The first snowstorm of the year has covered those leaves we didn’t get a chance to pick up and once-dry walkways are now icy and dangerous paths. Winter’s here!
But frigid temperatures and occasional Nor’easters are not the only thing we have to look forward to in the next three months. The winter sports season is upon us and that means high school basketball. Local players have been practicing since Nov. 19 and many teams have played in a number of scrimmages and pre-season tournaments.
The Pape Chevrolet Tip-Off Tourney took place at South Portland’s Beal Gymnasium last weekend where several boys teams fine-tuned their line-ups for the upcoming campaigns. The Red Riots and first-year coach Phil Conley hosted the event that also featured teams from Cheverus, Thornton Academy, Falmouth, North Yarmouth Academy, Waynflete and Mountain Valley.
All of the Friday and Saturday match-ups included spirited play from everyone who had a chance to get into the game. Players and coaches took the opportunity to work on their half-court sets and full-court defenses as they prepared for the high school season openers scheduled for this weekend.
The South Portland boys begin their Southwestern Maine Activities Association season with a home contest against Massabesic on Friday night at 7 p.m. The Riots then travel to Biddeford to tangle with the Tigers on Tuesday evening.
South Portland’s girls team is at Massabesic on Friday night at 7 p.m. and they host Biddeford on Tuesday evening in their first home game of the season.
The Scarborough boys head down to South Berwick on Friday night where they’ll face Marshwood at 7:30 p.m. On Tuesday, the Red Storm visit Sanford in another 7 p.m. tip-off.
Scarborough’s girls team also travels to Marshwood on Friday where they’ll face the Hawks in a 6 p.m. start. And the Red Storm then has their home opener against Sanford on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m.
The Cape Elizabeth boys begin their Western Maine Conference schedule on Friday evening with a trip to Fryeburg Academy. The Capers host Gray-New Gloucester on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The season opener for the Cape Elizabeth girls is Friday night at home against Fryeburg. The Capers then travel to Gray-New Gloucester on Tuesday evening.
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