AUGUSTA — Whatever tournament magic the Valley girls’ basketball team had in upsetting second-seeded Forest Hills last weekend was lacking Thursday as the Cavaliers tried to continue in the Class D South tourney.
Vinalhaven got the early lead and advanced to Saturday’s regional final with a 37-22 win over Valley at the Augusta Civic Center.
Valley, which stunned Forest Hills with some hot shooting, missed its first seven shots of the game and went 2-for-17 in the first half. The Vikings had the lead up to 13-2 in the first quarter and were up 19-6 by halftime.
Though the Vikings struggled at times offensively, the Cavaliers couldn’t counter. Valley had over 20 turnovers and could never get within striking distance after the early deficit.
Gilleyanne Davis-Oakes finished with 10 points to lead Vinalhaven , after scoring just three in the first half. Ashlyn Littlefield had nine while Deja Doughty had eight for the Vikings (16-4). Skyler Sanborn added six.
Valley (9-11) got five each from Kendra Sweet, Dalayne Davis and Jordan Belanger. The Cavalier lost both regular season games to the Vikings, 44-29 and 36-35.
Though Valley did a decent defensive job in the post on Davis-Oakes, the Vikings hit some shots from the outside. Sanborn had four points in the first quarter and Little field hit a 3. Paige Dennison had a jumper and Vinalhaven opened a 13-2 lead. Valley didn’t get its first basket until 1:28 remained in the quarter.
The Cavaliers got within 13-4 to start the second and Vinalhaven missed its first seven shots. The Vikings scored six straight, with four coming from Littlefield to build the 19-6 lead at the half.
The Cavaliers got some 3s from Charlie Savoy and Sweet in the final quarter but could never overcome the Viking lead. Thought Vinalhaven hit just three shots from the floor in the second half, the Vikings got baskets by Davis-Oakes, Doughty and Littlefield and 12 free throws from a variety of players.
kmills@sunjournal.com
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