Valley boys basketball routs Forest Hills in Class S South final

The top-seeded Cavaliers dominate the third-seeded Tigers en route to their second regional title in three years.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 8:18pm

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The Valley Cavaliers boys basketball team defeated the Forest Hills Tigers 89-42 in the Class S South final at the Augusta Civic Center. Valley seniors Harry Louis and Fisher Tewksbury, who were part of the Cavaliers' 2024 Class D South title team, led the way with 27 and 16 points respectively. The Cavaliers controlled the game from the opening possession and never let up, building a 20-point lead by halftime that grew to 45 points by the end of the third quarter.

Why it matters

This victory marks the Cavaliers' second regional championship in the last three years, continuing the program's recent success. However, the team's ultimate goal is to win the state championship, which has eluded them since their loss in the 2024 Class D final. The Cavaliers will now face Easton in the state championship game as they look to capture the elusive Gold Ball.

The details

Valley's fast-paced style and stifling defense proved too much for Forest Hills to handle. The Cavaliers forced numerous turnovers and converted them into easy transition baskets. Forest Hills sophomore Jaxson Desjardins led the Tigers with 22 points, but it wasn't enough to keep up with Valley's onslaught. Even with a big lead, Valley coach Michael Staples kept his reserves playing hard defense until the final buzzer, demonstrating the team's focus and determination.

  • Valley won the Class D South title in 2024.
  • The Cavaliers lost to Bangor Christian in the Class D final two years ago.
  • The Class S South final was played on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Augusta Civic Center.
  • The Cavaliers will play Easton in the state championship game next Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. in Augusta.

The players

Harry Louis

A senior at Valley High School who led the Cavaliers with 27 points in the regional final. Louis was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Fisher Tewksbury

A senior at Valley High School who scored 16 points in the win over Forest Hills. Tewksbury has been playing for the Cavaliers since he was an eighth-grader.

Michael Staples

The head coach of the Valley Cavaliers boys basketball team, who has guided the program to two regional championships in the last three years.

Jaxson Desjardins

A sophomore at Forest Hills High School who led the Tigers with 22 points in the regional final.

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What they’re saying

“Big win, but at the end of the day, we've done this a lot. It's been a long five years, so we know what the ultimate goal is. We'll celebrate tonight, but come tomorrow, we wake up, we got another goal ahead of us.”

— Harry Louis, Senior, Valley High School

“Quite honestly, that's Valley basketball. And when we're playing like that and we're playing defense like we did, forcing turnovers and getting out into the breaks, that's when we're our best.”

— Michael Staples, Head Coach, Valley High School

“There's one last piece to the puzzle. It's that Gold Ball, and that's all we've wanted for our five years … It's really the end of the road for us.”

— Fisher Tewksbury, Senior, Valley High School

What’s next

The Cavaliers will play Easton (15-6) at 12:45 p.m. next Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center for the state championship.

The takeaway

This victory demonstrates the Cavaliers' continued dominance in Maine high school basketball. After falling short in the 2024 state final, the team is determined to capture the elusive Gold Ball and cement their legacy as one of the state's premier programs.