Winslow is 5-0, but as coach Jared Browne said, “it’s a quiet 5-0.”

Winslow’s undefeated record hasn’t done much for the Black Raiders in the Class B North Heal point standings. The Black Raiders are ranked seventh in the region, and that makes Winslow the lowest ranked of the undefeated teams in the state. A lot of that has to do with the schedule. Winslow’s five opponents are a combined 8-21 and none has a winning record.

The schedule, however, is about to get tougher.

Among the Black Raiders next five games are contests against Class A rivals Lawrence and Skowhegan, and big Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B games against Mount View, Maranacook and Spruce Mountain.

“I see Maranacook with just a couple wins. They’re a better team than that. Skowhegan is better than a two-win team. Mount View (Friday), they’re playing better. We’ve got some tough games coming up,” Browne said.

The key to Winslow’s good start is defense. Opponents are shooting just 32 percent from the floor, Browne said, and the Black Raiders are outrebounding opponents by 10 boards per game.

“We’re contesting shots. We’re doing a lot of good things on defense,” Browne said.

Offensively, Browne would like to see the Black Raiders improve their own shooting percentage. Winslow is shooting 40 percent from the floor. From 3-point range, Winslow is making 24 percent, and that has to get better.

“I like the quality of our shots, we’re just not shooting as well as I’d like,” Browne said. “If we’re not making those (3-point) shots, our offense isn’t really going to work.”

One thing that hasn’t been a problem at all is senior leadership. Browne pointed to seniors like Keanu Earle and Spencer Miranda as vocal leaders, and Dylan Hutchinson as a lead by example role model. Those seniors have all either won state titles or played in state games in other sports, Browne said, and that experience is crucial to the basketball team’s success.

“Our veterans are doing a very good job with the younger guys, and helping us get to where we want to be,” Browne said.

• • •

Down 10 points at halftime at Camden Hills on Dec. 20, Messalonskee appeared to be heading to its third straight loss. Before taking the court for the second half, coach Peter McLaughlin and his team talked about expectations for the season. The Eagles then went out and played their best half of basketball of the season, outscoring the Windjammers by 20 points to take a 64-54 win.

“We went out and played a great second half, and we’ve continued from there,” McLaughlin said.

That win began Messalonskee’s current four-game win streak. The Eagles are 5-2 heading into Friday’s game at Oceanside. The two losses came to Hampden and Medomak Valley, teams that entered Thursday a combined 15-0 and in the top two spots in the Class A North Heal point standings.

“Those losses were not bad losses, in any way,” McLaughlin said.

Friday’s game at Oceanside (5-1) is one the Eagles have looked forward to, McLaughlin said. It was Oceanside that knocked Messalonskee out of the tournament last season, with a 64-51 win in the regional quarterfinals. Oceanside went on to win the regional title.

“We’ve had this game circled a while, with them knocking us out the way they did last year,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin noted the Mariners’ offensive prowess, especially at home. In two home games, Oceanside averages just over 75 points per game.

“That’s a tough place to play. They’re a great 3-point shooting team. We have to be ready to go,” McLaughlin said.

• • •

When Forest Hills hosts Richmond on Friday night, it will be the Tigers first game in 10 days. The lack of games hasn’t been a bad thing, coach Anthony Amero said. The team has used the practice time well, and the workouts have included alumni Matt Turner and Tanner Daigle, members of Forest Hills’ state championship teams in 2013 and 2015, who are happy to work with the newest generation of Tigers (2-3).

“That has increased our intensity like you won’t believe,” Amero said. “It’s increased our speed of play.”

In the preseason, Amero hoped he’d be able to go deep on his bench, and so far this season, that’s been the case. Forest Hills regularly rotates nine players, rare for a small Class D program. The intense practices with the alumni strengthed that depth, Amero said.

“We’re using nine guys, which is very unusual at Forest Hills. They all contribute,” Amero said.

The Tigers didn’t graduate any players from last season’s team. After opening the season with three consecutive losses, all by seven or less points, Forest Hills won back-to-back East/West Conference games over Buckfield and Rangeley. As the Tigers try to play an up tempo style, Amero can see his team beginning to run with instinct, rather than think about its next move.

“It’s there. We’ve had times where we’ve missed some passes, but you can see the thought was there,” Amero said. “Getting up and down the court is a lot better.”

Friday’s game against Richmond is the start of a stretch that sees Forest Hills play six games in eight days. Amero sees the game against the Bobcats as a gravy game (a win or loss is irrelevant), a good test to start a tough week. Although Richmond is still in the East/West Conference, it now plays in Class C.

“Richmond is a great measuring stick for us. They’re undefeated (6-0). If Richmond was in Class D, there’s a high likelihood they’d win it,” Amero said.

The Tigers follow Friday’s game with a home game Saturday against Pine Tree Academy (2-2), one of the teams the Tigers are fighting with for a playoff spot in Class D South.

• • •

One of the key games of the Mountain Valley Conference season is set for Tuesday, when Madison plays at Winthrop. Both teams enter the weekend undefeated, although both have a game before the showdown. Madison is at Mountain Valley on Saturday, while the Ramblers play at Wiscasset the same day.

Madison-Winthrop features two of the top scorers in the MVC, Winthrop’s 1,000-point club member Jacob Hickey and Madison’s Mitch Jarvais.

• • •

Around the state: Another possible undefeated battle could play out Friday in Class C North, with Lee Academy taking on George Stevens Academy. Lee played at Piscataquis on Thursday night… Machias is off to a 7-0 start, winning each game by at least 12 points… A big game in Class B North this weekend sees Presque Isle (5-1) at Central (5-1)… Since an opening night loss to Portland, South Portland has won six games in a row to move into first place Class AA South.

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM