Windham Unified basketball falls to Portland/Deering by one point

By Matt Pascarella

In a hard-fought game where Windham’s Unified basketball team gave their all, the clock wound down and Portland/Deering edged Windham, 40-39, on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Windham High School.

Windham senior Colby Schmid rises above his opponents
to make a one-handed shot during a Unified basketball
game against Portland/Deering on Wednesday, Jan. 29
at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

Windham took several solid shots that just did not land late in the game.

“I think we did very well this game,” said Windham senior Colby Schmid. “We did better at getting inside (the paint). My buddy Zach and I struggled with the three-pointers. I think we did great at scoring, and I think we do need to work on passing.”

There were a lot of positive aspects shown during this game, including Windham players giving other players an opportunity to move the ball or go in to take a shot. Windham had several stellar opportunities they took full advantage of with Mary Jean, Maddi Small, Zachary O’Brion, Tristan Stanley, Colby Schmid, Jacob Smith and Jack Shirley showing true sportsmanship.

Windham moved the ball well and soon they were on the scoreboard. The Eagles had a small lead to start, but after some time the game was tied.

Portland/Deering took the lead, then Windham snatched it back; this was a very tight game. Windham defense worked hard to limit scoring opportunities for their opponent.

O’Brion had a nice turnover, and the game was tied 14-14 with less than four minutes left in the first half.

Midway through the game, Portland/Deering led, 18-16.

At the start of the second half, O’Brion hit a three-pointer; a few moments later he did it again. This remained a very close game. Windham rebounded and continued to work hard.

Schmid sunk a three-pointer. The game was tied at 24-24.

Portland/Deering took the lead. Windham tried very hard to flip the score, but time ran out.

It felt good for O’Brion to sink his two three-pointers he said. This was a very tough loss and Windham was so close. They need to work on defense and rebounds.

“A ton of rebounds (during this game) we’re hitting the board so much better,” said Windham Unified basketball coach Anne Blake. “Our problem is we’re not moving in to do the close, confident shots; we’re (attempting) too many three-pointers. The rebounds have improved and the team’s playing with a lot more unity. I just think all the partners and athletes worked really well together; we played in a festival last weekend, and this is our third game for the season, so I think we’ve really improved since our practice with the festival. I think the team is starting to improve and the teamwork is showing. Layups (need work).”

Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. <

Windham girls’ basketball crushes Falmouth on Senior Night

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham varsity girls’ basketball team crushed Falmouth 73-19 on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Windham High School.

Windham senior Stella Jarvais takes the ball to the basket
during a girls' prep basketball game against Falmouth on
Tuesday, Feb. 4 at Windham High School. 
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

Before the game, the team honored Stella Jarvais on Senior Night and presented a gift for her and for her parents for their time and dedication to Windham athletics during Stella’s high school career.

“It’s something really special coming through the years of this program,” said Jarvais, who scored 26 points against Falmouth. “I love this team, and it’s really cool for them to recognize all the years I put into it. It’s kind of surreal (to maybe have played my last home game) because I will not be playing basketball beyond these years. It’s something special to share the court with my sister, because I will not be playing with her in college; so being able to spend this time with Mackenzie (Delewski) and my friends and my sister, it’s something really special.”

Windham came out strong and put up 19 points in just the first quarter. Windham sophomore Denali Momot sank a three-pointer. The squad’s incredible defense held Falmouth to just five points.

In the second quarter, Windham junior Marley Jarvais hit a three-pointer. Windham led by 20 and their offense would not be stopped. At the half Windham led, 37-12.

“I thought our team defense went very well tonight,” said Windham junior Chloe Delewski. “We did a great job defending the perimeter followed by boxing out and rebounding. I thought that tonight our offense was executed well but when we face stronger defenses, we will need to be sharper. It felt great getting this big win because we got the whole team involved and it was just an amazing show that we put on for the crowd. Stella leaving means ... we are losing one of our closest friends and outstanding players on the team. It won’t be the same without her next year.”

At the start of the second half, Windham’s lead grew to 30 points. They rebounded and Windham’s defense kept Falmouth scoreless in the third quarter.

“Passing, getting into our offense, being able to cut and read the defense, so stuff like that went well,” said Stella Jarvais. “Our shooting percentage went up. Just communication I feel like is always a thing that teams can work on; and turnovers, in a lot of the games that came close and came down to the last minute were due to turnovers, so limiting turnovers we can work on.”

In the fourth quarter, a block from Windham freshman Eliana Kostopoulos showed Falmouth who was in control.

Windham sophomore Leandra Woodman sank two three-pointers and Windham freshman Lauren Valle hit a three-pointer too.

“Tonight was about celebrating Stella and honoring her and her four years with us,” said Windham varsity girls’ basketball coach Brody Artes. “It was good for us to get out and run and put some points on the board. We had a lot of kids do that; we had a lot of kids score today. Good opportunity to kind of get up and down and climb ... the ladder towards the playoffs, just trying to get better every day. We were able to dip in that bench a bit earlier than we usually do and get some kids some experience and everybody did a good job. I think at times, we need to get them up and contest shots a little bit better on the perimeter. We got to contain shots a bit better – we did well today, but against better teams we’ve got to make sure we do that. Offensively we’ve got to move the ball, I thought we did well with that today. We’ve got to be strong at the rim, finishing inside and making our free throws when we need to.”

Artes said when Stella Jarvais came in as a freshman, her ability was raw, but she worked at it and improved over the course of her career. She’s a good teammate, plays hard, is a great defensive player and a great kid. <

Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey holds off Yarmouth/Falmouth

By Matt Pascarella

An early goal and strong defense from the Cheverus/Windham/Medomak girls’ hockey team made a real difference during a late-season game against Yarmouth/Falmouth. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak were able to keep their opponent scoreless and posted a 1-0 win on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the William B. Troubh Ice Arena.

Cheverus junior Ashley Cloutier of Windham goes after the
puck during a girls' prep hockey game against Yarmouth/
Falmouth on Thursday, Jan. 30 at the William B. Troubh
Ice Arena in Portland. PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

“I thought we were playing a really good third period and we made some adjustments to our forecheck, until we took that penalty with about five minutes to go,” said the Cheverus/Windham/Medomak coach Scott Rousseau. “I thought we handled the last two minutes well; it’s always hectic ... but a great learning experience. We managed the puck well, we did not panic and not take icings and in the last minute I don’t think they really got a scoring chance. We only have four players back and I really hope these eight first-year players are ready for what’s coming; the playoffs are even more intense than this. If you interview (Yarmouth/Falmouth’s) coach, we made each other look bad, it was 1-0, it’s what good teams do to each other. We kind of took some of their strengths away, they took some of our strengths away. At the end we did show a lot of heart and character and find a way to win – and that matters.”

Cheverus/Windham/Medomak hit the ice with strong defense as these two teams were very evenly matched. Cheverus/Windham/Medomak moved the puck well and had intensity the entire game.

Cheverus sophomore Caroline Rousseau scored roughly halfway through the first period. Windham freshman Taylor Lucas had a solid check before the first period buzzer. It was 1-0 Cheverus/Windham/Medomak after one period.

In the second period, Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s intensity remained, and their defense made sure to cut off scoring opportunities for Yarmouth/Falmouth. Cheverus goalie Ellie Skolnekovich had super-fast hands and kept a lot of pucks away from the back of the net.

“I see it as just another game,” said Skolnekovich, who had 21 saves during the game. “That’s my hometown – I get fired up when I play them, and I know their roster. It’s a 0-0 game in my head the whole way through and it’s really great. I think from the top down, we played really well; we played well as a team. We’re together ... and I think the biggest thing is I can’t thank my defense enough; I cover a puck and they’re right there to get people out of the way, I cover the puck, and they are right in front of me not letting anybody get to me and that’s really, really what builds our team up. I think we can pass the puck more and I think we can make less mental mistakes in the last two minutes of the game. I think we had a lot of adrenaline going and since it was a 1-0 game, it got a little bit intense at the end and I think that we can just build from there. I play a 0-0 game; my adrenaline was going, and I just played my game.”

Tensions built in the third and final period as both teams worked hard to put something up on the scoreboard. A block by Skolnekovich with a little over a minute left coupled with Cheverus/Windham/Medomak’s defense only amplified this team’s tenacity. They kept back Yarmouth/Falmouth until the last buzzer.

“I think our forecheck was able to set it up differently so we can contain their better players,” said Lucas. “Our goalie played amazing tonight; she saved us. We had some good forechecks towards the beginning of the third period that went well. I think that we just need to work on getting the puck out faster in ... the defensive zone and move our feet.” <