In Maine boys basketball, some things never seem to change — like Windham and York dominating their competition.
Other parts of the winter season have come as a shock, however, starting with surprise standout teams climbing to the top of their respective conferences.
Camden Hills did not make an appearance in the preseason ranking, but its success so far has proven what having a star like Nolan Ames can do for a program. Under former Noble head coach John Morgan, Sanford is thriving. And for a team like Yarmouth, having three losses is perhaps not as bad as it may seem.
There’s a lot to break down and still a lot of hoops to be played. Catch up on the action with our updated ranking of Maine’s top teams.
1. York (7-0)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: at Edward Little, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
The Wildcats have most definitely lived up to — and perhaps even surpassed — expectations so far. Star senior guard Reece MacDonald has been a scoring machine during York’s undefeated streak, helping the Wildcats outscore opponents by a combined 160 points over their first seven games.
York’s coming matchup against a surging Edward Little team might seem like it could pose a threat to its pristine record. The Wildcats already beat them by 20 points earlier this season, however. In fact, York has played just one game decided by less than 18 points.
2. Camden Hills (7-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Oceanside, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
Senior Nolan Ames has led the Windjammers to six straight wins to begin this season, pushing them to the top of A North. After starting its season by eking out a two-point win over Edward Little, Camden has blown out every opponent by 15 or more points.
Ames, who recently committed to Colby College, has scored 20 or more points in every game this season, including a 33-point performance to lead the Windjammers to a blowout win over Oxford Hills on Dec. 22.
Keifer Healey and Tucker Whitley have proven themselves as effective additional pieces, and the Windjammers have exposed very few vulnerabilities as they head into the new year.
3. Windham (6-1)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. South Portland, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
Windham’s sole loss came to Sanford in early December, and Portland also managed to keep things close with the Eagles. With Tyrie James and AJ Moody running the show, however, the Eagles have looked well-equipped against every opponent.
Moody’s 18-point performance helped the Eagles from down 16 points with about nine minutes left, to a 57-50 win over Portland on Dec. 20. James has gotten off to a strong start, too, including a 33-point display in the Eagles’ season-opening win over Thornton.
Colin Janvrin has also proven himself as a scorer with a strong paint presence, as the Eagles’ confident, albeit short, roster has earned five straight wins.
4. Sanford (6-0)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Noble, Jan. 2, 1 p.m.
Sanford has made a splash.
Led by first-year head coach John Morgan, Sanford has quickly become one of the top teams in Class A by picking up wins over Windham and Scarborough. The Spartans finished last season 6-13 but have looked like a new team this winter, even while lacking the star-level talent most other Top 10 rosters have.
A mid-January game against South Portland will likely give a good sense of Sanford’s true identity. If the Spartans can continue on a similar trajectory, it may have a chance at ending this season with an elite record.
5. Medomak Valley (5-1)
Previous rank: 8
Next game: vs. Lawrence, Jan. 2, 6:30 p.m.
Medomak Valley beat Yarmouth by 33 points on Dec. 9, but fell by 15 points to Camden Hills a week later—the Panthers’ only defeat of the season so far.
Senior Mason Nguyen has been dominant scoring-wise, opening the season with a 24-point performance. But Camden Hills held him to 10 points, which severely hindered Medomak’s ability to keep up offensively.
Fellow senior Owen Dostie and junior Kollin Donlin have been impressive as well, and Donlin recorded a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double in Medomak’s OT win over Oceanside on Dec. 22.
6. South Portland (6-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at Windham, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
South Portland has two close wins, two blowout wins, and one close loss this season, which came at the hands of rival Portland on Dec. 27. Four of its wins, meanwhile, have come by 10 or more points.
Senior Gabe Jackson has put up dominant offensive performances for the Red Riots while fellow senior Darius Johnson has also broken out, already racking up multiple double-doubles.
The Red Riots have played with a very short bench, and only played five in their sole loss.
Rookie guard Leonel Despacho, another big piece of this South Portland team, combined with Johnson for 33 points in that game. But the other three players combined for just 14 points and the Red Riots lost by five, which could raise concerns about their depth going forward.
7. Caribou (6-0)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Mattanawcook, Jan. 3, 4:30 p.m.
Reigning Class B champion Caribou, which beat York convincingly in last year’s state title game, came back from down double-digits to beat Mattanawcook on Dec. 23 to remain undefeated. Then the Vikings beat Orono by 36 points to stretch their winning streak to six.
Senior Owen Corrigan has shined for the Vikings, dropping 38 points in their comeback win over the Lynx. The two teams will rematch on Jan. 3 in a game that could cement Caribou’s status among the state’s best.
8. Edward Little (6-2)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. York, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.
Edward Hill had a rocky start to the season — first with a two-point loss to Camden Hills, followed by a 20-point loss to York. Since then, however, senior guard Akol Maiwen has helped the Red Eddies to six straight wins.
Maiwen has gotten to the line at will and dropped 30 points in a win over Mt. Blue. The Red Eddies seem to be on the right track, but must prove that their early blowout loss to York was a catalyst for growth.
9. Scarborough (5-2)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: vs. Windham, Jan. 6, 7 p.m.
Scarborough has suffered two losses, but neither were convincing enough to boot the Red Storm out of this ranking. One came to Thornton in OT, while the other came to a soaring Sanford team.
Senior Adam Fitzgerald has cemented his status as an elite scoring threat, scoring 19 or more points in four of Scarborough’s six games.
The Red Storm’s matchup against Windham on Jan. 6 will show a lot about this team. For now, though, convincing wins over Cheverus, Kennebunk, and Noble are enough to land it in the top 10.
10. Yarmouth (4-3)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Cape Elizabeth, Jan. 2, 5 p.m.
Yarmouth is the only three-loss team on this top-10 list. While the Class B program lost big to Medomak Valley, its other two losses — to York and Lake Region — were decided by a combined six points.
Junior Evan Oranellas has stepped up and become a consistent scorer, while Ian Lawrence and Adam Maxwell have also become valuable pieces. Yarmouth has scored more than 50 points in every game except for its loss to Medomak Valley which, with time, is beginning to look like a one-off, not a defining defeat.
