The Sanford girls basketball team put in one its best performances on Monday afternoon, in a 39-32 lose to Thornton Academy.

To say the Redskins are young this season is an understatement. There are 14 players on the Sanford roster, and six of them are either a sophomore or a freshman.

Sanford head coach Kristy Parent said she knew full well who she had coming in for the 2011-2012 season. The Redskins graduated their three top scorers from a season ago, Taylor Flood (playing at the University of Southern Maine), Lindsay Nolette (playing at Suffolk University) and Shae Riley (playing at Simmons College), when Sanford went 15-5 before losing to Deering in the Western Maine Class A playoffs.

If that wasn’t enough, the Redskins entered the game on Monday without 6-foot-1 forward Heather LeBlanc, who was out with an injury.

“We’ve got some younger guards that are timid,” Parent said. (Experience) plays a factor, I know it’s an excuse, but it’s a fact, and it happens.”

But the Redskins are still 6-5, and are ranked No. 9 in their conference in the Maine Principals” Association Heal Point standings. If the season were to end today, Sanford would be in the playoffs.

Sanford is getting its offensive production from a collective effort. Entering Monday’s game, the leading scorer was forward Maria Veino, who was averaging 6.9 points per game. Multiple players are averaging six points per game.

“We have no superstars on our team,” Parent said. “It’s kind of stressful, because everyone needs to show up every night for us to do well. Besides the Westbrook game we recently played, we’ve been struggling on offense. We play good defense, but we can’t put the ball in the net. We had spurts (on Monday) but went dry on the offensive end. (Thornton) was running a 1-3-1 (defense) and we just kind of panicked a little.”

The path to the playoffs will not be easy for the Redskins. Sanford has two games against rival Massabesic, ranked No. 12 in the conference, one spot away from playoff positioning. The Redskins also have games against No. 1 Scarborough and No. 3 McAuley before the regular season closes.

The Redskins are young, but are out to prove they’re more than a team just a year away from serious contention.

Speaking of the playoffs

Now that the season is more than halfway through, it’s time to start paying attention to the playoff races in both boys and girls basketball.

If the season ended today, nine area teams will have entered the tournament.

As usual, Thornton Academy (7-4) leads the area boys basketball teams in Western Maine Class A. The Golden Trojans are currently ranked No. 8 in the MPA Heal Point standings. Following is Sanford at No. 9 (5-6), who upset the Trojans 54-53 on Monday. Biddeford (6-5) is fighting for playoff positioning, currently ranked No. 10.

The Trojans are also leading in Class A girls basketball. Thornton (6-5) is No. 5 in the conference, while Sanford (6-5) follows at No. 9. Massabesic (2-8) is at No. 12, one spot away from a playoff berth, with several opportunities for improvement going forward.

Both Wells teams are looking toward playoff berths. The girls basketball team, at 7-4, has the best record in the area, and is currently No. 5 in Western Maine Class B.

The boys basketball team, which fought injuries early in the season and are without top player Paul McDonough, who is out after having foot surgery, are No. 9 in the conference with a 7-4 record.

Both Old Orchard Beach teams are also playoff contenders.

Though dealing with its fair share of struggles, the boys basketball team (4-6) is No. 11 in Western Maine Class C, the final playoff spot. The girls team has become one of the surprise stories of the season. At 6-5, the Seagulls are ranked No. 9 in the conference, well on their way to the playoffs.

Player of the Week

Jimmie Chaisson of Sanford scored 14 points against Thornton Academy on Monday afternoon, but it was his final point that mattered the most. Chaisson, a senior, nailed a last-second free throw to give the Redskins an upset victory over the Trojans, 54-53. Sanford has won four of its last six games.

— Contact Dave Dyer at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow on Twitter @Dave_Dyer.