Newsletter #30...Halfway home and the best is still to come
The basketball season is more than half over and chaos continues to reign on both the boys' and girls' sides.
It's going to be a fabulous tournament, but that's still four weeks away.
Class A South boys has been arguably the most intriguing region all season, as you can make a case for multiple teams being title-caliber.
Just hours ahead of this newsletter, the latest Heal Points standings have Sanford in the top spot, but two-time defending big class champion Windham is right behind, having won 10 consecutive games.
The Eagles, behind clutch veterans like seniors Tyrie James and A.J. Moody and junior Colin Janvrin, know how to win tight games and that bodes well for the postseason.
South Portland is next. The Red Riots have losses at Portland and Windham, but have beaten everyone else. After a hard-fought road win over Thornton Academy, South Portland went to Sanford Tuesday and handed the Spartans their first setback.
The Red Riots were three points shy of a state title a year ago and have the necessary pieces to finish the job this time around.
While Portland is in the No. 5 spot, the Bulldogs recently beat Thornton Academy, and their losses are to South Portland (by three points), Windham (after letting a 16-point lead slip away) and at Scarborough (when the Red Storm made 16 3-point shots to their two).
Joe Russo-coached teams are notorious for improving as the season progresses and by mid-February, who knows how formidable Portland could be.
Thornton Academy (4th), Scarborough (6th) and Westbrook (8th) are all very much in the thick of things as well.
The Golden Trojans are tough and can squeeze the life out of the opposition.
The Blue Blazes are athletic, have a winning pedigree with several football players on the roster and are getting better every time they take the floor.
The Red Storm, when their long-range game is on, can beat anyone.
Any of those squads could make a deep run next month.
Cheverus, Falmouth, Gorham and Deering are battling for the 10th and 11th spots and while having to go on the road for the preliminary round would add to the degree of difficulty, any of those teams could beat a top contender on a given night.
In Class B South, Yarmouth, especially after Thursday's win at York, has to be taken seriously. Cape Elizabeth and Greely appear playoff-bound as well, but still have work to do.
In Class C South, Waynflete is currently seeded fifth and if the Flyers stay there, they'll avoid a prelim and would go straight to Augusta for the quarterfinals.
Freeport (Class B South) and North Yarmouth Academy (Class D South) are currently on the outside looking in, but could make a late charge to qualify.
On the girls' side, Cheverus leads the way as the only undefeated team (boys or girls) from the coverage area.
The Stags gained confidence early with a come-from-behind win over reigning big class champion South Portland and haven't looked back. Cheverus was bolstered recently by the return of junior Addison Jordan, who was sidelined most of the season with a knee injury. The Stags could remain undefeated heading into the final week, when they go to Biddeford and South Portland.
Don't overlook South Portland. The Red Riots have won nine straight since their loss to Cheverus, with home victories over Sanford and Gorham the most recent, moving them into second behind the Stags in Class A South.
South Portland knows what it takes to win in February and with four starters back from last year's championship team will still have a lot to say about who cuts down the nets.
While Biddeford and Sanford are next in the standings, keep an eye on the triumvirate of Windham (fifth), Westbrook (sixth), Gorham (seventh) and Thornton Academy (eighth). They'll all be capable of springing an upset next month.
Scarborough (ninth) and Deering (10th) would make the tournament if it began today. Portland (12th) is one spot away at press time.
In Class B South, while Gray-New Gloucester and Oceanside appear to be the teams to beat, Greely (fourth) has enjoyed a terrific season.
The Rangers have great athletes and have shown the ability to produce in the clutch, a quality that could spell postseason success.
Freeport (sixth) has overcome an 0-3 start to the season.
The Falcons figure to only get better and be a tough out in February.
Yarmouth (eighth), which just had its five-game win streak snapped, appears bound for the postseason, while Cape Elizabeth (12th, only 10 teams qualify), hopes to move up and make the cut as well. The Capers didn't win a single game either of the past two seasons, but have prevailed five times and counting this year.
In Class C South, Waynflete (eighth) is clinging one of the last playoff spots.
In Class D South, NYA is holding on to the eighth and final spot.
There's still a lot to be determined, but for local teams, it's already been a great season.
And the best is yet to come.
Another milestone for a standout goalie
Cheverus' senior girls' hockey goalie Ellie Skolnekovich, who recently set a program mark for most career victories, added another milestone this week when she earned her 19th shutout in a win over the Beacons.
Skolnekovich has played an integral role in leading Cheverus to three straight state titles and the Stags are very much in the hunt for a fourth. Skolnekovich also played goalie for Cheverus' field hockey team, which won Class A championships her sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Skolnekovich, who is well known for her beautiful rendition of the national anthem before many Stags' games, will play field hockey at Union College in New York next year.
Feature story
Skolnekovich and her Cheverus teammates are leading the South Region Heal Points standings despite expectations they were going to come back to the pack. This story explains why the three-time reigning state champion Stags are still one of the teams to beat:
Michael Hoffer
In case you missed it...
Game stories from the past week...
Cheverus girls hold off Beacons
South Portland girls beat Sanford in a good one
Freeport boys no match for Poland
South Portland girls shoot their way past Gorham
TA boys pull away from Westbrook
Media
Tuesday's WGAN spot with Matt Gagnon:
https://wgan.com/morning-news/hoffers-high-school-sports-17/
Last Friday's Middays with Mannix and Mannix return: https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MMM-1-9-26-Michael-Hoffer.mp3
A bonus Middays with Mannix and Mannix from yesterday:
https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MMM-1-15-26-Michael-Hoffer.mp3
Prediction
My popular, prescient Patriots pick (12-6 for the season).
This week's guess (AFC Divisional Round edition):
Patriots 17 Texans 13
My initial thought was that there's no way the Patriots are going to be able to score enough against this defense to advance, but as the week's gone on, I've reconsidered. I think two TDs might do it and hopefully the New England defense is just as stout as it was last week. If so, this magical run continues.
Go, Pats!!
Features
Hoffer's High School Sports, in conjunction with cPort Credit Union, named Thornton Academy senior boys' hockey standout Jake Skillings our Athlete of the Week Monday.
Michael Hoffer
Tuesday brought the latest Super-Six polls for basketball and hockey:
Michael Hoffer
Thursday's Hoffer's High School Sports Podcast featured longtime Greely boys' hockey coach Barry Mothes:
Michael Hoffer
See you right back here next Friday.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone.
Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com
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