Windham’s fifth-grade basketball upsets Gray New-Gloucester

Windham fifth-grader Riley Gallagher moves quickly around
Gray New Gloucester  as he heads toward the basket in the
fifth-grade travel Windham Youth Basketball Association's
game on Saturday, Jan. 22 at the Maine Sports Arena  in Saco.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham Youth Basketball Association’s fifth-grade travel team sponsored by Wildwood Properties overwhelmed Gray New-Gloucester during a travel basketball game at the Maine Sports Arena in Saco on Saturday, Jan. 22.

Windham was first to put points on the scoreboard and from there this fifth-grade travel team showed their strengths and just ran away with the game. They ended strong posting a 37-12 victory over Gray New-Gloucester.

Windham passed and was quick to grab rebounds which led them to gain the lead and hold onto it for two halves.

“We had really good teamwork and good passing; good defense,” said Windham fifth-grader Troy Cunningham.

Windham took multiple shots at the basket with a majority of the shots falling. Everyone on the team moved the ball well and put in an excellent effort for each of the halves.

Windham fifth-grader David Foster said they were able to win the game because what they learned in practice was finally clicking with everyone on the team. As a team they were getting better at executing plays. Foster said it was a very good win.

Before the end of the first half, Windham had skyrocketed ahead by more than 20 points. It was 26-4 at halftime.

In the second half, Windham came out just as strong as they were in the first half and continued to dominate on the court.

Windham’s offense and defense remained strong as many players on the Windham team put more and
more points on the scoreboard and kept GNG from putting any points on their scoreboard for most of the half.

Windham was first to the ball and grabbed rebounds. Windham seized every opportunity to get in front and grab the ball.

GNG made a small comeback toward the end of the game, but it was too late for them; Windham had run away with this one.

“Defensively, we played pretty well, we play hard,” said Windham fifth-grade grade boys’ basketball travel coach, Trent Cunningham. “We really focus on that ... we rebounded well, so I think that’s a big part of [our win]. Windham did a good job passing the ball and getting good shots. We got a lot of layups; Windham did a good job of moving the ball and getting some easy looks which was nice.”   <

Windham’s Talon wins one-on-one title for second year in a row

Windham senior Sarah Talon plays defense during 
the one-on-one championship game at the Maine
Invite Only Top 30 Skills Basketball Camp held
at XL Sports World in Saco on Aug. 6 and Aug. 7.
PHOTO BY ALLISON TALON

By Matt Pascarella

If you’ve ever seen Windham’s Sarah Talon play during a varsity basketball game, it’s not hard to see why she was picked for Maine’s Invite Only Top 30 Skills Camp. She is definitely one of those players that leaves it all on the court and works very hard to continue to improve her game. During the camp, the invitees compete in a one-on-one “Queen of the Court” championship game. On the weekend of Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 at XL Sports World in Saco, Talon won the one-on-one “Queen of the Court” championship for her second year in a row.

Talon began working with her trainer and now the organizer of the Maine Invite Only Top 30 Skills Camp, Ben Teer, when she began high school. Teer started and now runs the Top 30 Skills Camp.

Talon got her first invite to the camp from Teer when she was in ninth grade. Talon knew from the start “Queen of the Court” was something she enjoyed very much. She considers one-on-one a specialty of hers and often succeeds at it.

Teer said Talon is a true competitor and one of the most athletic and unstoppable guards in Maine. She has tangibles to take over the game whenever she wants.

“Which is why she’s such a good one-on-one player,” said Teer. “Her athleticism, style of play, and skillset sets her apart in one-on-one. She has a killer instinct and is cutthroat; attacking you over and over and over.”

Athletes are selected to Maine’s Invite Only Top 30 Skills Camp by several ways. Teer reaches out to coaches and Amateur Athletic Union directors asking them who they think are top players in each class. Teer hosts online nominations where anyone can nominate who they think deserves it.

He also travels the entire state and watches thousands of athletes compete. He looks at statewide rankings, newspaper all-state teams and conference top awards. Social media also allows Teer to follow the journeys of many of these athletes.

During the weekend, some of the skills Talon worked on was being aggressive on the court and learning ways to never back down from any competition.

When it came to the one-on-one championship, Talon knew if she had won last year, she was capable of winning again this year.

She said her athleticism and confidence played a big role in winning this competition. She knew what her advantages were and used her athleticism wisely.

“It was very nerve racking ... (winning the one-on-one championship) in front of the entire camp. I knew I had a lot of pressure because of last year’s ‘Queen of the Court’ win.” Talon said her experience this year was amazing.

In order to prepare for the Top 30 Camp and the championship one-on-one game, Talon has been working out in the basketball gym, taking hundreds of shots and repetitions every day. She’s also been playing and practicing with her Amateur Athletic Union team, named Attraction.

“This summer has been very important to me in preparation for this winter. I’m hoping for a very fun and successful winter season,” said Talon. <

Sixth-grade Windham travel basketball teams become Maine Hoops champs

By Matt Pascarella

Two very exciting games had two very exciting results during the Maine Hoops championship tournament on Saturday, Feb. 13 at XL Sports World in Saco. After the final buzzers, both the Windham sixth-grade boys and the Windham sixth-grade girls travel basketball teams had become Maine Hoops champions.

Windham's sixth-Grade boys' and girls' travel basketball teams
won championship titles during the Maine Hoops tournament
on Feb. 13 at Sports World in Saco. Shown in top photo are
the Windham sixth-grade boys' travel team and the bottom
photo is the Windham sixth-grade girls' travel basketball team.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS 
 

For a while, it seemed like there might not be a sixth-grade travel team season and few basketball travel leagues were in operation because of Covid-19. That’s where the Maine Hoops league stepped in. During the eight-week Maine Hoops season, Windham’s opponents were a real jumble of teams from other towns. Every team in the Maine Hoops league made the final tournament where it was single elimination.

The season began in early January and it was hard to find places to practice. Windham girls’ Coach Ben Delewski held outdoors practices in his driveway. He made the practices voluntary because of the unusual circumstances but was surprised at how many of the girls showed up.

The boys ran into a similar practice problem due to school gym closures. Thankfully, Nick Pierce at New England Fitness and Athletics in Windham offered weekly classes for the boys, which Windham boys’ Coach Ryan Brown noticed made a big difference in the team’s abilities on the court.

The sixth-grade girls’ team are competitive in every game and call themselves the ‘Fierce Lady Eagles.’ They faced the Southern Maine Sting team, a team they had lost to a few times, in the championship game and came back from behind to beat them. Delewski said it was all about defense and he was proud of how well his girls played together.

“It felt amazing to play in the tournament and win,” said sixth-grader Leandra Woodman. “Our team is unstoppable together, and I owe all of our success to our coaches. I’m so proud of our team for our dedication and our hard work.”

Brown said his boys progressed all season. They played well as a team, had a role and were able to deliver. He had a great group of kids who were willing to put the work in every week.

Sixth-grader Preston Brown and teammate fourth-grader Carson Brown said they were really excited for the chance to play with their friends during Covid. They felt relieved to win it all after the hard work they put in. The team really worked together and were not selfish.

Delewski said when the Fierce Lady Eagles became Maine Hoops champs, their reaction was similar to as if they won the NBA Finals.

The boys had some big smiles on their faces when they became champions and for Brown, that was more important than the win. The team worked together and fought hard to pull off a tough win. <

Great games played by sixth grade girls basketball travel teams

Fifth-grader, Leandra Woodman

By Matt Pascarella

The fifth and sixth grade girls basketball travel teams played games against Greely and Saco on Sunday, December 1^st at Westbrook High School.

Fifth Grade v. Greely

The girls started strong and jumped to an 8-0 lead in the first half. They passed the ball well and went after and got rebound and turnover opportunities. The Lady Eagles maintained the lead and went hard after the ball, capitalizing on any missteps by Greely.

Half: 16-4, Windham

Windham grabbed rebounds at the start of the second half. They continued to go after the ball with 110% effort. Windham had excellent shooting from the foul line and continued sinking baskets and adding points to the scoreboard. They took every opportunity to get the ball and the final score reflected their efforts.

Final: 24-19, Windham

“Their overall intensity contributed to the win,” stated Coach Ben Delewski. “They played as a team, going for every rebound – that’s what we practiced...being good teammates; we’re starting to come together.”

Sixth Grade v. Saco

The game was a close one from the start. The Lady Eagles moved the ball nicely and maintained a lead for most of the first half. Windham worked to be first to the ball and got rebounds and turnovers.

Half: 16-14, Saco

Windham wasted no time going after the ball and quickly took the lead, though Saco was not far behind. The Lady Eagles pressured with high intensity. With two minutes left, Windham had a three-point lead. The game was tied at 31 with 19.8 seconds left. Windham battled hard, but Saco was able to take this one, 33-31.

“That was just a great basketball game for these girls, they worked hard,” commented Coach Ray Fox. “At the end, our shot, we had, didn’t fall...it was a good ball game.”

Velocity Premier Soccer Club displays on field talent

Chloe Lariviere #7 rushes toward the ball

By Matt Pascarella

The Velocity U15 girls’ Premier soccer club played Dutch Soccer Academy (DSA) United, based out of Warren, Maine on Sunday, April 7 at Waterhouse Field in Biddeford.

Velocity Premier Soccer Club has the motto of “it’s not just all about soccer,” so we encourage the kids to play multiple sports, we encourage kids to be the best players, but more importantly the best girls they can become,” explained coach Matthew Bell. “This team is truly a family and I think that separates them from most premier clubs.”

The team is made up of Windham and Bonney Eagle players with a few players from Saco and

Biddeford. They came out aggressive and focused. They were pressuring DSA United right from the start. Velocity U15 girls had excellent teamwork and was working hard to be first to the ball and succeeding.

Velocity U15 had strong defense and offense. The girls were giving it everything they had. Although DSA United scored in the first half, Velocity U15 answered with Chloe Lariviere #7 rocketing the ball past DSA’s goalie to tie the game at 1 at the half.

Velocity U15 showed no signs of slowing down in the second half. They were pressuring and kept up the defense, blocking several scoring opportunities from DSA United. Even when DSA United put one through the posts, to jump to a 2-1 lead, Velocity U15 didn’t waiver. They didn’t get discouraged
and continued working hard for the goal. They didn’t stop pressuring and going hard after the ball. 

Velocity U15 had several substantial attempts to put the ball in. Unfortunately, DSA United scored toward the end of the half to keep the lead and win the game.

Final: 3-1, DSA United

“Our positional play offensively went well; our wings stayed wide; we used the space out in the wings. I also thought we played with a lot of heart,” remarked coach Bell.

Bell goes on to say that this group of girls have been playing together for two years and have come together very well. “They are a family, they all care about each other, they talk to each other all the time, and that’s pretty cool.”

Bell enjoys coaching the team and says he thinks he has more fun than they do. “This group of girls and the girls that Windham Youth Soccer puts together are just great kids with great parents. I’ve been blessed in that I’ve always had talented teams, it makes it easy to coach. I also lucked out and have coach Jason Dakin with me for both youth soccer and here. He brings a ton of knowledge and a ton of fun to the game; he always has something to contribute and it’s always positive.”

Special Olympics goes bowling

Special Olympics Bowling was held at Vacationland Bowling in Saco on October 24th.

RSU14 sent 34 athletes kindergarten through 12^th grade to compete both at the competitive and non-competitive levels.

A great time was had by all.

Photos by Jody Colangelo