It’s the final day of the regular season in Foothill League basketball, and by the end of the night league champions in both boys and girls will be crowned.

Girls Basketball

Valencia (16-10, 8-1) vs 9 Canyon (23-4, 9-0)

Either the Vikings or Cowboys (or both) have won at least a share of the Foothill League title for the past nine seasons. It’s an incredible run for both Jerry Mike and Jessica Haayer’s groups (the latter of which has been Cowboys head coach the past four seasons).

Valencia, the defending CIF-SS D1AA champions, own the best current streak with six league titles in a row. Is this the year that Canyon breaks the streak?

The Cowboys have won seven in a row and 10 of 11, with all the wins coming by double digits. They have the edge this season in leadership and experience; it doesn’t get better than seniors Rachel Bowers (headed to Boise State in the fall) and floor general Talia Taufaasau.

Though the Canyon 1-2 punch has been lethal all season, the Vikings pose a similar threat and assuredly won’t go down as easy as they did in the first meeting two weeks ago. The matchup between Valencia senior point guard Chyanne Pagkalinawan and Taufaasau. Sophomore Skylar Engram will be tough to handle inside for Bowers as well.

Additionally, the X-Factor in the game may be Valencia’s Nicole Weatherman. The sophomore has been developing as an offensive threat throughout the season and if she gets hot, watch out.

Tip-off from Canyon High School is at 5:00.

Boys Basketball

Hart (21-7, 7-2) vs Saugus (19-6, 7-2)

The game of the league season has everything you could want to decide the 2018 title.  The top two scorers in the league. Seniors leaving it all on the floor. And loyal, wild fanbases.

About those scorers, though. It’s hard not to focus all of the attention on the offensive duel between Saugus’ sophomore Adrian McIntyre and Hart senior captain Whitten Dominguez.

They’ve been the best two players throughout the league season, and with Dominguez sitting in the first meeting at Hart due to rest, there’s no doubt he will feel like he has much to prove.

The battle for Foothill League Player of the Year could very well come down to an exceptional performance from either one to lift his team to first place.

In the first meeting, Saugus jumped all over Hart’s sloppy ball handling, forcing turnovers that led to easy fast break points. The key to the game may very well be who plays the best in space on fast breaks and finishes with the most consistency around the rim.

A player to watch besides the two Player of the Year candidates will be Luca Robinson of the Hart Indians. Robinson has emerged as a legitimate second option on offense, has rebounded extremely well, and has the athleticism to disrupt driving Saugus players such as Luke Bodeau and Dylan Spring.

These teams are playing for a guaranteed home playoff game, and potential high seeds in their respective tournaments. A lot is on the line for these rivals. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30.

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