Having a week off in the middle of the season might be a welcome thing to some teams, but it has been disastrous for the Mountain Valley boys the last few seasons.

“The downfall was kind of the middle of the season,” said Mountain Valley boys’ coach Aaron Perreault. “We’ve had a good start and we’d have that week off and they seemed to hit a rut.”

The Falcons would struggle to recover from that break and never find peak form again.

“We’ve had a hard time maintaining our focus,” said Perreault. “We’ve started 4-0 or 7-0 and then we’d hit a streak and get out of the moment of playing every day.”

Mountain Valley won’t have that problem this year. That extended break is coming in the first week of the season. After playing last weekend, Mountain Valley has eight days between its first two games.

The Falcons also have one of the strongest groups they’ve had in awhile. Pat Harris is an All-State midfielder, while Jeff Fuller led the team in scoring and was an All-Conference player. Corey Merrill, Joe Broughton and John Blais are all experienced defenders.

The hope for the Falcons is that this week off can serve as an extended preseason and allow them to start strong and pick up steam as they makes a run for the Western B playoffs.

Sister act

Buckfield girls coach Mike Jack has a unique situation. Of the 21 players on the squad, there are four pairs of sisters.

There is senior Shannon Boutin and junior Elise Boutin, senior Chelsea Allen and junior Candace Allen, junior Samantha Neal and freshman Lyndsay Neal and sophomore Desiree Brackett and freshman Brittany Brackett. It certainly makes it easier finding them rides home.

“This is the first year I haven’t had to wait around after practice,” said Jack. “They’re all gone.”

Fresh Lakers

Aaron Turcotte received a pleasant surprise when he took over the Rangeley boys this year. He had 20 players out for the team – not bad for a Class D school that only boasts about 80 kids in the school.

“For 20 guys to come out, considering we also have a golf team, I’m impressed that many would come out,” said Turcotte, who took over this year for Tom Danforth.

The fact that the Lakers won 14 games last year and reached the Western D semifinals may have helped spark interest. The numbers also got a boost from a strong group of freshmen. Turcotte has seven freshmen joining the program. With that group joining the likes of returning starters Jim Goodwin, Courtney Ellis, Tyler Philbrick, Mike George, James Raymond and Tad Clark, the Lakers should look good this year and for years to come.

“The freshmen at such a young age have all four years to work together,” said Turcotte. “I see a competitive team the next four years.”