Significant hoops news in the central Maine area: Sam Smith, who led the Messalonskee boys to the Class A North title this year, is leaving to accept the same position at Lake Region (his alma mater).

Joel Sankey was one of the best people around in a Maine high school football community that has so many good ones. He will truly be missed. RIP.

Happy spring sports!

My feature story on torpedo bats, which have an origin in Anson, Maine, and have even made their way to Maine high school baseball at one nearby school.

They’re all the rage in MLB, and now, torpedo bats are already making their way to Maine high school baseball. Senior Xavier Estes is one of five Madison players using the bats, which are made at Maine Billets in nearby Anson. He says he will likely use the bats during games this season.

Todd MacArthur has stepped down as Winthrop boys basketball coach after 14 seasons. MacArthur went 196-77 with the Ramblers, whom he guided to back-to-back Class C state titles in 2019 and 2020.

Barça–Osasuna, MLB Opening Day AND the Sweet 16?!

A year ago, Michigan went 8-24 and finished last in the Big Ten by multiple games. To go to 27-10 with a B1G tourney title and an NCAA tourney win with this Frankenstein roster is the most insane turnaround I have ever seen.

Best day of the year?

To think that Maine men’s basketball might make the Big Dance is actually impossible. What Chris Markwood is 40 minutes away from doing is the national story of the year in college basketball.

What year do we think this is from?

Bangor’s Cross Insurance Center is the premier tourney venue in Maine high school basketball. The communities, the ambiance and the feel of the arena are second to none. Fantastic column here from @tlazarczyk.bsky.social that articulates it.

Joined Maranacook girls basketball coach and MPBN announcer Karen Magnusson yesterday to talk tourney — what we’ve seen and what we’re looking forward to the next few days. Give it a watch/listen!

Two down-to-the-wire battles and a major upset. Couldn’t have scripted a better Day 1 of the tournament at the Cross Insurance Center.

In 48 hours, I’ll be here:

Possibly the GOAT halftime show. WHEW.

The Augusta Civic Center: Come for the best Maine high school athletic contests around; stay because water is dripping through a panel of the ceiling and onto your head.

This story was a product of a month-plus of work. I looked at how analytics play into Maine high school sports and found countless teams looking to the numbers to get a leg up in the modern era:

So much for a classic! The Lawrence basketball team thoroughly dominated Cony to stay unbeaten.

Cony (13-1) vs. Lawrence (14-0) girls in Fairfield. Game of the year in central Maine (all of Maine?) so far.

Soon:

Had to break this out today. #RaiseHail

No better way to get me to change the channel.

Could B South earn a rare state title over the North this year? This region is loaded:

Overtime in JV games should be illegal.

Messalonskee’s Ryan Parent has RANGE. The senior made four first-half 3-pointers tonight as the Eagles beat Mt. Blue 48-37 in a major Class A North boys showdown.

Flown plenty over the years, but can’t say I’d ever flown over an NFL game as it happened before today:

Selection Sunday will never be the same. RIP.

Got SI’s “The College Football Book” for Christmas, and lo and behold, there’s the 2006 Colby–Bates game:

Lawrence girls basketball is just nuts, man.

Love to stay up until 11:30 just to watch Michigan basketball punch me in the gut!

Third time’s the charm for the Longhorns?

Another year of Maine high school football in the books. Your state champs:

Michigan getting Bryce Underwood should be a watershed moment. This program has the biggest donor base of anyone in the country, and it paid off. If we’re truly in the pay-to-play era, let’s do this thing and get the best roster money can buy. #GoBlue

First high school basketball practice of the season. Let’s go.