Forest Hills probably isn't a contender for a state title. But anyone who likes high school sports can appreciate the Tigers this season.

With the high school basketball season around the corner, dozens of questions are cropping up and I can hardly wait for the answers.

Waterville will open defense of its Class B state title in the City of Waterville on Friday, Dec. 7, but it won't be at Waterville Senior High School, and it won't be at the usual 7 o'clock start for Friday night games.

Neither Cony nor Gardiner's band played at the annual rivalry game on Friday, seriously detracting from an already lackuster atmosphere.

The teams and schedule have been set for the annual Capital City Hoop Classic at the Augusta Civic Center. Once again, the tournament showcases perennially strong teams and a number of intriguing matchups.

Messalonskee grad Sarah Roderigue has always been able to create her own shot by slashing to the basket. She can also stick a 3-pointer and contribute in other ways. As well as she has played, though, Roderigue outdid herself in the first two games this season for the Clark University women's basketball team.

This is the week when memories of the Cony-Gardiner game flood conversations and newspaper stories. My most vivid recollection goes back to 1959 when I was just a young pup.

A pair of central Maine athletes are still playing college football, as their teams have moved to the second round of NCAA playoffs.

Gardiner Area High School graduate Craig Toulouse scored a touchdown on a 15-yard pass in Southern Connecticut's 45-28 win over Bryant in the NCAA Division II first round. Toulouse, the Owls' starting fullback, was a second team all-Northeast 10 selection this season.

The Owls (9-3) play at California (Penn.) this weekend in the second round.

Remember Cony football?
It's been awhile — nearly a month — since the Rams last played a game (Oct. 26). They've spent the last few weeks practicing, scrimmaging and even playing some flag football. Oh, they've also paid close attention to Gardiner and its run through the postseason. Cony senior captain Cam O'Brien said Monday night, "We kept track of them, but we did our own thing."

Here's the final top 10 in Maine high school football for the 2007 season, as I see it.

1. Bonny Eagle
2. Lawrence
3. Bangor
4. Deering
5. Gardiner
6. Marshwood
7. Mountain Valley
8. Foxcroft Academy
9. Skowhegan
10. Cape Elizabeth

Gardiner Area High School leads the Class B state championship game, 14-0 at the half. Here are stats for the Tigers, called in by staff writer Bill Stewart.
Gardiner has rushed 28 times for 150 yards.
Brad Carleton leads the way with 11 carries for 85 yards, while Bass Chadwick has rushed nine times for 30 yards. Kyle Stilphen has rushed five times for 23 yards and completed one pass for 49 yards to Forrest Chadwick.

Brad Carleton has five rushes for 37 yards and a 10-yard touchdown run as the Gardiner Tigers jumped out to a 14-0 lead over Mountain Valley after the first quarter of the Class B state championship game.

Gardiner Area High School senior Kyle Stilphen, who is preparing to play in the Class B state championship game later tonight, has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Maine.

The following report is from staff writer Bill Stewart, from Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland.

The five Gardiner Area High School football players who were monitored for a potentially fatal skin disease made the trip to Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland Saturday and were expected to play in the Class B championship game according to principal Chad Kempton and coach Matt Brown.
"Everything is clear," Kempton said. "They are good to go."
Trainer Chris Sementelli checked every player for signs of MRSA staph, an infection that resist antiboitics, before anyone was allowed to board the bus at Gardiner Area High School this afternoon. The entire team was cleared to play.
Kempton said had any player showed signs of MRSA staff they would not have been allowed to play Saturday against defending Class B champ Mountain Valley.

Minutes before receiving the Gold Ball for winning the Class A state championship trophy, Bonny Eagle High School players unrolled a banner that read DYNASTY.

They have Lawrence High School in a place called Franklin, Maine, not Fairfield, but even with that error, you'll find a short paragraph previewing the Class A state championship game between Bonny Eagle and Lawrence in the Sports Illustrated cover dated Nov. 19.

The blurb, which features photos of Lawrence quarterback Jack Hersom and Bonny Eagle tailback Joh Ruby, can be found on page 125 of the issue, on the Inside High School Football page. It points out that this is a matchup between the last two Class A state champions and that both teams are undefeated. It also mentions stats and scores from each team's regional final win.

A crowd of more than 200 turned out for Tuesday night's basketball game between the University of Maine at Augusta men and the University of Maine at Machias, most to see former local high school stars perform.

Lawrence fans plan to get up early. Gardiner fans plan to stay out a little bit late.

Katie Frett, a Hall-Dale High School graduate who is a freshman at Wellesley College, and Lauren Blake, a Messalonskee grad who is now a sophomore at Clark University, both earned regional honors for their field hockey play this season.

The Pine Tree Conference Class A doesn't give a Most Valuable Player Award for the playoffs, so I'm going to go ahead and give it to Lawrence quarterback Jack Hersom.

In three playoff games, Hersom completed 72.7 percent of his pass attempts (32 of 44) for 622 yards and four touchdowns. Hersom threw no interceptions.

Hersom's favorite target throughout the PTC playoffs was Nick Nelson, who caught 17 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

The St. Joseph's College field hockey team won two games in 2005 and six more last season. This year, with local players like Hall-Dale grad Darcy Ward and Erskine grad Kelly Emerson playing key roles, the Monks had a wild postseason.

Three terrific local rivalries highlight the high school football regional finals this weekend.

Trucks and cars parked just outside the endzone. Fans ringing the field three or four deep. Bleacher full of screaming fans on both sides of the field.
Keyes Field on Friday nights has become the place to be in high school football.

Wednesday was an emotional night for Gorham girls soccer coach Jeanne Zarrilli. Not only did her team win its fourth straight state title, one of her daughters scored the winning goal, another led a strong defensive effort.

I can't think of a high school football team in recent years that has been on more of a roll than the Lawrence Bulldogs are right now. Not only has Lawrence won 21 consecutive games, the Bulldogs have won their two playoffs games by a combined score of 92-0.

Lawrence knocked off Mt. Blue 42-0 last week, and on Friday, the Bulldogs took care of Skowhegan 50-0. In both games, the Bulldogs were as dominant as the score indicates.

They are among the most anonymous participants in sports, but offensive linemen are vital to a team's success, and one reason Gardiner is winning football games.

UMaine-Farmington will be hosting a pair of North Atlantic Conference championship games on Saturday, and in each case, the opponent is Husson. The NAC field hockey championship will be at noon, followed by the NAC soccer title game at 2. The full day of sports at UMF will be completed with the men's and women's basketball alumni games at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.