Valley Regional is motivated to win that first state championship in school history on its first trip to the finals.
That motivation was fueled by a loss to Old Lyme in the Shoreline Conference final when the Warriors led by as many as 17 points.
If Valley Regional gets that kind of lead tonight, it won't blow it. Valley could have lost to Kolbe Cathedral in the quarterfinals, but rallied from a double-digit deficit at home to move on.
You can expect Valley to have the home-court advantage over Classical. Playing against Kolbe's athleticism will help against Classical as well.
And Taylor Rioux and Mitchell King will be tough to stop inside.
Valley prevails 62-55.