Hooper and Becca Good all scored once. Cape/Waynflete/South Portland will host No. 8 Portland/Deering (2-15) in the regional quarterfinals Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Cheverus wound up second in the South Region at 12-4-1 after sandwiching losses to Cape/Waynflete/South Portland (4-2) and visiting Lewiston (1-0, in overtime) around a 5-1 home victory over St. Dom’s. Olivia Bradford scored both goals in the first loss. In the victory, Bradford, Elle Cooney, Lucy Johnson, Brynne McKenney and Charlotte Miller all scored. Ella Lemieux made 25 saves in the overtime setback.

Cheverus will host a quarterfinal Wednesday at 6 p.m., at Gorham (5-10). Cheverus beat Gorham (9-1) during the regular season. The teams no have no playoff history.

Portland/Deering closed its season with a 5-3 home loss to Gorham last week. Jane Flynn had two goals, CeCe Blackwell-Moore scored the other and goalie Caitlyn Huynh turned away 31 shots.

Cape/Waynflete/South Portland beat Portland/Deering in the regular season meeting, 10-2, back on Dec. 4. Portland/Deering won the lone prior playoff meeting, 3-2, in the 2018 South Region semifinals.

“We just have to play like we have been and hope for the best,” Mills said about his team’s title hopes. “Cheverus and (third-ranked) Scarborough are very tough and (No. 5) York is playing very well. We just have to keep at it.”

The semifinal round will be Friday and Saturday on the home ice of the higher seed. The regional finals are Feb. 16 at Troubh Ice Arena in Portland and the state final will also be at Troubh Ice Arena this year on Feb. 19.

Boys’ hockey

On the boys’ side, the South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op team was 9-4 and third in the Class A Heal Points standings after a 4-3 overtime win over Lake Region, a 4-3 win at Windham and a 4-2 home loss to reigning state champion Lewiston. Ian Wright, Cullen Adams, Jake Udomsay and Richie Gilboy had the goals against the Lakers. Adams and Wright had the goals in the setback. South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport visits Portland/Deering Thursday and travel to undefeated Edward Little Saturday.

Portland/Deering was 1-9 and 13th in Class A after a 3-1 home loss to Thornton Academy and a 3-1 win at Mt. Ararat. After going to York Monday, Portland/Deering is home with South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport Thursday and travels to Windham Monday of next week.

In Class B South, the Cheverus/Yarmouth co-op team was 7-4 and fourth after a 4-3 home loss to two-time reigning champion Greely and a 3-0 home victory over Leavitt. In the win, Brian Connolly scored two goals, Andrew Cheever had the other and Neal McQuarrie had the shutout in goal. Cheverus/Yarmouth hosts Kennebunk Thursday and welcomes Cape Elizabeth Saturday.

The boys’ hockey regular season ends Feb. 23, with playoff action commencing Feb. 26.

Boys’ basketball

City boys’ basketball teams are looking to round into title form as the regular season winds down.

Deering is surging, having won five of its six, losing at home to Oxford Hills (59-55) to start last week before beating visiting Windham (73-51), host Westbrook (77-73) and visiting Hampden Academy (84-78, in double-overtime) to improve to 7-9 and fifth in the Class AA North Heals. In the setback, the Rams nearly erased a double-digit second half deficit, getting as close as one point before falling just short. Evan Legassey had 14 points and Max Chikuta added 12.

“We’re still figuring out our identity, but we don’t quit,” Deering coach Todd Wing said. “A week and a half ago, people outside the program probably thought we were dead in the water, but I think we’ve proved that to be the contrary.”

Against the Eagles, Legassey made seven 3-pointers, good for 21 points, Remijo Wani added 20 and Chikuta finished with 19. Deering got taken to the wire by the Blue Blazes in an entertaining contest and held on, as Chikuta had 21 points, Wani 18 points and Alex Willings 13.

“It was a fun game,” Wani said. “I like to get up and down the court and apply pressure on defense. It was good to play a close game. We’re used to it by now. It was really our defense and hitting free throws at the end. We woke up on defense.”

“We put ourselves in tough spots all year, so it almost seems like we’re most comfortable in that situation,” Wing said.

Against the Broncos, Willings had 24 points and 14 rebounds, Legassey finished with 22 points (including a tying 3-pointer late in regulation and the go-ahead 3 in the second OT), and Titayo Augusto added 15 points. The Rams went to Portland Tuesday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and close at Scarborough Thursday.

“We have to keep keying in on defense because defense wins championships,” Wani said. “We want to make some noise. I believe in our team.”

Portland was 10-6 and third in Class AA North following a 45-44 win at Windham and a 56-35 loss at reigning state champion Edward Little last week. In the victory, Wani Donato had 13 points and Jeissey Khamis scored the go-ahead basket. The Bulldogs hosted Deering Tuesday and close at Class AA South top-ranked power South Portland Thursday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story).

Cheverus fell to 7-8 and sixth in Class AA North after a 70-52 home loss to Oxford Hills, a 71-56 victory at Hampden Academy and a 72-60 home loss to Edward Little. Silvano Ismail scored 20 points against the Vikings. In the win, Seth Huntington had a team-high 20 points, Ismail added 16 and Giovanni St. Onge finished with 12. Ismail had 18 points, Huntington 16 and St. Onge a dozen in the loss to the Red Eddies. The Stags were home versus Scarborough Monday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and close at home against Windham Thursday.

In Class C South, Waynflete was 6-9 and eighth after a 77-23 home win over Seacoast Christian and a 52-47 setback at Lake Region. Henry Hart scored 20 points and Nico Kirby added 12 in the victory. Against the Lakers, Hart had 12 points, while Kirby and Matt Adey added 11 apiece. The Flyers were at St. Dom’s Tuesday and close at home versus Traip Academy Wednesday.

The boys’ basketball playoffs begin early next week with the Class AA quarterfinals and Class C South preliminary round being played on the courts of the higher seeds.

Girls’ basketball

On the girls’ side, Cheverus opened last week with a 49-48 overtime loss at reigning state champion Oxford Hills, then improved 13-2 and second to the Vikings in the Class AA North Heals with a 62-33 home win over Edward Little. Against the Vikings, the Stags let an 11-point fourth quarter lead slip away, but got 23 points from Maddie Fitzpatrick and 10 from Emily Bontatibus. In the victory, Fitzpatrick and Emma Lizotte scored 18 points apiece and Bontatibus added 11. After games at Hampden Academy and home versus Massabesic were canceled, Cheverus will close the regular season at Windham Thursday.

Deering was 3-13 and seventh in Class AA North following losses at Windham (43-33) and Hampden Academy (42-38, in overtime) last week. Ella McGowan had a team-high eight points versus the Eagles. In the loss to the Broncos, Nyabhana Lia scored 13 points, including a tying 3-pointer with one second left in regulation, while Maya Gayle added 12 points. The Rams hosted Portland Monday and finish at home versus Scarborough Thursday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story).

Portland was 2-14 and eighth after a 39-27 home win over Edward Little and a 48-20 home loss to Oxford Hills. Eliza Stein had a team-high 10 points in the victory. Naulissa Tuza led the Bulldogs with six points versus the Vikings. Portland was at Deering Monday and closes at South Portland Thursday.

In Class C South, Waynflete was 4-11 and 12th after a 44-26 home win over Seacoast Christian and a 45-24 home loss to Lake Region. In the victory, Jesse Connors scored 14 points and Cece Marshall added 11. Lucy Hart finished with 10 assists. After going to Sacopee Valley Monday and playing a makeup game at St. Dom’s Tuesday, the Flyers finish at Traip Academy Wednesday.

The girls’ basketball playoffs begin Saturday with the Class C South play-in round. The Class AA quarterfinals are early next week. Those games will be contested on the homecourts of the higher seeds.

Indoor track

Cheverus, Deering and Portland joined South Portland for a regular season-ending indoor track league meet last weekend at the University of Southern Maine.

The Bulldogs girls came in first, with the Rams placing third and the Stags fourth.

South Portland took the boys’ meet, with Portland coming in second, Cheverus third and Deering fourth.

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association championship meet will be held Saturday at USM.

The Class A and B state meets will both be held at USM this year on Feb. 21.

Swimming

The Cheverus-Windham and Deering/Portland-Waynflete swim meets were postponed by bad weather last Friday.

The state diving championships are Feb. 19 at South Portland. Cape Elizabeth will host the state swim meets, with the Class A boys and Class B boys competing Feb. 21 and the Class A girls and Class B girls competing the following day.

Skiing

City Nordic ski teams took part in a classic meet last week in Fryeburg.

Cheverus’ Annabelle Brooks was first individually in the girls’ race in 17 minutes, 16.3 seconds. Deering (led by individual runner-up Megan Cunningham, 17:27.8) and Waynflete tied for second behind Falmouth, while the Stags came in fourth and Portland placed sixth.

In the boys’ meet, won by Falmouth, Portland came in third, Deering was fifth, Waynflete eighth and Cheverus 13th. Deering’s Deven Abrams was the top local individual, placing eighth in 15:40.2.

Saturday, in the Oxford Hills Sprint Nordic final, Brooks had the top time of 3 minutes, 35 seconds, while Cunningham came in fourth in 3:41. Portland’s Daniel Niles was the boys’ champion in 3:12.

The state Alpine championships are Feb. 17 and 18 and the Nordic state championships are Feb. 23 and 24.

Wrestling

The Class A South regional championship meet is Saturday in North Berwick.

The Class A state meet is Feb. 19 in Topsham.

Cheering

Deering and Portland took part in the cheering regional championships Saturday in Lewiston. In Class A North, the Bulldogs posted a score of 32.60, good for seventh place (Bangor was first with 85.80). Deering (29.15) came in ninth.

The state meet is Saturday in Augusta.

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

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