Contest results leading up to and during winter break

Cover photo by junior Ava Gendron at avagendronphotography.com.

Boys Basketball

On Monday, Dec. 19, the Spartans lost at home to South Portland 77-68. Luke “LJ” McFarland and sophomore Brady Adams led the way for the squad scoring 15 points each. Junior Makai Bougie and senior Liam Gendron tacked on 11 points each. The Spartans then fell 78-54 to Noble on Dec. 20.

They found their first victory of the season at home against Massabesic on Dec. 22 in one of the highest-scoring games in Sanford basketball history, outscoring the Mustangs 102-36. Five Spartans scored in double digits, including McFarland and Adams (six 3-pointers) with 20 points each. Bougie added 18 points while junior Tanner McCann tallied 15 and Gendron tacked on 11.

“This was our best team performance of the year,” said Coach Jake Mills. “Everything started on defense for us. We created good energy and easy scoring opportunities from playing great team defense.”

Over break, the Spartans traveled to Kennebunk on Dec. 28, falling in a tight loss 56-54. Adams led the way with 13 points while McFarland and Bougie tacked on 11 apiece.

The 1-4 Spartans travel to South Portland on Tuesday, Jan. 3.

Girls Basketball

On Monday, Dec. 19, the Spartans lost to South Portland on the road with a score of 52-45. Riley Hebler led the way with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals. Julissa McBarron tallied 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 steals. Hailey Tarbox added 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 steals.

The Spartans bounced back to dominate Noble on Dec. 20 at home 60-24. Hebler led the Spartans with 12 points and 2 rebounds while McBarron had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 10 steals. Sophomore Sadie Sevigny added 10 points and 8 rebounds.

The team continued their streak over break against Kennebunk on Dec. 28, defeating the Rams 58-48. Hebler tallied 22 points in the victory. McBarron added 15 and Tarbox plugged in 8.

The 4-2 Spartans will host South Portland again on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. and travel to Thornton Academy on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 11:30 a.m.

Indoor Track

The Spartans competed on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at the University of Southern Maine (USM) against Biddeford, Falmouth, Massabesic and Portland.

The boys placed third with 80 points behind Westbrook (93) and Scarborough (201.50). In the Senior Divison (grades 11 and 12), Tucker Walker took first in the Senior Shot Put with an impressive 41’6″. Jake Doughty placed fourth (7.17) in the 55m Dash, second in the High Jump, and first in the Triple Jump. Carter Buswell took fourth in the Senior 200m while Michael Cousineau and Isaac Colon took third and fourth, respectively, in the Senior 55m Hurdles. Cousineau also took second in the Triple Jump.

In the JV division (grades, 9 and 10), sophomore Logan Glidden swept all three of his events, taking first in the 55m (7.15), 200m Dash (25.91), and the Senior Long Jump (18’8″).

Junior Aidan Gagnon took fourth in the open Two Mile Run with a time of 13:12.86. Juniors Landon Gosling and Zachary Michienzi took second and third, respectively, in the open Pole Vault.

On the girl’s side, the team placed fifth with 11 points. Sophomore Sophie Therrien took fourth in the open One Mile and third in the 55m Hurdles. Senior Blair Martin took fifth in the 55m Dash and third in the Long Jump.

On Dec. 30, Walker took sixth in the Shot Put at USM’s New Year’s Invitational. The Spartans compete again on Jan. 5 at USM.

Wrestling

The returning dual state champions raised their championship banner at their home opener on Wednesday, Dec. 21 against Wells, Portland and South Portland.

The Spartans then competed in the highly anticipated Noble Invitational, placing in the top six. According to the Portland Press Herald, the two-day tournament of more than 35 teams across New England showcased some of the Northeast’s top talent.

Sanford took sixth with 143 points, led by 113-pound champion James Blood and 195-pound winner Canton Hill. The Portland Press Herald writes:

“Blood, a senior, who placed third at the New England Championships and second at the Virginia Beach Nationals as a junior, was sharp and in control against Massabesic’s Boulard.

“’I’ve been working on all of my technique, just working on what I need to work on to be where I want to be later in the season,’ Blood said. ‘Hopefully to win it all. I want to win nationals. I want to win New Englands.’

Hill, a sophomore trailed James Dube of Mattanawcook Academy, 10-0, with time running out, [then] slapped on a head-and-arm and threw Dube to the mat, eventually turning him for a pin with 33 seconds remaining.