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Hampden Academy senior Christian McCue was named Mr. Maine Basketball recently at the Maine McDonald’s all-star banquet. The 6-foot-2 McCue moved the point guard this season and led the Broncos to a 20-2 record and a berth in the Class A state championship game.



He recently answered some questions about his season and career:

Q: Who got you started playing basketball and when?

A: "My dad is the one who got me started. He put the ball in my hands when I was 5 years old. I remember it was my birthday and he told me I finally was old enough to start practicing, and he began taking me to the local middle school gym to shoot and do drills with my older brothers."

Q: Who have been your most important influences in the game?

A: "My most important influences have definitely been my two older brothers, Jesse and Daniel McCue. My oldest brother Jesse is the best shooter I have ever seen, and honestly I have been working my entire life to shoot like him. My middle brother Daniel is an amazing point guard with the highest basketball IQ you can imagine. The two of them have spent countless hours with me over the last 10-plus years teaching me everything I know about the game. Jesse played at Palm Beach Atlantic University where he still holds the all-time school record for 3’s made in a game, season, and career.

"Daniel is graduating from MIT this year where he helped lead the team to its first D III Final Four appearance ever, and best school record in history. I think I got the best of both worlds and became a combination of two of them after receiving both their expertise. I also think my father has been a huge influence on me. He has always pushed me extremely hard, sometimes harder than I would have liked. But he never hesitated to rebound for me no matter how late at night, or how many times a week."

Q: What do you most enjoy about basketball?

A: The thing I enjoy most about basketball is that it’s the perfect combination of team and individual moments. There are times when it is completely mano a mano, like when you are guarding someone man to man, or trying to score, and there is a lot of individual pride on the line. But there is also a beautiful team aspect, whether it is a fastbreak with a couple quick passes, or you taking a charge on help-side when your teammate gets beat. The camaraderie of the game of basketball, on the court and in the locker room, is amazing, but it also gives you an opportunity to showcase your individual talent.

Q: What parts of your game have you worked on the most in the past couple of years and where do you need to improve?

A: "Over the last two years I have really tried to develop my ability to take it to the basket. I have stood on the three point line and shot threes my whole life, but one-dimensional players are easy to guard, and that became apparent to me early in my varsity career after a couple games of being face guarded. So over the last two years I have made a very conscious effort to try and attack when I am playing pickup basketball, or with my friends, and have spent a lot of time playing by myself taking it to the basket.

"I still need to improve on this ability, and also the ability of knowing when to pass and when to shoot it myself. I stepped into the roll of point guard this year for Hampden Academy, and sometimes I would get into the paint and be in between dishing it to a teammate and taking it all the way myself. I just need to keep working on the feel for that part of my game."

Q: Were you surprised you were named Mr. Maine Basketball? What are your thoughts on winning?

A: "I wouldn’t say I was surprised as much as relieved. I thought if they called my name at the McDonald’s banquet I would have earned it, but I was also worried because the other finalists, Cam Sennick and Cole Libby, are great players, with impressive résumés. Winning the award has always been a secret dream of mine, and is something I will always be profoundly proud of.

"It means a lot to me because I feel like I have brought honor to my family, the ones who have always supported me. Winning the award was also a moment of vindication for me, because there have always been a lot of coaches and people who have doubted my ability. Sometimes this made me doubt myself too, but winning an award like this makes it feel like it has all been worth it."

Q: What teams have you played for outside of school and how did this impact your development?

A: "I have played for various AAU teams and various coaches. Throughout high school I played for both MBR and ME Hoops, two great programs. AAU has been really great because it gives you a chance to not only keep playing in the off-season and to keep getting better, but also to see what else is out there. Being from Maine especially, going to the bigger tournaments in Boston, New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, etc. was always an eye-opening experience. Seeing the best of the best always motivates you to improve your game, and expand it past what you previously knew."

Q: Which of your skills on the court do you take the most pride in?

A: "The skill I take most pride in is definitely my shooting ability. I have always regarded shooting as an art, and taken in extremely serious. I know I have racked up 100’s of thousands of repetitions, all in attempt to perfect that art. One of my worst fears is to have somebody see me shoot an ugly jump shot. I am well aware that I can’t take it to the hoop and dunk on someone, so I have always felt shooting a deep jumper is my chance to wow someone on the court."

Q: What other sports and activities do you enjoy?

A: "I enjoy pretty much all sports; I used to play soccer and baseball but stopped after middle school. When not playing basketball I enjoy spending time with my friends, and we usually kill time playing ping pong and video games. I also like music, and can play the saxophone."

Q: Do you think Hampden overachieved this season? If so, why?

A: "I think we had a spectacular run this year, but I wouldn’t say we overachieved. I am very close friends with the guys on the team, and have played with them for a really long time. Ever since we were in middle school we envisioned playing in a state championship. The core group of guys on the team played and practiced a lot together in the off season, and would have settled for nothing less than what we achieved this year."

Q: What lessons away from the court or field have you learned from playing sports?

A: "I think I have learned a few critical lessons from basketball. First, is how to deal with pressure. I remember this year when we played at Mt. Blue during the regular season, the gym was absolutely packed. Mt. Blue was the other top team in the conference, and it was probably the biggest game of the season to that point. It had been a hard fought battle, but we were down by two with no time left when a kid on the other team got a technical foul.

"I was sent to the line, and remember a tremendous roar coming from the stands, as I was forced to just take a deep breath and knock them down. I ended up hitting both to send it in to OT, and we ended up winning. Pressure like that will be hard to replicate in my regular life, and I think experiences like that have prepared me to handle tough situations when they arise."

Q: Where do you plan to attend college and do you hope to play basketball?

A: "I am not positive where I will end up next year, but I will definitely be playing basketball. If everything works out right, I will most likely end up in Cambridge playing for the MIT Engineers."

BEAL WINS GATORADE AWARD
Garet Beal of Jonesport-Beals High School is the Maine Gatorade boys' basketball Player of the Year.

The junior forward led the Royals (19-2) to the Class D state championship this past winter. The 6-foot-5 Beal averaged 22.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 3.6 assists per game. He shot 61.5 percent from the field and 81.2 percent from the line.

Beal is the first player from Jonesport-Beals High to win the Gatorade Player of the Year.

HOCKEY TITLES DECIDED
Thornton Academy won its second straight Class A championship while Greely won in Class B in games played recently at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston. Thornton defeated St. Dominic 5-1 behind three goals and an assist from senior captain C.J. Maksut. Adam Carrigan added a goal and two assist for the Trojans who finished three season at 20-1-1. Included in their wins were three victories over St. Dom’s.Greely downed Messalonskee 6-2 to win its first Class B title since 2009. The Rangers scored three goals in a 62-second span in the first period. Peter Stauber and Ted Hart each scored twice for Greely which finished at 15-4-2. Ben Hackett added a goal and two assists while Pete Hurley scored a goal.

Travis St. Pierre and Sam Dexter scored for Messalonskee which finished at 18-4 and made its first trip to a state title game.

MAKSUT WINS TRAVIS ROY
Thornton Academy senior C.J. Maksut won the 17th annual Travis Roy Award given annually to the top Class A hockey player in the state. The award is named for the former Yarmouth and North Yarmouth Academy star who was paralyzed 11 seconds into his first collegiate shift at Boston University.

Maksut scored 32 goals and 27 assists this season to lead the Trojans to their second straight Class A championship. For his career he finished with 90 goals and 64 assists, setting a school record of 154 points.

That Travis and Karen Magnusson would become high school basketball coaches, given their backgrounds as point guards and students of the game, seemed inevitable. So does the success that the husband and wife coaches are having this season at their respective schools.

Travis, who coaches the Dirigo High School boys team, came within a whisker of a perfect season before falling to Spruce Mountain, 39-34 Wednesday night. Still, his Cougars finished the regular season at 17-1 and enter the upcoming Western Maine Class C tournament as the top seed. Karen, who coaches the Cony High School girls team, finished at 18-0 Thursday and her Rams will enter the Eastern Maine Class A tournament as the top-seeded team.

There wasn’t much talk between Karen and Travis about going unbeaten this season — both recognize winning a state title as a larger goal — but it’s still hard to avoid.

“Honestly we try not to do it,” Karen said. “But it’s something that comes up with other people.”

The couple rarely get to see one another’s teams play since they usually play on the same night. Fans at both schools, however, recognize what’s going on.



“It’s almost like we share our programs with each other,” Karen said. “His fans ask how I’m doing and my fans ask how Trav’s doing.”

The Magnussons are both basketball junkies, a passion that began long before they met at the University of Maine at Farmington a few years ago. Karen Sirois starred at Cony in Augusta while Travis played for Georges Valley in Thomaston. Both played point guard at UMF and each of them totaled over 1,000 points and 500 assists in their careers.

Farmington women’s coach Jamie Beaudoin and men’s coach Dick Meader saw coaches in the two long before their playing careers ended.

"I knew from the first moment I watched her play that she was going to be a coach," Beaudoin said. "She was able to see things on the floor that many times an experienced coach wouldn't pick up on. She's just a student of the game."

Meader echoed those thoughts about Travis, who served as a varsity assistant at UMF the year after he graduated. Travis was hired as boys coach at Livermore Falls a year before Karen go the job at Cony so she helped him out and gave him an unbiased look at the players and the team.

"There was nobody I listened to more, especially with my team that first year," Travis said.

Travis turned the Livermore program around, reaching a tournament prelim game his first year in 2009 and the tournament itself the next two. He lost his job when Livermore and Jay high schools combined this year to form Spruce Mountain, but when the Dirigo job opened up he applied. The Cougars reached the state final last year and return many of those players.

The Magnussons talk basketball most of the time, often while breaking down film at home another or swapping drills.

"I get some of my plays and sets from him," Karen said. "I know his personnel, we definitely help each other out. Sometimes we sit up until 11:30 or 12 talking about it. We watch game film together. It's like having an assistant coach at home."

They also share a similar philosophy, borne from the way they played the game.

"We both like to run and gun, play pressure defense and give our players freedom to take shots." Travis said. "As I've gotten older I've realized the importance of quality shots."

The Magnussons are competitive by nature and haven’t played a serious game of 1 on since Travis came away with a bloody nose when the got together on the court in college.

"He's competitive and I'm competitive so we never really have the fun 1-on-1," Karen said.

Well, they did have a little fun on the court on the day they were married, playing a friendly game, she in her wedding dress and he in his tuxedo.

They’ll get a chance to watch the other’s team play in about 10 days when their teams will be favored to win regional championships at the Augusta Civic Center.

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Madison Memorial High School senior Seth Sweet has established himself as the top high school golfer in the state.

Sweet recently won his second straight Class C state individudal title, shooting a 2-under par 70, the lowest in any class. Last summer he was one of two Maine golfers to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur. He also finished fourth in the Maine Amateur last year and, when he was 12, he was the youngest qualifier ever for that tournament. He recently answered questions about himself and the game he loves.

Q: How did you get started in golf?

A: "My dad introduced me into the game when I was 2 years old. He brought me out to a little par three course with a plastic set of Little Tikes golf clubs. I didn’t play that often but he brought me to the golf course just enough so I could really get a liking for this game. After a while I knew there was something about this game that was special and I knew it would be able to take me places."

Q: When did you first get hooked on the game?

A: "I first became serious around the age of 10. I played my first tournament when I was 7 but did not realize what it took to really become an elite golfer. I started playing several tournaments when I turned 10, and began to practice a lot harder. I tried to take my game to the next level and set different levels of goals that I needed to achieve."

Q: Who have been your greatest influences in the game?

A: "My dad has definitely been the biggest influence in my game. He taught me everything I needed to know to become who I am today. He made it so I could play in every tournament I wanted to play in, and would do everything for me. My mother has also been there supporting me and always telling me that if I want it I can get it. She is always there to watch me play tournaments, and I couldn’t do it without them. My brother Zack also has been there to push me as he is a good golfer and always taught me how to act, as well as made me the best I could ever be. My swing coach has also been able to bring me to the tip top in my game and has taught me how to play this game like the pros.

Q: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?

A: "I believe my greatest accomplishment has been making the U.S. Junior Amateur in Bremerton, Washington where I played two great days to make a playoff to make the cut for match play. Unfortunately, I missed the playoff, but was the proudest to place 55th best junior in the nation. I may not have met my goal, but was very pleased with how I played."

Q: How often do you play and practice?

A: "I play every day and practice every day. In order to be the best you have to have the club in your hand acting like it is your lifeline."

Q: What do you work on?

A: "Lately I work on the short game because I am able to hit the ball on the green, but where I am going to save strokes is making the putts for birdies. I will also work on hitting the ball in different shapes, I usually hit a draw but I understand that I need to be able to hit the cut to be one of the best as well. I believe that short game is where the pros make it look easy and win the tournaments."

Q: Where will you attend school next year?

A: "I have recently just verbally committed to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia."

Q: How did this come about?

A: "I had a friend from Rhode Island who is a freshman there and had told the coach about me. He must have put in a good word for me because the next week I got a call from the coach and it eventually led to an official visit offer. I visited the campus and fell in love with it and
fell in love with the golf facilities this school has to offer."

Q: What are your short and long-term goals in the game?

A: "My short term goal for golf is to really become a better player and win my state amateur, and qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur again. My long term goals are to become a golf professional and play on the PGA tour, I do realize this will be a tough task but I am ready to make a run for it. I also want to be in a scoring spot all four years in college and be a key asset in our successful team.

Q: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

A: "My strengths are definitely being able to drive the ball, chip the ball and putt the ball. I hit the ball about 290 yards down the middle and my short game has grown incredibly and improved greatly. I also am able to keep a great state of mind while playing golf which is to my advantage. I believe my weakness is paying too much attention to other people, I shouldn’t watch my competitors, but I do and get caught up in their game a little too much."

Q: Who is your favorite pro golfer and why?

A: "My favorite player used to be Tiger Woods because I idolized his work ethic, he won his tournaments by out-working his competitors and there was no question that he did every week. I also loved watching how he worked on the golf course he made himself expect the best of the competitors so he would not be surprised when they hit a good shot. My new favorite player is Bubba Watson, I enjoy how he hits the ball so long and is changing the game with his stride in great length. I also like how he has fun while he is playing and is very personable while he is playing. It is truly an awesome thing for him to be able to enjoy the game the way he does."

Q: What other activities or sports do you enjoy?

A: "I enjoy playing basketball with a passion; it is a very fun game for me and keeps me in shape during my long winter up in Maine. I enjoy running, and weight lifting as it keeps me in shape and I enjoy doing that every day."

Q: What are your plans for the summer before college?

A: "I plan on playing in 5-10 golf tournaments and practice my short game and the little details golf demands you to do. I am going to play in the big tournaments in the state and going to qualify for some USGA events. I just want to keep my competitive edge and make my game in fine tune for the fall college season."

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The Maine high school basketball season concluded with the McDonald’s Senior All-Star games at Husson University. Prior to the games, Mr. and Miss Maine Basketball winners were announced. Tyler McFarland of Camden Hills was named Mr. Basketball while Kayla Burchill of Deering High was named Miss Basketball.

McFarland, a 6-foot-6 forward, led the Windjammers to an unbeaten season and a state Class B title. He averaged 24.6 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Burchill, a 6-1 forward who will play at the University of Vermont next season, averaged 22.6 points and 9.4 rebounds a game while leading Deering to a 19-2 record and top seeding in Western Maine Class A.

McFarland Q & A
Q: How do you feel about being named Mr. Maine Basketball? Were you surprised?

A: "It’s rewarding to be recognized as Mr. Basketball this season. There were many deserving players of this award throughout the state this year including the other two finalists; Graham Safford of Hampden Academy and Bowen Leary of Edward Little High. I felt that either three of us could have been named Mr. Basketball. I spent the majority of the banquet (in which the announcement was made) cracking jokes to my friends Graham Safford, Ray Bessette, and Josh Walker. I wasn’t concerned about who was going to win the award, because all of us players were enjoying a good meal, so I wasn’t necessarily surprised, but nervous about what I was going to say to the 400 people in attendance. It was gratifying to win the award, but if Graham or Bo were to be named Mr. Basketball it would have been equally as rewarding to see another great player/good kid to be presented with the award."

Q: What was the highlight of the season for you?

A: "Winning the state championship was easily the most memorable moment the year."

Q: What goals had you set for yourself and the team?

A: "Personally my focus was to lead an undefeated season this year, and we did that at 23-0. We overcame some adversity early in the year to accomplish that, which made this team stronger as well as more confident come playoff time."

Q: Who have been the greatest influences in your basketball career?

A: "Chronologically, I’ll begin with my Dad as he has pushed me to compete and play the game year round starting at a very young age. He recognized my passion for the game and provided me with opportunities to compete and play the game, whether he was coaching or driving me and my friends to AAU practice.

"Dan Gabriele is the father of the starting 2 guard on our High school team this year. Very much like my father he coached my friends from Camden and I since the age of 11. Dan piled the travel team known as “The Rock” into his black mini-van dozens of times to travel hours at a time in any direction where we could meet good competition. Jeff Hart took me under his wing in 2007 as my high school basketball coach. Coach Hart has molded me as a basketball player instilling confidence, awareness, and selflessness on the court. He has taught me that sacrifice is at times as rewarding as individual accomplishment. Looking back at myself as a freshman there are so many traits that I have attained through competing in the basketball program at Camden Hills (from then until now) that are very important to who I am as a player/person today. Carl Parker is my AAU coach of two year now and has influenced my mindset towards the game of basketball as well as life in general. Simply playing for Coach Parker has led me to become competitive to another dimension. I seek to play against the best and hope for the opportunity on any occasion which has been part of my decision to attend prep school in order to allow myself the opportunity to play at the highest level possible in the future. Coach Parker wants to see me reach my full potential with the game as much as anyone. His belief and confidence in me as a player has caused me to strive for more out of this game."

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One upset and another near-upset marked the opening round of the Class A football playoffs last week.

In the Southern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) quarterfinals, top-seeded Cheverus needed to rally for a pair of second-half touchdowns to defeat defending state champion Windham 34-27. The Stags trailed 27-14 before putting three touchdowns on the board, the first a 21 yard pass from Peter Gwilym to Louie DiStasio.

Evan Jendrasko evened the score with a 1-yard run and Gwilym completed the comeback with a scoring pass to Jack Bushey. Gwilym completed a 11 of 18 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns.

In other SMAA quarterfinal games, fifth-seeded Scarborough knocked off No. 4 Biddeford 48-14 and third-seeded Deering downed No. 5 Thornton Academy 56-18.

In the Pine Tree Conference quarterfinals, No. 8 Brunswick upset No. 1 Lawrence for the second year in a row, beating the Bulldogs 14-13 on their home field. The visiting Dragons trailed 13-0 before rallying for a pair of scores, the second a 34-yard option pass from Keith Kitchens to Donald Benbow.

In other PTC games, second-seeded Bangor shut out No. 7 Edward Little 16-0, fourth-seeded Lewiston topped No. 5 Messalonskee 42-13 and No. 3 Mt. Blue edged No. 6 Cony 20-12. Cony quarterback Luke Duncklee rushed for two touchdowns, giving him 18 for the season. The senior rushed for 1,201 yards this season and also passed for 1,512 yards and eight touchdowns. Over the past two seasons, Duncklee has accounted for 50 touchdowns, rushing and passing, and 4,805 total yards.

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Two more teams were knocked form the ranks of the unbeaten in Week 5 of high school football. Thornton Academy of Saco had outscored its Class A opponents 201-13 coming into its game against Deering, but the Trojans were dominated by the Rams, 35-6.

Deering quarterback Jamie Ross did most of the damage, passing for 125 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 134 yards and two more scores. Deering sustained its only loss in Week 3, losing 34-12 to Bonny Eagle.

In a Class C battle of unbeatens, Yarmouth’s Bryce Snyder kicked a 28-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to lift the Clippers to a 16-14 victory over Lisbon. Yarmouth, which has only had varsity football for five years, was led by Anders Overhaug who rushed for 169 yards on 14 carries.

There are only 12 unbeaten teams left in the state, five in Class A — Cheverus, Bonny Eagle, Lawrence, Lewiston and Bangor. That number will be reduced this week when Lawrence hosts Lewiston. Unbeaten teams in Class B include Gardiner, Leavitt, Cape Elizabeth and Mountain Valley while Stearns, Winthrop and Yarmouth are all 5-0 in Class C.

Top performances:

• Rockland’s Derek Miller scored eight touchdowns in a 66-6 rout of Dexter. Miller passed for one score, rushed for five, caught one TD pass and scored another on a punt return.
• Cony’s Luke Dunklee threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 205 yards and two scores in a 28-21 win against Brunswick. Duncklee has rushed for 13 touchdowns and 743 yards and passed for three scores and 653 yards.
• Messalonskee’s Keenan Knox rushed for 176 yards and four scores in a 48-8 win over Brewer. Knox has rushed for 827 yards on the season.
• Bonny Eagle’s Matt Rollins passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two more as the unbeaten Scots downed Massabesic, 40-20.
• Traip Academy’s Tyler Nay rushed for 203 yards and four touchdowns as the surprising Rangers moved to 4-1 with a 34-25 victory over Livermore Falls.
• John Bapst’s Jordan Charpentier passed for four touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 36-13 win over Foxcroft Academy.

Big games to watch for:

• Oct. 15, Bangor at Lawrence. A potential battle of Class A unbeatens if Lawrence gets past Lewiston this week. The teams were in the same position last season when Bangor nipped Lawrence 28-21 on its way to a state title appearance.
• Oct. 16, Bonny Eagle at Cheverus. Bonny Eagle has developed into a Class A power under oach Kevin Cooper, winning four state championships in the past six years. Cooper is assisted by his father Pete who led Lawrence to several state titles. Cheverus’ program has been resurrected under John Wolfgram, the state’s winningest coach. Wolfgram and Pete Cooper met a number of times when Wolfgram coached Gardiner to three state titles in the late ‘70s and ‘80s.
• Oct. 22, Gardiner at Leavitt. Another potential battle of unbeaten teams in the Pine Tree Conference’s Class B division. Both are led by outstanding juniors, Gardiner by running back Alonzo Connor and Leavitt by quarterback Jordan Hersom. Leavitt is defending Class B state champ while Gardiner won the title in 2007.
• Oct. 29, Cape Elizabeth at Mountain Valley. These teams gained a measure of statewide immortality when the film “The Rivals” was produced in 2008 documenting the rivalry between wealthy Cape Elizabeth and Rumford, the mill town where Mountain Valley is located. It was recently shown on the Smithsonian Channel. So far this season, Mountain Valley has outscored opponents 212-12 while Cape holds a 152-27 advantage.

Gardiner’s Connor sets school record
Gardiner High junior running back Alonzo Connor has packed nearly a season’s worth of statistics into his first five games. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound tailback has already rushed for 1,022 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Two weeks ago against Mount Desert Island, Connor rushed for a school record 346 yards and scored five touchdowns. He also scored five times the previous week in a week against Waterville.

Against MDI, Connor pulled off one of the most memorable runs in school history. With Gardiner at the MDI 35 and a second left in the half, quarterback Spencer Allen threw a screen to Connor who headed down the left sideline. He ran into a pack of defenders near the 20-yard line and reversed fields, circling back 15 yards to pick up blocks. With all 11 defenders in pursuit, he weaved his way through traffic, took a hit near the goal line and scored. The run brought the Tigers in a 21-all tie and
changed the momentum of the game.

“That’s the best play I’ve ever seen,” Gardiner coach Jim Palmer said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

Football Top 10
1. Bonny Eagle
2. Cheverus
3. Bangor
4. Lawrence
5. Lewiston
6. Mountain Valley
7. Deering
8. Leavitt
9. Scarborough
10. Cape Elizabeth

Leonardi's big day
Kennebunk High School junior Abbey Leonardi won the annual Festival of Champions cross country race in Belfast on Saturday.

The race attracted over 100 boys and girls teams and nearly 1,300 runners. Leonardi finished the 5K course in 17 minutes, 58 seconds while Madison junior Matt McClintock won the boys race in 16:06. Leonardi has long been considered one of New England’s top distance runners. She won the New England high school cross country race her freshman year and last spring as a sophomore set state records in the 1,600 (4:51) and 3,200 (10:42) meter runs. She followed by winning the New England 3,200 in 10:26. She closed her sophomore year by placing fourth in the 3,200 in the New Balance Nationals, also in 10:26. The 5-foot-1, 16-year-old placed second last year in the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals and 22nd in the national race.

Scarborough won the boys' team title at the Festival while Cheverus captured the girls' title. In the latest girls' coaches poll, Cheverus is ranked first with Cape Elizabeth second. In the boys poll, it’s Gorham followed by Falmouth.

Boys' soccer Top 10
1. Bangor
2. Scarborough
3. Yarmouth
4. Portland
5. Ellsworth
6. Brunswick
7. Cape Elizabeth
8. Gorham
9. Maranacook
10. Camden Hills

Girls' soccer Top 10
1. Brunswick
2. Scarborough
3. Yarmouth
4. Bangor
5. York
6. Cheverus
7. Hampden
8. Waterville
9. Thornton
10. St. Dominic

Performances by a number of running backs highlighted Week 3 of the Maine high school football season.

The fledging co-operative program between Calais and Woodland high schools took its lumps last season in the Class C Little Ten Conference, but is off to a 3-0 start this season, thanks in large part to running back Spencer McCormick who rushed for 292 yards on 20 carries and scored five touchdowns in a 54-7 win against Orono.

Gardiner’s Alonzo Connor also turned in a five-touchdown performance as the Tigers downed Class B Pine Tree Conference rival Waterville 32-20. Connor, a junior, rushed for 172 yards on 26 carries.

Jack Powers of Camden Hills scored three touchdowns while rushing for 291 yards on 23 carries as the Windjammers nipped Morse 34-28 in a PTC Class B game. In another PTC Class B contest, Hampden Academy’s Nick Stevens rushed for 227 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Broncos to a 35-28 victory against Winslow.

Portland’s quarterback experiment with Imahdi Zagon is apparently over. Coach Mike Bailey put his talented running back in a number of different sets against Westbrook but not under center. Junior Matt McInnis is now the full-time quarterback with Zagon in the backfield. He responded by rushing for 258 yards on 37 carries to lead the Bulldogs to their first win of the season, a 27-15 over the Blue Blazes.

In other standout performances, Biddeford remained unbeaten in Class A Western Maine with a 47-21 win over Kennebunk behind Nick Gagne who rushed for four touchdowns and 145 yards.

Oak Hill’s Josh Allen put the Raiders in the win column against Jay by rushing for 227 yards and four scores.

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