30 Jan 2026 5 min read Newsletters

Newsletter #32...Scarborough milestones

It's been a week of milestones for the Scarborough basketball program, as one player and a pair of coaches earned a moment in the limelight.

*Photos courtesy Scarborough Athletics.*

First, Red Storm senior boys' standout Adam Fitzgerald reached the 1,000-point plateau during last Friday's 66-53 victory at Bonny Eagle. Fitzgerald, who spent his first two years at Skowhegan before moving south, is one of the state's elite 3-point shooters and is currently averaging 15.7 points and 2.1 steals per contest.

Longtime girls' basketball coach Mike Giordano earned his 350th career victory last Friday at Bonny Eagle, after the Red Storm prevailed, 50-39. Giordano won 206 games in a 17-year stint at South Portland, then took over the Scarborough program in 2013. In that time, he's added 144 victories and led the Red Storm to the 2019 Class AA state final. Scarborough is 7-8 on the season, entering a pivotal contest at home versus Westbrook Saturday.

Tuesday evening in South Berwick, longtime boys' basketball coach Phil Conley reached the 200-win plateau for his career by virtue of a 68-36 victory at Marshwood. Like Giordano, Conley began his head coaching career at South Portland, won 108 games and a regional title there, then came to Scarborough and at press time, has won 92 contests. Conley led the Red Storm to the Class AA state final in 2018. Scarborough takes a 10-5 record into a showdown at Westbrook Saturday.

Yarmouth girls' soccer coach steps down

Andy Higgins announced Thursday on his Facebook page that he is stepping away from the Yarmouth girls' soccer program after leading the Clippers to 85 victories (as well as 21 losses and seven ties) and a pair of Class B state championships in his seven seasons.

Higgins expressed thanks and love to his former players, managers, coaches, families, administrators, boosters, bus drivers, trainers, and supporters.

"Through all the ups and downs we have experienced, you all have taught me that reaching a peak or the pursuit of the peak is not nearly as important as the people you are climbing with," Higgins wrote. "I am blessed to have crossed paths with all of you and to have been a small part of your journey. Forever thankful, forever grateful, and forever in your corner!"

On a heater

As the winter sports regular season begins to wind down, what better time to take a look at who's playing their best.

The following teams had won at least five games in a row at press time:

Cheverus boys' basketball (5)

Cheverus girls' basketball (15)

South Portland girls' basketball (14)

Thornton Academy boys' hockey (10)

Thornton Academy/Biddeford girls' hockey (7)

Yarmouth boys' basketball (9)

In case you missed it...

Game stories from the past week...

Windham boys down South Portland again

Scarborough boys skate past Gorham

Yarmouth girls ride strong defense past Lake Region

Yarmouth boys avenge loss, stay red-hot with win over Lake Region

Thornton Academy boys strike early and often to beat Scarborough

Media

Tuesday's WGAN spot with Matt Gagnon:

https://wgan.com/morning-news/hoffers-high-school-sports-19/

Last Friday's Middays with Mannix and Mannix spot on WJAB:

https://thebigjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/MMM-1-23-26-Michael-Hoffer.mp3

A reminder, next Saturday, Feb. 7, I'll be joining Travis Lee for the 11th annual Hoops8 Basketball Tournament Preview. Looking forward to that!

Prediction

My popular, prescient Patriots pick is now 13-7 following Sunday's AFC Championship Game.

How lucky we all are to have another Super Bowl trip to look forward to. To put it in perspective, it took the Packers three decades to get back to the big game after Vince Lombardi retired, it took the Steelers 26 years to win "one for the thumb," and the 49ers and Cowboys have gone three decades and counting without a championship.

I'll share my thoughts on the Super Bowl matchup next week.

Features

Hoffer's High School Sports, in conjunction with cPort Credit Union, named Cheverus freshman boys' basketball player Khaelon Watkins our Athlete of the Week.

Tuesday brought the latest Super-Six polls for basketball and hockey:

Thursday's Hoffer's High School Sports Podcast featured recently crowned James J. Fitzpatrick Trophy winner Connor Ayoob, the standout Thornton Academy senior running back, along with commentary from his coach, Kevin Kezal.