AUGUSTA — Another year, another postseason rematch.

The Rangeley and Valley girls basketball teams will square off in a Western D semifinal game at 10 a.m. today in the Augusta Civic Center.

It marks the eighth time in 14 years the two programs will meet in the tournament. Top-seeded Richmond (18-1) will play No. 4 Greenville (13-5) in the other semifinal at 11:30 a.m.

Valley coach Gordon Hartwell said yet another meeting with Rangeley was inevitable.

“I knew it would come down to this,” said Hartwell, whose team split the regular-season series with Rangeley. “We played them the last game of the season and I remember telling (Rangeley coach) Heidi (Deery) that we’d see her again in a couple of weeks.

“It’s such a rivalry game. Over the last 15 years, the rivalry between Rangeley and Valley is one of the best in Western D. We knew this would happen, and it usually happens in either the semifinals or final.”

The No. 3 Cavaliers (12-6) and No. 2 Lakers (16-3) played each other in two of the last three Western D finals.

“It’s no surprise,” Deery said. “Year-in and year-out they are always there. When you have a program like theirs, chances are they are in it.”

Richmond, meanwhile, is back in the regional semifinals for the second consecutive season. The Bobcats struggled with No. 8 Hebron in the quarterfinals, needing a late run to pull out a 53-38 victory.

“We needed to get past that,” Richmond coach Molly Bishop said. “We were nervous and we couldn’t handle it. After we settled down, we were much more comfortable with who we were.”

Richmond won both regular-season meetings with Greenville, winning 57-19 and 47-37.

“They played us tough,” Bishop said.

The Bobcats, who have won six straight, will look for another big game from 6-foot center Jamie Plummer, who scored 24 points against Hebron. Bishop said her team’s depth — she plays up to 10 players a game — could be a factor as well.

“We do go a little deeper than most Western D teams,” she said.

Valley hopes to get senior guard Jocelyn Laweryson back for the game today. Laweryson has been in and out of the lineup with a knee injury.

Hartwell said Laweryson is a game-time decision.

“What happened is the brace she was wearing needed to be adjusted,” he said. “It got loose so we had it readjusted and we’re not sure what she will be able to give us. It would be a real boost if she could play.”

Hartwell added the Cavaliers will need to be stronger in the paint to get past Rangeley.

Valley edged No. 6 Greater Portland Christian 54-53 in the quarterfinals on a game-winning shot from Cindy Schultz.

“We shot 7 for 37 from the paint,” Hartwell said. “We can’t do that against Rangeley. If we do, they will be playing Saturday (in the regional final).”

Deery said the Lakers will have to slow down Schultz, who scored 29 against Greater Portland Christian.

“Schultz will be a major factor,” Deery said. “We’ll have to contain her.”

Bill Stewart — 623-3811, ext. 515

bstewart@centralmaine.com

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