SOUTH PORTLAND—As the 2025-26 high school basketball season progresses, it looks more and more like history could repeat.
The Windham boys, the back-to-back big class champions, keep getting pushed, but do the Eagles ever push back and Friday evening at a raucous Beal Gymnasium, host South Portland once again couldn’t come up with an answer for its recent nemesis in a rematch of last year’s state game.
And as a result, Windham’s win streak grew.
The Red Riots got out to a quick 9-4 lead after a pair of breakaway hoops from senior Darius Johnson, but after Johnson picked up his second foul, the Eagles took control and when sophomore Boston Krainis came off the bench and drained consecutive 3-pointers, they had the lead for good.
Windham held a 22-19 advantage after a frenetic first quarter, then took a 34-29 lead to the half, after Johnson was whistled for a third foul and again had to watch much of the action from the bench.
A 3-point shot from freshman Leonel Despacho got South Portland as close as two points early in the third period, but a pair of 3-pointers from junior Colin Janvrin and back-t0-back hoops in the paint from senior Tyrie James helped push the lead to 14 before South Portland crept within 10, 52-42, heading for the final stanza.
Which is where the Eagles do their finest work.
The Red Riots tried desperately to rally, but every time they got close, Windham countered with a clutch hoop and the Eagles closed out a 70-64 victory.
James, Janvrin and Krainis all had 17 points, Windham improved to 13-1 with its 12th consecutive victory and in the process, dropped the Red Riots to 11-3.
“As a team, we’ve gotten a lot better since the last time we played (South Portland),” said Eagles coach Chad Pulkkinen. “I’m just proud of the guys. Our senior leadership showed poise and the younger guys had poise tonight too.”
Heavyweight fight
Windham and South Portland were the two best teams in the big class a year ago and are every bit as daunting this winter.
The Eagles started with a 73-71 win at Thornton Academy in their first game, then let a big lead slip away and lost their home opener to Sanford (68-60). Windham then flipped the switch and enjoyed a 78-42 victory at Marshwood. After an impressive 66-53 home win over Westbrook, the Eagles rallied from a big deficit to beat host Portland (57-50), then they defeated visiting Cheverus (64-45), dominated visiting Massabesic, 101-31, pulled away to down visiting South Portland (68-53), then rallied for a stirring 54-51 win at Scarborough before defeating host Gorham (77-68), visiting Kennebunk (75-48), visiting Biddeford (83-35) and visiting Falmouth (78-42).
The Red Riots, meanwhile, started with a 62-60 come-from-behind win at Cheverus, then held off visiting Portland (51-48) before defeating visiting Bonny Eagle (73-52), host Biddeford (81-42) and visiting Westbrook (54-44). The Red Riots suffered their first loss, 52-47, at Portland, before bouncing back to down visiting Deering, 55-43. After falling at Windham (68-53), South Portland returned to form with wins at Thornton Academy (48-44), at previously undefeated Sanford (71-69), at home over Gorham (70-55), at home over Marshwood (71-26) and at Noble (67-45).
In the teams’ first meeting, Jan. 2, Windham pulled away late to prevail behind 21 points from James.
Friday, the Red Riots looked to beat Windham for the first time since Dec. 13, 2022 (66-46 at home), but instead, the Eagles made it three straight victories in the series.
Eleven seconds in, Johnson opened the scoring with a free throw, then freshman Israel Muzela scored on a putback.
Windham’s first points came from James on a driving layup (Johnson was called for a foul on the play), but Johnson responded by stealing the ball and racing in for a slam dunk.
After senior A.J. Moody set up James for a layup following a steal, senior Gabe Jackson drove and made a reverse layup, then Johnson broke in for a layup after a steal for a 9-4 advantage.
After James set up junior Landon Wyman for a 3, Johnson was called for an offensive foul, his second of the game, and he had to sit the remainder of the quarter.
James then drove for a layup to tie the score.
South Portland went back in front on a 3-ball from Despacho, but Janvrin countered with a long 3-pointer.
After Despacho scored on a floater, getting the roll, Krainis first made his presence felt by taking a pass from Moody and sinking a 3 with 3:09 on the clock to put the visitors in front to stay.
With 2:23 left, Krainis struck again, taking a pass from James and draining a 3 from the corner, forcing Red Riots’ coach Kevin Millington to call timeout.
It helped, as senior Kai Turner soared and put back a missed shot with a dunk, but Krainis scored on a runner, then Janvrin scored on a leaner after a nice fake.
As time wound down, Despacho took a pass from Jackson and got a 3-pointer to rattle home, but the Eagles held a 22-19 advantage after eight exciting minutes, as Krainis led the way with eight points, negating eight points from Despacho.
The scoring pace slowed in the second period, but Windham stayed in front.
Muzela opened the frame scoring on a putback, but the Eagles got a layup from sophomore Sean LeBel (set up by James), then Moody scored after a nice spin move.
Despacho then drove and finished at the rim for South Portland.
Moody quickly countered with a 3 and after Muzela scored again on a putback, a 3-point shot from junior Luke Drottar and a putback from Janvrin pushed the lead to nine.
The Red Riots finished the first half in style, as Jackson scored on a leaner, then he he went up-and-under and made a layup to cut the deficit to five, 34-29, at the break.
When Despacho began the second half with a 3-pointer, South Portland was poised to go ahead, but Windham promptly answered with an 18-6 run.
Janvrin hit a 3 and after Muzela scored on a leaner, Janvrin sank another 3-ball.
James then made two free throws, Janvrin battled for an offensive rebound and put it home, then with 2:38 on the clock, two more James foul shots made the score 46-34.
After Johnson hit a pair of free throws, James made a floater in the lane and after a Muzela layup, off a pretty feed from senior Tadhg O’Donnell, James spun and finished in the lane, then James set up Krainis for a driving layup to make it 52-38.
“I think Tyrie is the best player in the league,” Millington said. “It felt like he had 30 tonight. It’s hard to guard him. We put Darius on him to give some length because he’s so quick for the guards, but the foul trouble negated the length quickly.”
In the waning seconds of the period, Muzela made a free throw, then Jackson converted an old-fashioned three-point play (layup, foul, free throw) and South Portland was back within 10, 52-42, heading for the final stanza.
Where the Eagles put the finishing touches on their victory.
After Muzela muscled his way to the hoop for a layup to begin the fourth quarter, James made a free throw, then, on the fastbreak, James set up LeBel to push the lead to 11.
Muzela countered with a free throw, but Johnson quickly picked up his fourth foul.
Johnson stayed on the floor and after James drove for a layup< Johnson banked home a shot, then Jackson added a free throw to make it 57-48 with 5:37 remaining.
James then missed a shot, but stayed with the play and put home the rebound.
At the other end, Johnson scored on a putback, then with 3:51 to go, Johnson got a leaner to roll in.
But with the partisan crowd hoping the Red Riots would creep closer, James kicked the ball out to an open Krainis, who again drained a clutch 3.
And at the other end, Johnson was called for a charge against Moody, his fifth foul, and he had to leave the game.
Muzela scored on a leaner for South Portland, but Krainis drove and banked home a shot.
The Red Riots cut the deficit in half, as Jackson hit a jumper, then Despacho took a pass from junior Shea Healy and hit a 3 with 1:06 to play.
The Eagles responded again, as James set up Moody for a layup and after Despacho missed a 3, Janvrin sank two foul shots with just 19 seconds left for a 68-59 lead.
Jackson tried to stave off the inevitable with a 3, but with 6.7 seconds showing, two Krainis free throws slammed the door.
Jackson drove for a layup just before time expired, but it was too-little, too-late and Windham prevailed, 70-64.
“I love it coming in and quieting the crowd,” James said. “We believe we can win, no matter what. Having done it before helps.”
“This is big for morale,” said Krainis. “It keeps everybody happy. We never get comfortable. The way Coach runs practice, he always tries to give us different scenarios. Sometimes it’s halfcourt, sometimes it’s fullcourt.”
“It was a great test for us,” Pulkkinen added. “We just worry about the next possession and our guys stick together. They talk to each other and trust each other. When we do that, the next play is available and we take advantage. Closing games and keeping leads has been a nemesis. If we get good possessions, we’ll have more points on the scoreboard.”
In a statistical oddity, the Eagles got 17 points apiece from James (who also had eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals), Janvrin (seven rebounds) and Krainis (three rebounds).
“It was just taking advantage of opportunities,” said Krainis. “When the ball was swung my way, I just had to make the right read, find the gash in the defense and knock down shots. As the year’s gone on, I’ve started to feel much more comfortable with the ball in my hands.”
“(Boston) competes and he’s able to do a bunch of stuff with the ball and without the ball,” James said. “I feel like our whole team can do that. Our whole team is competitive.”
“Boston’s a very talented player,” added Pulkkinen. “He doesn’t get rattled. He’s fundamentally sound and he’s a heck of a shooter. He puts a lot into his game and he’s confident.”
Moody finished with nine points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals. LeBel (three rebounds) contributed four points and Drottar and Wyman (two steals) had three apiece.
Windham made nine 3-pointers to South Portland’s five, sank 9-of-11 free throws and turned the ball over 13 times.
Still searching
The Red Riots were paced by Jackson, who had 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Despacho (four rebounds) and Muzela (a game-high 10 rebounds) added 16 points apiece.
Johnson tallied 13 points, seven rebounds and three steals before fouling out.
Turner had two points off the bench.
South Portland had a 38-30 advantage on the glass, but made just 7-of-15 foul shots and turned the ball over 15 times.
“(Windham’s) really good,” said Millington. “They’re the best team and we’ll have to play better to beat them. All five of them make you pay. You can’t load up against one guy. It’s pick your poison. Every time there’s a loose ball, they really make you pay.
“We played hard. I’m proud of the guys. What it meant for us was we wanted to play well. You want that going into the tournament. If you play well, you’ll feel good going up against a good team. We had moments where we didn’t play well, but I think we did some good things too.”
Best still to come
South Portland (ranked third behind Windham and Sanford in the Class A South Heal Points standings) returns home Tuesday to face Kennebunk. The Red Riots then play at Falmouth next Friday.
“I think we’re trending in the right direction,” Millington said. “It’s going to take a colossal effort to beat a team like (Windham), but it will take an effort to beat the other teams in the tournament too.”
Windham goes on the road next week, where it will be tested at Bonny Eagle Tuesday and Cheverus next Friday.
“We have to keep working and be ready and we’ll be good to go,” said Krainis.
“We’re getting there,” James said. “We’re working hard in practice and we’ll continue to do that. We won’t take anything for granted. The end of the season will go really fast.”
“We just want to play our best basketball at the end,” added Pulkkinen. “We truly believe we have guys who have been there and guys who are hungry. That goes a long way. We have great kids. They’re top of the line. They do what it takes to add up to a really good team. That’s what differentiates us.”
BOX SCORE
Windham 70 South Portland 64
W- 22 12 18 18- 70
SP- 19 10 13 22- 64
W- James 6-5-17, Janvrin 6-2-17, Krainis 6-2-17, Moody 4-0-9, LeBel 2-0-4, Drottar 1-0-3, Wyman 1-0-3
SP- Jackson 7-2-17, Despacho 6-0-16, Muzela 7-2-16, Johnson 5-3-13, Turner 1-0-2
3-pointers
W (9) Janvrin, Krainis 3, Drottar, Moody, Wyman
SP (5) Despacho 4, Jackson
Turnovers:
W- 13
SP- 15
Free throws
W: 9-11
SP: 7-15
Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffersports@yahoo.com
