As the girls basketball season enters the homestretch, races for seedings are heating up, and interesting team and player storylines are being revealed.

Here are five notable developments:

ACL injuries in the past for Spruce Mountain duo

Not one, but two members of Spruce Mountain’s starting backcourt have recovered from ACL tears. Maddie Grimaldi and Natasha McDonald had their injuries less than a year apart, but both are back playing key roles for the Phoenix (11-1).

Grimaldi said she’s still returning to form from her tear, which occurred during AAU play in April and sidelined her until she was cleared on Dec. 29. She missed the first six games this season but has averaged 14 points and seven rebounds since her return.

“No one really knew (I was coming back), we kept it a little secret,” she said. “I’d say I’m 90% there. Health, I’m great. The knee is fine. It’s just the mental part, it takes so long to fully get comfortable and trust your knee fully again. But I’m getting there.”

She said she’s happy she’s been able to make an impact.

“I figured I would be a little bit of a role player at first, and it would take me a while to settle in,” she said. “But it all kind of came back instantly.”

McDonald tore her ACL landing after a layup in June 2024. She returned last January to finish the high school season, and remembers the trepidation she felt after coming back.

“It’s kind of crazy to think I tore it off of doing a layup, which I’ve done thousands and thousands of times,” she said. “I did it so easily the first time, what’s stopping it from happening again?”

Those fears have dissipated this season, as she’s averaging 18.9 points and five steals.

“I’m much more confident and not as scared,” she said. “I definitely don’t think about it as much as I did before.”

Turnaround for Thornton Academy

After dropping its first three games and six of its first 10, Thornton Academy has won four straight to move to 8-6 and into the seventh spot in the Class A South Heal point standings.

Part of the recent surge has been a lighter schedule — Kennebunk, Portland, Westbrook and Bonny Eagle are a combined 17-33 — but coach Suzanne Rondeau said she’s seen stronger play and more confidence from her team, which starts four sophomores and a freshman.

“I don’t think they fully believed (earlier). … I think we’re finally getting there,” she said. “What I love about this team is we don’t care who’s on that night, and who’s getting the shots. We want to win.”

The Trojans have shown an ability to play well against good teams, with an overtime loss to Biddeford and five-point loss to South Portland. Getting wins, though, has provided a boost, and not just in terms of Thornton’s standing.

“I have a bunch of competitors, we’re not leaving happy when we lose. It doesn’t matter how good the (opponent) is,” said Rondeau, whose team plays undefeated Cheverus on Friday. “You’ve got to start winning to feel good about yourself.”

Top spots on the line in Class A North

Four strong teams sit at the top of Class A North. Entering Tuesday, the Heal point standings had Hampden Academy (11-2) at the top, followed by Camden Hills (11-2), Mt. Ararat (11-1) and Edward Little (12-1).

Check back in a week, and there could be some changes. All four have games against each other coming up, and there could be some place swapping in the next few days.

Hampden Academy, ranked 10th is the latest Varsity Maine poll, plays fifth-ranked Edward Little on Friday, while Camden Hills plays Mt. Ararat on Tuesday. Hampden then gets Mt. Ararat on Thursday. Further down the road on Feb. 3, Edward Little will face Mt. Ararat, which is tied for third in the Varsity Maine poll.

Lawrence a sleeping giant in B North?

There may not be a more competitive region than Class B North, where only two teams have double-digit wins and the top nine tournament spots are occupied by teams over .500.

One team that bears watching, though, is Lawrence (8-4), which currently sits at No. 7. The Bulldogs have arguably the KVAC’s top player in Maddie Provost, and they’re the only team to beat Oceanside (13-1). Furthermore, the four losses (to Oceanside, Hampden Academy and twice to Gardiner) have been to teams with a combined record of 36-3.

If Lawrence stays near its current spot, the Bulldogs could be a threat to knock off a high seed come tournament time.

Yarmouth looks to boost its chances

Yarmouth is in seventh place in B South at 7-6. The Clippers would like to climb a little higher.

Ten teams make the playoffs, meaning four will take part in play-in games while the top six get a bye to the quarterfinals. For Yarmouth, staying at seventh would mean having to play the No. 10 team — currently Lake Region, which it beat earlier this season by 10 points — in order to reach the quarterfinals.

The Clippers can do themselves a favor in their pursuit to crack the top six with a matchup Friday against third-place Greely (10-3). Their first meeting was tight, with the Rangers eking out a 33-27 victory in overtime on Dec. 16.