AUGUSTA -- The Valley boys basketball team struggled in the first quarter of their Western D regional quarterfinal win over North Haven, but the early morning start time (the game tipped off at 8:30 a.m.) was nothing new for the Cavaliers.

During the Christmas break, the Cavaliers practiced at 9 a.m.

Cavaliers coach Wade Morrill pointed out that the Cavaliers played much better in the second quarter, which started ... sometime around 9 a.m.

"It probably started around 10 minutes of 9," Morrill said. "I think the boys are pretty much used to that and 9 a.m. is usually when these boys get going." 

The Cavaliers will play in the regional semifinals, which start at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, which Morrill thinks will help.

Valley traveled to Augusta on Saturday morning. The trip from Bingham to Augusta took about an hour, players said.

"8:30 came pretty early, but it wasn't too bad," guard Caleb Wade said.

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VarsityMaine The Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram put a priority on high school sports coverage, and this blog is a place for all our reporters to put news and notes from around the state.

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About the Author

Maine High School Sports Bloggers

Paul Betit is an Augusta native and graduate of the University of Maine. He has covered Maine high school sports for more than 30 years and is entering his seventh season as a beat writer covering the Portland Pirates. In his spare time, Betit writes mystery-suspense novels. Occasionally, he tries to sink his second career hole-in-one.

Glenn Jordan came to Maine in 1994 to cover the nascent Portland Sea Dogs. After eight baseball seasons and three children – the last two within 18 minutes of each other – he became a part-time writer. Among the sports he covers are now are tennis, skiing, swimming and running. He has a degree in philosophy from Dartmouth, a decent forehand and a penchant for checkers.

Mike Lowe is a Massachusetts native who feels he's lived long enough in Maine (since 1982) to have roots here. He graduated from Boston University and has worked in New Hampshire and Maine, covering everything from the Little League World Series to the Summer Olympics. When he has free time – Ha! – he likes to read, collect comic books and watch the grass grow from his hammock.

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