GRAY — Being the best player on your team and making history at your school are great accomplishments.
But there’s nothing like bragging rights within your own family.
Maria Valente has accomplished all of that. She’s been the leader and all-conference player for her Gray-New Gloucester girls’ basketball team. She’s also become the top scorer among her siblings.
After all those years of basketball games in the driveway, that’s a lasting achievement.
“We have been outside in the driveway playing basketball since we were little kids,” Valente said.
Her sister Alicia played for the girls’ program before her. Her brother Taylor was also a standout with the boys’ team. He only played varsity for three years and fell shy of the milestone 1,000-point mark. Maria Valente reached that plateau last week.
“He didn’t reach 1,000,” she said. “He’s always saying to me that if, ‘I’d played that first year, I would have made it.’ I tell him, ‘Well, if you were good enough, they would have probably put you on varsity.’ That’s a little tough love there.”
As much as she’s made her mark among her siblings, she’s also done the same among her peers and those who played before her at Gray-NG. She’s just the second female ever to reach that milestone. Katie Whittier was the first over a decade ago.
Whittier graduated in 2002 and became a standout at the University of Maine before playing overseas. She was also in the Miss USA pageant, becoming the first contestant from Maine to reach the top five. Valente was about four years old when Whittier made her mark at Gray-NG.
“I hadn’t seen her play, but I heard about her a lot because she was such a big basketball player in this town,” Valente said. “She was in pageants and played overseas. She was a big person in this town and everyone knows about her.”
Whittier had a great size advantage to utilize during her career. Her skills evolved to match that height. Valente, who was a post player initially as a youngster, developed her skill and heart to compensate for the height she didn’t have. Though not among the tallest players, she’s shown plenty of drive, versatility and commitment to her game during her career. She’s played an inside and outside game and thrived in the process.
She hadn’t thought about making her mark in school history until the beginning of the season. People continually asked her if she would score 1,000 points. It peaked her curiosity. So she started looking at the stats. She realized it was possible, but she also knew it was a long season and anything could happen.
“I did look at that, but I didn’ t really focus on it until the last part of the season because then I knew how close I was,” she said.
She was aware of the impending milestone well before last Thursday’s game with Falmouth. She went into that game needing 16 points. If she didn’t do it at home that night, she’d likely get it on the road at Kennebunk Saturday.
“I did want to get it at home, but knew a win over Falmouth was bigger to me and my team and coaches,” Valente said.
Her moment came in the second half when she drilled a 3 in the corner. She worked with her teammates and set up a quality shot. She even bypassed previous opportunities until patience set up an open look from the corner.
“I was kind of shocked at first,” Valente said of it going in. “I didn’t know what to do. I’ve never been in a situation like that before. It was definitely one of the best feelings I’ve had in four years of high school basketball.”
The gym immediately erupted with cheers and a standing ovation. The sign that was totaling her career scoring numbers was updated. The game was halted to honor the achievement.
“It was awesome” Valente said. “It was really great. I’ve had so much support from everyone. It was a great feeling. It was a great accomplishment. I was proud and I’m sure that everyone around me was. I’ve put in a lot of hard work. I’m very thankful for all my teammates and all my coaches that helped me get there these past four years.”
With days to mull over her accomplishment, Valente realizes how much it shows she’s grown as a player and how much she has accomplished. It’s a feat many players in high school don’t achieve.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” Valente said. “I’m very thankful. A lot of it has to do with Coach (Mike) Andreasen. His first year was when I was a freshman. He worked me really hard, and in return I worked really hard for him. To get this accomplishment, it’s really paid off.”
Valente is unsure what her future may be. She’s looked at Maine and is considering UNH to study elementary education. She could conceivably not continue playing at the next level, depending on what school she attends. She’s thought about the possibility. Having not made a final decision yet, she says there is still a chance she might opt to go someplace where she could play. But she also knows that the upcoming Western B tourney could be her last hurrah.
“It’s really sad because it’s something I’ve done so much, but I’ll definitely keep all the memories with me when I go off to college and throughout my life,” she said. “I’m sure I won’t forget a lot of the things that have happened, the people, my teammates and the fans that have come out and supported us. They’re just great memories.”
She’s hoping her Patriots still have a few memorable moments left to create. Gray-NG is currently ranked second in Western B at 16-1. The Patriots finish the regular season Thursday against Poland. Gray-NG should be a contender in the tourney. That last time the Patriots won a regional title was during Whittier’s career in 2002.
“It will be exciting,” Valente said. “We’re definitely confident this year. That’s made a difference in how we’ve been playing together as a team. I think going in we’ll be more confident and playing a little harder and better.”
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