Mt. Abram Alpine coach Bob Luce didn’t know what to expect when his girls team competed in a giant slalom race Friday at Black Mountain. So when his Roadrunners tied Oxford Hills for the team win, Luce was surprised.
Travis Lazarczyk
Columnist
Travis Lazarczyk has covered sports for the Portland Press Herald since 2021. A Vermont native, he graduated from the University of Maine in 1995 with a BA in English. After a few years working as a sports information director and in the ski industry, he began his journalism career at the Berlin (N.H.) Reporter in 1999. Prior to joining the Press Herald, Lazarczyk spent 20 years covering sports in central Maine at the Morning Sentinel and Kennebec Journal. He's been twice honored as the Maine Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
HIGH SCHOOL SKI NOTEBOOK: Bears look good early
At Maranacook, Nordic coach Steve DeAngelis has 46 skiers out for the team this winter. With more than 30 athletes on the Alpine team, DeAngelis estimated that one quarter of Maranacook’s enrollment is skiing competitively for the school this winter.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Black Raiders grind out win
GARDINER — Playing against a bigger and strong Gardiner Area High School basketball team, the Winslow boys expected Saturday’s game at John A. Bragoli Gym to come down to the details.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Duncan lifts Erskine to win
Erskine senior guard, Devin Duncan scored the Eagles’ final 14 points, helping the Eagles overcome an eight-point deficit to take a 56-53 win in Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A play.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Finally healthy, Madison tops Monmouth
MADISON — The season is almost half complete, but the Madison Area Memorial High School boys basketball team is finally at full strength. In the preseason, seniors Dylan Price and Austin Kane each suffered a broken hand in practice. Price missed just two games, and on Thursday night against Monmouth Academy, Kane made his debut.
BOYS BASKETBALL: Eagles drop Cougars
FARMINGTON — With Wednesday’s 77-30 win over Mt. Blue, the Messalonskee boys basketball team ensured it will improve on last season’s record. Senior center Elijah Steele said the Eagles are just getting started.
TRAVIS LAZARCZYK: Yankee hater no more
Tony Mathieu is a fan of the Boston Red Sox, and has been his entire life. But he won’t hate the New York Yankees. Not anymore. Not ever again.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL: Lewis leads Lawrence to win
FAIRFIELD — Xavier Lewis played in Lawrence High’s Folsom Gym as a visitor, but Friday night’s game against Messalonskee was his first game on the court as a Bulldog. It didn’t take Lewis long to learn that Folsom is a nicer place when the Rowdies, Lawrence’s boisterous student section, are cheering for you rather than against you.
HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Winslow fighting injuries
Injuries forced Winslow to play Tuesday night’s game at Leavitt without two key players, starting forward Justin Martin and sixth man Brandon Deas. Both were going to try to practice on Thursday, and coach Jared Browne said each is a game time decision for Friday’s home game against Maine Central Institute.
HOCKEY: Pond hockey tourney planned
Now the Health Coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club and YMCA of Greater Waterville, Patrick Guerrette is organizing a pond hockey tournament he hopes will tap into the happy memories of other hockey players who learned the game playing outside with their friends.