AUGUSTA– Luke Hartwell knows the tradition of Valley Cavaliers basketball. Hartwell won four state championships as a player. On Saturday afternoon, Hartwell earned one as a coach when the Cavaliers defeated Easton 55-44 in the class D state championship game at the Augusta Civic Center.
Easton jumped ahead 8-3, Valley followed that with a 17-2 run, and held a 22-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Cavaliers built that lead to 25-14 early in the second quarter.
“We tend to come out slow.”Valley senior guard Cody Laweryson said. “We do a great job coming out strong late in the first quarter, early in the second quarter. That is what we did.”
Easton went on an 11-2 run at the end of the second quarter to cut the deficit to 27-25 heading into halftime. Valley held a 39-35 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Luke Hartwell and his assistant coach and brother Jason Hartwell were part of the Cavaliers teams that won six straight state championships from 1998-2003. This is Valley’s seventh state title and first since 2003.
“They (Luke and Jason Hartwell) know how it feels and they keep on telling us that they know how it feels and they want us to feel it. That makes us want it that much more,”Valley senior forward Collin Miller said. “It is great, add one more to six. It is what I have been dreaming of since I watched my brothers when I was just a baby.”
Coach Luke Hartwell said, “I can give them my experience. It is about staying composed. Games like this, there is going to be ups and downs. The biggest thing you can do is stay composed the entire time. Remember it is a 32 minute game, not a 16 minute game. In the third quarter we were able to come out strong.”
Easton went on an 11-2 run to end the game, capped by a two hand slams by Laweryson. The senior recorded 19 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in his final high school game.
“He (Laweryson) did what seniors do, particular great seniors like Cody,”Hartwell said. “All tournament long, he had big shot after big shot. We’re talking NBA threes, taking the ball to the rim. What a way to cap your career with a slam dunk at the end.”
Laweryson added, “It feels great, we did a great job all season pushing through, being mentally tough. We didn’t play out best basketball throughout the tournament, we won it, that is all that matters. It (Dunk) was just an open opportunity. I saw that no one was in the paint so why not.”
Miller scored 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Austin Cates put in 11 points and grabbed four rebounds, Luke Malloy recorded five points, five rebounds, and two assists. Nathan Ames scored three points, while Dillon Beane chipped in with two points. Valley finishes the season with a 22-0 record.
Jacob Flewelling led the Bears with 20 points and six rebounds. Logan Halvorson and Drew Sotomayor scored nine points each, while Hunter Brown chipped in with six points. Easton finishes the season with a 19-3 record.
