AUGUSTA — If there were one thing that could spoil Wednesday’s semifinal win over Greenville for Valley boys basketball coach Luke Hartwell, it was hearing one of his player’s cough or sneeze.
“The thing is, that virus that’s going around, we had a couple of guys get it (Wednesday),” Hartwell said. “As a matter of fact, I told one of the players to go home with his parents right now. Hopefully, we can get healthy and ready to go.”
Viruses seem to be the only thing standing between the undefeated Cavaliers and their second regional title in three years. But regardless of whether top-seeded Valley (19-0) can conquer those pesky microbes by Saturday’s Class D South regional final (2:45 p.m., Augusta Civic Center), it still has third-seeded Seacoast Christian (15-6) to overcome.
That won’t be an easy task, according to Hartwell. The team from South Berwick is experienced and balanced, with 6-foot-3 senior center Tim Yeaton and brothers Sky and Jet Archer leading the way.
“Seacoast is a scrappy team,” Hartwell said. “They’re a team that’s been very physical with Yeaton and the Archer boys. It’s a team, also, that’s been here before, so they’re not afraid of the big moment. We have to be ready to play right from the get-go on Saturday.”
The teams met twice during the regular season at Thomas College. Valley swept, winning 67-35 on Dec. 18 and 64-48 on Jan. 4.
Despite winning those games handily, Hartwell said he won’t let the Cavaliers look past the Guardians.
“We’ve set our goals very high as a coaching staff and as players, and that is to win a state championship,” Hartwell said. “The fact of the matter is, we have a very good Seacoast team between us and that. Our whole focus is going to be on them at practice.”
Seacoast’s main focus will be containing Valley senior Cody Laweryson, who scored a game-high 29 points in the second meeting and 31 in the win over Greenville.
If the Guardians are successful in limiting Laweryson, the Cavaliers have plenty more weapons. Junior guards Austin Cates and Nathan Ames lend support from the outside while senior forward Collin Miller is a force inside.
Miller, the Cavaliers’ second-leading scorer during the season, has been relatively quiet at the offensive end during the tournament, averaging nine points per game. But he has found other ways to contribute, particularly on the boards (9.5 per game)
“That’s the thing about Collin Miller. He’s one of those kids that’s so locked in defensively and on rebounding. He controls the boards. Both he and Cody have done a great job on that all season long,” Hartwell said.
Randy Whitehouse — 621-5631
rwhitehouse@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @RAWmaterial33
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