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 Oceanside boys basketball team jumped out to a 20-8 first quarter lead and 44-20 halftime advantage. The Eagles played the Mariners even in the second frame but were unable to undue the first half damage, losing 73-48 in the South Class B Regional championship game on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Portland Expo. Cohen and Carter Galley lit up the nets to score 32 of Oceanside’s 44 first half points. While the Mariners were hot inside and out, the Eagles struggled from the floor. Lincoln was led by senior Casey Duncan with 17 points, and Gabe Hagar 13. Oceanside was led by Carter Galley with 35 and Cohen Galley 13.

The Lincoln Academy JV boys basketball team wrapped up its season on Saturday, Feb 10, emerging victorious over Oceanside 68-50 to end the season with a 17-0 record.

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 top seed and undefeated Oceanside boys basketball team beat fourth seed Medomak Valley 46-32 in a South Class B semi-final game on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Portland Expo. With the win, Oceanside advances to the Regional championship game against Lincoln Academy. The South B Regional finals will be held Friday, Feb. 23 at 3:45 p.m. at the Portland Expo.

Medomak Valley had plenty of good looks and good shots, but struggled to find the cylinder.

The Panthers were led on offense by Gabe Lash with 13 and Kory Donlin 6. Oceanside was led by Cohen Galley with 17 and Trevin Ripley 11.

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 second seed Lincoln Academy boys basketball team defeated third seed York 55-37 on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Portland Expo in a South Class B semi-final game. With the win, the Eagles advance to the South Class B Regional championship, to be held Friday, Feb. 23 at 3:45 p.m. at the Portland Expo.

Lincoln Academy will hold a send off rally at 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 23 in the Nelson Bailey gymnasium. The public is encouraged to attend.

Up by three at the half, LA picked up their defensive intensity in the third period, holding York to just five points. The Eagles scored 21 to put the game away early. Lincoln out-rebounded the Wildcats 19-9 in the second half.

Scoring leaders for Lincoln were Gabe Hagar 14, Lucas Houghton 12, and Casey Duncan 10. York was led by Connor Roberge with 12 and Derek Parsons 10.

Three Lincoln Academy wrestlers were crowned State Class B champions on Saturday, Feb. 17 at Mt.Valley High School in Rumford. Senior Jayden Lafrenaye picked up his second state championship, winning the 165 pound title. Junior Adam St.Cyr won the 135 pound title, following in his father Shawn’s footsteps by winning a state title for the Eagles. Freshman Jakobi Hagar won the 175 pound State B title.

Ten local wrestlers qualified and competed at States, with eight of them placing in the championship meet. Placing second were Erskine Academy’s Giacomo Smith at 150 pounds, and Medomak Valley’s Grady Pease at 165. Placing third was Medomak senior Marshall Addy at 215 pounds. Placing fourth were LA’s Cole Workman at 132 pounds, and Medomak’s Shamus Pease at 157 pounds.

The fifth seed Wiscasset boys basketball team upset fourth seed Buckfield 49-47 on Saturday, Feb. 17 in a South Class D quarter-final game at the Augusta Civic Center. The two teams split games during the regular season. Both teams got off to a slow start, with Buckfield leading 8-5 at the quarter. Buckfield led 18-13 at the half, before the Wolverines attacked in the third quarter, scoring 21 points to take a 34-33 lead at the end of three.  Wiscasset opened the fourth with seven straight points to build an eight point lead. Buckfield scored 10 straight to take a two point lead with 2:25 to play. The two teams traded hoops, before Landon Shirey hit a big three with 20 seconds left to seal the win. Shirey led the Wolverines offense with 22 points, Spencer Smith-Pinkham added 9 and Alex Richard 8. Buckfield was led by Brayden Monto and Trenton Haskell with 13 each. Wiscasset plays in the semi-finals on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 10:30 p.m. at the ACC.

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. 

Fourth seed Medomak Valley boys basketball team defeated fifth seed Yarmouth 61-33 in a South Class B quarter-final game at the Portland Expo on Friday, Feb. 16. Medomak led 13-8 at the quarter, 25-14 at the half and 49-22 at the end of three. The Panthers were led by Kory Donlin with 16 points, Kristian Schumann 15. and Mason Nguyen 11. Yarmouth was led by Evan Hamm with 10.

Medomak takes on number one Oceanside on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7:45 p.m. at the Portland Expo in the South B semi-finals.

The second seed Lincoln Academy boys basketball team defeated Lake Region 70-41 in a South Class B Regional quarter-final game on Friday, Feb. 16 at the Portland Expo. The Eagles led 16-10 at the quarter, 31-18 at the half, and 52-28 at the end of three. The Lakers pulled within eight in the third, but after a quick Eagle timeout, Lincoln rattled off  17 straight points to put the game away. Gabe Hagar scored 23 points, Lucas Houghton added 14 and EJ Hunt 13. Lake Region was led by Jackson Lubby with 14 and Brock Gibbons 10.

The Eagles take on third seed York on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Portland Expo.