Ka-chew.

'Zundheit.

That was the sound heard around the Greely girls' basketball team when the regular season ended 10 days ago. Sickness and the regular aches and pains of a long season were all over the place. Nothing the Rangers couldn't handle but still, a layoff would do nothing but help.

While some teams, especially those with a 16-2 record, would rather keep on truckin' to the state final, having 10 days off was just fine for the Rangers.

"We had a lot of sickness, colds and flu," said junior forward Abby Young, who had one more thing added during the 38-27 victory Tuesday against Lake Region -- a bloody nose.

"I know I missed one of the scrimmages and a couple of practices."

She's fine and so is the team, which is seeking its first regional championship since 2004 with a giant hurdle in undefeated York awaitin' down the road.

"The layoff was good because we also got to work on our weaknesses," said Coach Bill Goodman. "We had the two scrimmages (against Windham and Waynflete) and the girls really learned what to work on, especially on defense. All year I've played a lot of girls and our motto has been, 'Be ready.' Today they were ready. Everyone knows that everything we do starts with defense."

Lake Region, which had a three-year regional championship reign end, didn't have as much of a layoff because it played a prelim game against Fryeburg Academy. Still, the week between games helped.

"Normally I wouldn't care but it was a perfect time for us because we had some sicknesses," said Coach Paul True.

Even though Class B girls was the last of the classes in Western Maine to play its quarterfinals, True said he kept away from the other tournament games, except to cheer on the Lake Region boys in their victory Saturday against Mountain Valley. He also decided against scheduling a scrimmage.

"I'm not a big believer in playing 100 games," he said. "I think we can get just as much done by ourselves in our own gym."

*****

Yes, that was John Wolfgram, the football coaching legend for Gardiner and South Portland who now heads the Cheverus program, officiating Expo games Saturday in Class B boys and Tuesday in Class B girls.

Would have been interesting to learn how much Wolfgram enjoys officiating and better yet, whether he ever considered coaching basketball. But alas, he said the Maine Principals' Association won't allow him to talk about basketball during the tournaments.

*****

As if the Western Class A boys' semifinals tonight at the Cumberland County Civic Center need more of a subplot, there's the Ian Barwise meets the Stags again storyline.

Barwise, who can be a force underneath as well as roam the perimeter, was a key component for Cheverus last season when it burst past unbeaten, untested and never-knew-what-hit-'em Bangor in the second half of the Class A state final.

New year, and no Barwise for the Stags. He left Cheverus, surfaced at Thornton Academy, and wouldn't you know, will meet his old buddies in the regional semifinals.

Hard feelings? Sorta doubt it. After Cheverus had a relatively easy time beating the Trojans in Saco a few weeks ago, one of the Stags said, "He was a good teammate."

Don't expect a cage match, but it still will be interesting to watch the dynamics and body language.

--Hal Madsen

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