A quirk in the high school sports calendar this year has the end of the fall season overlapping with the winter season.

The football state championship games in Classes A, B and C will be held Saturday, Nov. 23, while the winter season opens Monday, Nov. 18, for all sports except Class A basketball.

When it comes to that week, only six schools – one team from each classification in Eastern and Western Maine – will be affected. But every school that offers football also offers a sport that opens Nov. 18, whether it’s basketball, wrestling, ice hockey, cheerleading, indoor track and field, swimming, or skiing.

School officials are aware of the overlap and potential problems with winter sports practices, but don’t seem to be concerned.

Maine Principals Association assistant executive director Larry LaBrie said this seems to happen every seven years or so.

“Last year we started Aug. 13, this year because of the calendar we started Aug. 19,” he said. “It’s just how the calendar is this year. The state championships are really late. … It’s been mentioned [by schools], but not in an objectionable way.”

At Belfast High, principal and co-head coach Butch Arthers, who co-coaches the varsity football team, has some experience with the overlap because it happened to him when he coached at Marshwood High in South Berwick. He was both the varsity football and basketball coach there.

It’s happened at Belfast, too. Arthers’ co-head coach, Butch Richards, was the boys basketball coach when the Lions were in a football state championship game in either 1995 or 1996 that overlapped onto the winter season.

This year, Arthers said, if the football team were to reach the Class B state game, student-athletes will practice with the football team that week and can also attend tryouts and practices for their winter sports.

“We’ll ask them not to participate too much, just go for informational purposes,” he said. “They’ll have an opportunity to try out later.”

Arthers estimated that of 50 Belfast football players about 30 participate in a winter sport. Kids missing a week of practice can mean the teams get behind, he said.

“But it’s a good problem to have because it means you’re playing for a state championship,” Arthers added.

Brewer High athletic director Dennis Kiah said if the football team was to get to the Class B state football game, the football players would stay with football until their season ends, and would be given a chance to try out for winter sports at a later date.

None of the Belfast football players has approached Arthers with any concerns yet. The Lions are 5-0, but the team isn’t assuming anything.

“They know better than to talk to me about something like that,” he said with a laugh.

Dirigo’s Clark headed to Albany

Another Maine schoolgirl basketball star will play NCAA Division I basketball next year.

Lyndsay Clark, a senior who led Dirigo High in Dixfield to the 2002 Class C state title, has verbally committed to play for the University of Albany next year.

Clark has earned a full scholarship to the school in New York’s state capital.

“Coming from such a small town … I wanted to go to a bigger city. I wanted a change,” she said. “I really clicked with the team.”

The 6-foot-1 Dirigo center said the Great Dane coaching staff, including 1981 UMaine grad Mari Warner, see Clark playing a forward position because the team has brought in a 6-4 freshman center this year.

“I’m lifting weights and running to stay in shape and get stronger,” Clark said. “I’m probably known more for defense, but I’m going to need to get into the offense better. I want to start shooting more.”

Clark, a Mountain Valley Conference first-team all-star, won her second Class C state title this year. She was named an All-Maine third-team player.

Clark averaged 17.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last year.

Clark was considering other Division I and II schools but declined to say which schools.

High school basketball fans will likely get a chance to see Clark during her college career because Albany is a member of America East, of which UMaine is also a member.

Nokomis of Newport’s Danielle Clark (no relation to Lyndsay) announced last week that she will attend New Hampshire next year. UMaine will add MDI’s Bracey Barker and Cony of Augusta’s Ashley Underwood, and McAuley of Portland’s Sarah Marshall is headed to Boston College.

“It was always just a dream to play college basketball and to see so many girls who are playing, it’s just great,” Lyndsay Clark said.

MCI’s Russell to be honored

Malaka “Tookie” Russell, who coached field hockey, basketball, and softball for a combined 79 years at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, will be honored by the school Friday night.

Russell will receive the Distinguished Achievement Award during halftime of Friday’s football game against Stearns of Millinocket. The game will start at 7 p.m.

The native of Ecuador coached the MCI field hockey team for 30 years starting in 1957. She also coached the school’s girls basketball team for 22 years and softball team for 27 years.

Russell was also a founder of Pittsfield’s Little League baseball program and a past president of the Women’s Maine State Golf Association.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.