People have different reasons for “playing” sports, but it is safe to say that the pure essence of sports is to “play.” Webster’s Dictionary defines play as “engaging in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.” Play is at the very core of unified basketball, and it is the pure joy of playing that makes it so special for the participants and for the community that gathers to cheer the players on.

Despite the fact that Lincoln County does not have an ice arena, four local teenage athletes have thrived at ice hockey and play on successful Maine teams competing for some of the most coveted championships in their sport.

The next generation of the Medomak Valley versus Lincoln Academy rivalry is alive and kicking. Medomak surged in the fourth quarter to a 62-60 triumph over the Eagles in the first match of the Lincoln Academy 8th Grade Invitational on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in the Eagles nest. According to Lincoln Academy basketball guru Phil Page, the Tournament is a late winter sports tradition that is in its 44th year.

Lincoln Academy’s Nelson Bailey Gym was loud as the two teams exchanged leads and battled it out all the way to the final buzzer. Medomak led 18-17 after the first quarter and extended it to 37-30 at the half. That was the largest lead that either team would enjoy the rest of the game. The two young squads played at a frenetic, turnover-prone tempo for most of the game – perhaps nervous in the presence of eager fans and their future high school coaches.

Lincoln Academy grasped the momentum in the third quarter and rallied to a 51-49 lead heading into the final stanza. Down the stretch, the rivals exchanged the lead many times but it would remain within 4 points until Medomak surged behind clutch shooting in the back half of the fourth quarter to pull ahead 62-57 with 53 seconds remaining. The Eagles clawed their way back to 62-60 and had the ball in the closing seconds but the Medomak defense was able to close out the game. Brody Day led the Eagles with 13 points. Silas Ripley led Medomak with 18 points.

The Wiscasset boys basketball team was defeated 76-36 by Valley High School in the Class D South semifinal on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at the Augusta Civic Center. The Wolverines finished this year’s campaign with a 10-10 record after not winning a game last season.

The five seed in Class D South, Wiscasset got off to a good start and trailed the top seed Cavaliers (16-4) by just two points, 15-13, at the end of the first quarter. Valley’s offense exploded out of the break with an 11-0 run, and their lead steadily increased to 38-19 at the half. The Cavaliers outscored Wiscasset 20-10 in the third quarter to put the game away. Landin Shorey led the Wolverines with 16 points and Jevar Garricks chipped in 10.  Harry Lewis scored 27 points and dished out 10 assists to lead the way for Valley.

The second seed Medomak Valley girls fell behind 13-4 in the first quarter and could never overcome the deficit as they lost 40-34 to third seed Spruce Mountain in the Class B South semifinal on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Portland Expo. The Phoenix’ defensive scheme targeted Panthers leading scorer Kytana Williamson and held her to just 2 free throws in the first half as they built a 24-12 lead.

The Panthers clawed their way back in the fourth quarter to trail just 35-32 with two minutes remaining. The desperate Panthers were forced to foul the Phoenix, who made five free throws to extend the lead enough to stall out the clock and end the Panthers’ season. Sara Nelson led the Panthers with 11 points. The Phoenix were led by Jasmine Pingree who scored 11 points, including 3 clutch free throws in the closing minutes.

The Medomak Valley girls basketball team advanced to the Class B South semifinal game by beating York 50-35 on Saturday, Feb. 17 at the Portland Expo. The Panthers broke open a close game with a 9-0 run at the end of the first half to extend their lead to 28-15. Kytana Williamson scored all 9 of the Panthers’ points during that streak, and she had 21 points in the game to lead Medomak Valley.

Maya Cannon and Sara Nelson each scored 9 for the Panthers who improved to 15-4 on the season.  Cannon, Chloe Fox and Claudia Feeley out-muscled the smaller York players under the basket at both ends throughout the game and forced York to take outside shots. Stifling, high-tempo team defense, which the Panthers have been known for all season, was the key to the victory. Nya Avery had 11 points to lead the Wildcats, who ended their season 12-8. 

The Lincoln Academy girls basketball team lost their final regular season game to Morse  45-40 on Thursday, Feb. 8 in Bath. The offense sputtered out of the gate and the Eagles fell behind 25-15 at halftime. Mariam DeLisle tallied 20 points to lead Lincoln Academy scorers. Also putting points on the board for the Eagles were Olivia Ball 7, Maggie Thompson 3, Chloe Anderson 3, Lilly Labrie 2, Kennedie Anderson 2, Scarlett O’Brien 2 and Natalie Kaler 1. Reese Darling led the Shipbuilders (3-15) to the upset win with a dozen points, and Haley Kirkpatrick chipped in 11. 

The Eagles fell to 10-8 on the season, and remained in 8th place in the Class B South Heal Points standings. Lincoln Academy is expected to play Biddeford at home in a preliminary round playoff game, but it is not yet official. 

The Panthers girls basketball team was propelled by a dynamic scoring rally at the start of the second half to secure a convincing 65-32 win over MCI on Thursday, Feb. 8 in the Panthers’ den. Medomak Valley quickly turned a competitive 30-17 halftime lead into a rout by using a pressure defense to trap the Huskies in their own end, and then scored ten straight points off the ensuing turnovers. 

Kytana Williamson led the way for the Panthers with 26 points. Kayleigh Dunton led the Huskies with 11 points. Medomak Valley improved to 14-4 on the season, and the win elevated the team to second in the Class B South Heal Points standings heading into the playoffs. The MCI Huskies fell to 9-9 on the season.

The Boothbay middle school Wildcats won the girls Busline League South Division title by beating South Bristol 70-40 on Wednesday, Feb. 7 in Boothbay. The undefeated Wildcats advanced to the Busline League championship game against the North Division winner on February 10. Boothbay was in control of the match the whole way and enjoyed leads of 18-5 after one quarter, 31-13 at the half, and 50-26 after 3 quarters as they cruised to the victory. 

The Wildcats were led by Eleanor Erwin, who tallied 30 points, and Xavi Hall who chipped in 15. Izze Bhe had a terrific game for the Mariners, scoring 31 points in the loss.