We’re down to the final week-and-a-half of the high school boys lacrosse regular season, and while plenty of teams across central Maine appear playoff-bound, there are two that stand out.

At 8-3 and ranked fourth in the Class B Heal point standings, Messalonskee is once again in position to make a deep run. Maranacook/Winthrop, the Class C runner-up a year ago, is ranked No. 1 in Class C at 9-3.

Some key adjustments have helped both the Eagles and Hawks in recent games. Both teams, like others in the region, have big games ahead as they prepare for the postseason. Those are among the items included in the takeaways from the past week in boys lacrosse:

MESSALONSKEE PILES ON THE PRESSURE

A 17-7 loss to first-place Yarmouth on May 9 was the most lopsided of Messalonskee’s three defeats this spring. How the Eagles learned from it, though, has Tom Sheridan confident they’re on the right track.

Messalonskee’s longtime coach said Yarmouth’s intensity caused problems for his team. In the two and a half weeks since, the Eagles’ increased focus on offensive and defensive pressure has helped them outscore opponents 73-6 over four games.

“Something we learned that day is, if we want to be successful and make it far, we’re going to have to be more driven on getting out and pressuring,” Sheridan said. “We’ve (focused a lot more) on getting out on people’s hands and being aggressive, and that’s worked out well for us.”

Since that Yarmouth defeat, Messalonskee, ranked eighth in this week’s Varsity Maine poll, has been swarming opponents and earned shutout wins over Mt. Ararat (15-0) and Hampden Academy (24-0), as well as decisive victories over Gorham (17-2) and Mt. Blue (17-4).

“Offensively, we’ve just been really focused on putting a lot of pressure on a team’s defense to give our defense a little break,” Sheridan said. “When (our guys) do get a chance to play D, they’re all over the other team.”

HAWKS MAKE KEY POSITIONAL CHANGE

Coach Dan Brannigan’s Maranacook/Winthrop team has had its ups and downs while battling a few player absences. But those same trials have also helped the Hawks’ second-year coach has made a change he believes is working for the Class C leaders, who are ranked ninth in the Varsity Maine poll.

With key players missing ahead of a May 17 battle against Deering, Brannigan needed a player at the X position, behind the opposing team’s goal on offense. His solution? Move faceoff specialist Cobey Dunn to that spot.

“We’ve been looking for a facilitator this year and haven’t quite found one, so we’ve tried to move a couple things around,” Brannigan said. “We told Cobey, ‘Hey, go back there and see what happens,’ and as it turns out, we actually really, really like watching him back there.”

The move particularly paid dividends Monday against John Bapst, when Dunn had four goals and two assists. Brannigan plans to play the senior in the X position for the remainder of the season.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

With two games remaining, Gardiner finds itself in ninth place in Class B at 6-6. Coach K.C. Johnson said the Tigers are ahead of projection skill-wise — and his sophomore- and junior-led team is gaining experience.

“Senior leadership goes a long way in lacrosse, and when you have a younger team, they’re still finding their way,” Johnson said. “Matchups are what it’s been all about this year. Some teams we matched up well against, and some we didn’t, but we’re doing all right.”

Gardiner is battling Mt. Blue (6-6) for the No. 8 spot and a home prelim game. The Tigers play at Lewiston (6-5) on Thursday before hosting Cony (3-7) next Wednesday. Mt. Blue hosts Maine Central Institute/Nokomis (0-11) on Friday.

In Class C, Oak Hill/Monmouth/Lisbon/St. Dom’s (6-5) holds the fourth playoff spot, which would give the Raiders a home quarterfinal game. Erskine Academy (6-4), currently sixth, has plenty of chances to move up, with four games remaining.

TOP PERFORMANCES

• Carter Austin, Oak Hill: 11 saves in a 10-6 win over Lewiston (May 20)

• Logan Cote, Gardiner: 4 goals, 3 assists in a 20-8 win over Lawrence/Winslow (May 27)

• Malachi Cusano, Messalonskee: 5 goals, 1 assist in a 17-4 win over Mt. Blue (May 23)

• Kaiden Delano, Oak Hill: 4 goals, 2 assists vs. Lewiston

• Tatum Doucette, Messalonskee: 1 goal, 7 assists in a 24-0 win over Hampden Academy (May 19)

• Cobey Dunn, Maranacook/Winthrop: 4 goals, 2 assists in a 14-7 win over John Bapst (May 26)

• Brayden Elliott, Gardiner: 7 goals, 3 assists vs. Lawrence/Winslow

• Ryan Parent, Messalonskee: 5 goals, 2 assists vs. Hampden Academy; 5 goals, 5 assists vs. Mt. Blue

• Zack Waddell, Cony: 4 goals, 2 assists in a 12-6 loss to Lewiston (May 27)

BIG GAMES AHEAD

• Gardiner (6-6) at Lewiston (6-5), Thursday at 4 p.m.

• Messalonskee (8-3) at Oak Hill (6-5), Saturday at noon

• Maranacook/Winthrop (9-3) at Erskine (6-4), Tuesday at 4 p.m.

• Oak Hill (6-5) at Edward Little (7-4), June 4 at 6 p.m.

• Messalonskee (8-3) vs. Morse (8-4), June 4 at 6:45 p.m.