Portland: February arrives, and this year, a postseason beckons

After COVID prevented a postseason last year, local winter athletes are looking forward to an opportunity to compete for a championship this time around.

First things first: There is still a regular season to complete and there figure to be no shortage of compelling contests in the days to come.

Here’s a look back at the week that was and what’s still on tap:

Boys’ basketball

Portland senior Spencer Cross defends a Windham ball-handler during the Bulldogs’ victory last week. Michael Hoffer / The Forecaster

Deering’s boys’ basketball team is beginning to hit its stride and recently gave coach Todd Wing a landmark victory (see story). Last week, the Rams beat visiting Edward Little, 64-59, then improved to 4-8 and fifth in the Class AA North Heal Points standings with a 61-56 win at Lewiston. Against the Red Eddies, Remijo Wani scored 26 points and Max Chikuta added 15. In the win over the Blue Devils, Wani led the way with 23 points. Deering hosted Oxford Hills Monday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story), welcomes Windham Wednesday, plays host to Hampden Academy Friday and goes to Portland Tuesday of next week.

Portland went 2-2 last week, starting with a 65-53 home victory over Windham, then, after losses at Lewiston (64-44) and Oxford Hills (40-35), the Bulldogs rallied to edge visiting Bangor, 49-44, Friday to improve to 9-5 and third in Class AA North. In the win over the Eagles, Wani Donato had 16 points and Pitia Donato and Jeissey Khamis added 14 apiece as Portland scored its largest number of points in three years.

“(Windham) made a lot of runs, but we played good help-side defense and kept them from scoring,” Khamis said.

“This week will be challenging because there are no games in our league that are easy,” said Bulldogs coach Joe Russo. “Everyone needs to contribute best they can.”

Wani Donato scored 14 points and Pitia Donato added 11 in the loss at Lewiston. Spencer Cross went off for 24 points as the Bulldogs rallied from down 12 and closed on a 9-0 run to beat Bangor. Portland had a makeup game at Windham Monday, was at reigning Class AA champion Edward Little Tuesday, then is idle until hosting Deering next Tuesday.

Cheverus was 6-6 and seventh in Class AA North after wins at Windham (63-38) and at home over Hampden Academy (54-47) and a home loss to Lewiston (59-50). Seth Huntington scored 26 points against the Eagles. In the win over the Broncos, Silvano Ismail had 20 points and Huntington added 17. Huntington finished with 20 points in the setback. The Stags were home with Oxford Hills Tuesday, go to Hampden Academy Wednesday, travel to Massabesic Friday, host Edward Little Saturday and welcome Scarborough Monday of next week.

In Class C South, Waynflete was 5-8 and eighth in the Heals following a 53-42 setback at Traip Academy, a 53-43 home win over St. Dom’s and a 45-38 home loss to Freeport. In the victory, Nico Kirby had 17 points and Henry Hart added 10. Against the Falcons, Hart scored 18 points and Kirby added 10. The Flyers hosted Seacoast Christian Tuesday, then go to St. Dom’s Friday and Lake Region Saturday.

Girls’ basketball

Cheverus’ Emma Lizotte takes a shot in traffic during a win last week over Hampden Academy. Brianna Soukup / Portland Press Herald

On the girls’ side, Cheverus continues to excel and the good news got even better at the end of last week. The Stags began the week with a come-from-behind 42-41 home win over Windham, as Lillian Singleton had 15 points and Maeve Kelly’s late 3-pointer capped a comeback. Next came a more decisive 46-29 home victory over Hampden Academy, as Emma Lizotte had a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), Singleton added 12 points and Julia Kratzer had nine.

“We watched some film to get an idea of how they played,” Lizotte said. “We knew they’re fast, so we knew we had to get back on defense.”

“Emma played really tough tonight,” Goodman said. “That’s probably the toughest game I’ve seen her play. She had two people on her and she battled. She’s really developed a way to understand when to score and when to pass. She’s worked hard and it’s paid off. I give her credit.”

Then, Friday, Cheverus improved to 12-1 by handling visiting Lewiston, 51-18, in the long-awaited return of sophomore standout Maddie Fitzpatrick, who missed 10 consecutive games (nine of them victories) with a thumb injury. Lizotte had another double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds); Fitzpatrick had 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists; and Emily Bontatibus added 10 points.

“I was really nervous, but excited,” Fitzpatrick said. “I wondered how I’d fit in. It was great to be with my teammates again. Everyone was really supportive and helped me get comfortable.”

“It’s wonderful to have Maddie back,” Bontatibus said. “We built depth without her, but having her back, we’re that much better.”

“Maddie’s worked so hard for six weeks on the side in practice, staying in shape,” Goodman added. “She really wanted to get back.”

The Stags (first in the Heals at press time) were at reigning champion Oxford Hills for a showdown Monday which will go a long way toward determining the top seed in Class AA North. After going to Hampden Academy Wednesday, Cheverus hosts Massabesic Friday and Edward Little Saturday.

“I’m not surprised we’ve done this well,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’ve watched the growth and development happen and I knew that we’re really good. It’s amazing how well we’ve connected.”

Deering was 3-11 and seventh in Class AA North following a 51-39 win at Edward Little and losses to visiting Lewiston (51-24) and host Oxford Hills (65-27). In the victory, Maya Gayle had 17 points and Nyabhana Lia added 10.

“I think my teammates really got me open,” Gayle said. “I think, and honestly not to give myself credit, but I realized the (lane) was open and I just had to take it there.”

“I thought our defense was the deciding factor and we took advantage of some breaks where we broke the press and did our thing,” Rams coach Mike Murphy said.

Gayle had nine points in the loss to the Blue Devils and scored 10 points against the Vikings. Deering went to Windham Tuesday, visits Hampden Academy Friday and hosts Portland Monday.

Portland fell to 1-13 and ninth in Class AA North after a 43-34 home loss to Lewiston and a 64-30 setback at Bangor. Eliza Stein had 11 points versus the Blue Devils. The Bulldogs hosted Edward Little Tuesday, welcome Oxford Hills Thursday and go to Deering Monday.

In Class C South, Waynflete was 3-11 and 12th following a 36-17 home loss to Traip Academy, a 31-27 home win over St. Dom’s and a 40-21 setback at Freeport. Jesse Connors scored 14 points in the victory. The Flyers hosted Seacoast Christian Tuesday, go to St. Dom’s Friday, host Lake Region Saturday and visit Sacopee Valley Monday.

Boys’ hockey

Cheverus/Yarmouth’s Kevin Connolly is denied by the Falmouth goalie during last week’s overtime win. Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald

The Cheverus/Yarmouth boys’ hockey co-op team improved to 6-3 with its fourth consecutive victory, 5-4, in overtime, over visiting Falmouth last Thursday. Cheverus/Yarmouth trailed three different times, but drew even on a goal from Wyatt Header, then won in OT, when Brian Connolly redirected a shot into the goal.

“I was just trying to get inside position and get a tip and the puck went in,” Connolly said. “I was just getting in front. I couldn’t really see it, but I turned and I saw it in the back of the net.”

“To our credit, we came back and that’s a testament to the kids in the locker room who just don’t want to lose,” said Cheverus/Yarmouth coach Dave St. Pierre. “We talked about staying positive and staying together as a family, working and grinding and good things would happen and we found our way.”

Cheverus/Yarmouth (fifth in the Class B South Heals) hosts reigning Class B champion Greely Wednesday, welcomes Brunswick Friday and hosts Leavitt Saturday.

“We’ve got a big grind coming up,” St. Pierre said. “Six games in the next 14 days with a lot of good opponents. We’re still nowhere near we need to be and have a lot of work to do.”

In Class A, the South Portland/Waynflete/Freeport co-op was 7-3 and third in the Heals following a 6-2 home win over York last Thursday. Cullen Adams and Richie Gilboy both scored twice. The squad was at Lake Region Monday, goes to Windham Wednesday and hosts reigning state champion Lewiston Saturday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story).

Portland/Deering’s Lucas Milliken battles for the puck during last week’s home loss to Scarborough. Brianna Soukup / Portland Press Herald

Portland/Deering fell to 0-8 and 13th in Class A after home losses to Scarborough (7-1) and York (4-3, in overtime). Against the Red Storm, Nick Walsh scored the goal and Ryan Becker made 38 saves, but it wasn’t enough.

“First period, we probably should have gotten out of that 1-0,” said Portland/Deering coach Jeff Beaney, who took last winter off but has returned to the program. ”Second period, you get down a little bit and without a lot of experience, when the ice is tilted against you, they don’t know how to even it up. We told them not to worry about the score but to play hard and we won the third period, so I’m happy how we finished.”

Portland/Deering hosts Thornton Academy Thursday, goes to Mt. Ararat Saturday and visits York Monday.

“The schedule hasn’t helped us,” Beaney said. “We’ve gotten the top teams right out of the chute without a lot of returners. The guys have good attitudes. A lot of them aren’t used to losing, but there are different levels of success. It doesn’t always show up on the scoreboard.”

Girls’ hockey

Cheverus’ girls’ hockey team was atop the South Region Heals at 11-2-1 at press time following last week’s 2-1 win at York. After battling the Cape Elizabeth/Waynflete/South Portland co-op team Monday, the Stags host St. Dom’s Thursday, then close the regular season at home versus reigning state champion Lewiston Saturday.

Cape/Waynflete/SP was 8-2-2 and third in the region after a 3-0 home win over Falmouth last week. After meeting Cheverus Monday, Cape/Waynflete/SP hosts Lewiston Wednesday (see theforecaster.net/sports for game story) and closes the regular season Saturday at York.

Portland/Deering was 2-14 and eighth in the region following a 6-1 home loss to York, a 4-3 win at Gorham and a 7-0 setback at Scarborough. In the victory, Jane Flynn had all four goals. Portland/Deering closes at home versus Gorham Thursday.

Indoor track

In SMAA week four indoor track action, Portland’s girls tied Windham for first in a meet which also included Marshwood and Westbrook, while the Bulldogs boys placed second behind the Eagles.

Deering’s boys and girls were both third in a meet which included Noble, Thornton Academy and Falmouth.

Cheverus’ boys and girls were each third in a meet which also included Gorham, Bonny Eagle, Massabesic and Sanford.

Swimming

In the pool, in the most recently reported results, the Cheverus girls eked out an 89-87 win over South Portland, while the boys lost to the Red Riots, 121-47.

Waynflete’s girls edged Sanford, 68-65, while the boys lost to the Spartans, 60-58.

Skiing

Deering’s girls won an eight-team Nordic freestyle meet last week at Libby Hill. Waynflete was runner-up, Cheverus came in third and Portland was fifth. The Rams produced individual champion Megan Cunningham (20 minutes, 4.7 seconds). Cheverus’ Annabelle Brooks was runner-up in 21:28.5. In the boys’ competition, Portland was second to Freeport, Waynflete finished fifth, Deering placed seventh and Cheverus was eighth. Portland’s Ben Horrisberger was the top local individual, coming in fifth in 18:49.6.

Cheverus’ girls were fourth and the boys fifth in a five-team SMAA Alpine giant slalom meet last week at Shawnee Peak. Maddie Marcisso was sixth (a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 14.15 seconds) in the girls’ competition, while Reis Stamaris was sixth in the boys’ meet. (1:09.06).

Friday, Cheverus took part in a six-team meet, where the girls placed third and the boys fifth. Marcisso finished fourth in 1:58.12. Stamaris was ninth in 1:57.15.

Sun Journal staff writer Tony Blasi contributed to this story.