Tonight is the final night of the high school basketball regular season.

For those teams with hopes of making the tournament, this is their last chance. For teams already in, it’s a chance to improve their seeding and gain momentum.

For teams failing to qualify, it’s a time to regroup and look for better things in the future.

The top two-thirds of teams in classes A, B, C and D qualify for the tournament. The bottom part of that two-thirds play preliminary-round games while the top four or five teams advance directly to the quarterfinals.

By Saturday, all the Heal point numbers will be factored and the fields will be set. Statewide preliminary-round games are scheduled for Tuesday for A-B boys and Wednesday for A-B girls. C-D girls will play preliminary-round games Tuesday with C-D boys on Wednesday.

The quarterfinals start Feb. 17 at the Portland Expo, Augusta Civic Center and Bangor Auditorium.

What better way to prepare for the tournaments than with some rivalry games to cap the regular season?

Deering and Portland, Nos. 1 and 2 in Western Class A, will play at the Expo tonight. The Bulldogs beat Deering 39-35 on Jan. 27.

Cheverus will play at South Portland. The Stags will look to get back on track after two straight losses. Same with the Red Riots, who have dropped four of their last five and could use a win for their confidence.

Thornton Academy at Biddeford, Falmouth at Yarmouth, Greely at Cape Elizabeth and York at Wells are other rivalry games.

“It’s a tremendous way to end the regular season,” said York Coach Randy Small of his game at Wells.

These games are for pride and short-term bragging rights because there’s always the chance these teams could meet in the tournament, where a stumble means an end to the season.

YORK HAS been in four overtime games this season, winning three. The Wildcats’ only overtime loss was to Falmouth 57-52 a week ago. Coach Randy Small likes the fact his team has faced adversity and handled it well, but the loss to Falmouth was tough.

York led for most of the game, but Falmouth, showing the skill and poise that has enabled it to remain unbeaten, rallied to win.

“It was a great high school game, back and forth,” said Small.

One of the Wildcats’ overtime games was against Marshwood in a Christmas tournament at York. The win didn’t count in the standings, but Small said it will count toward how to handle pressure situations.

Through injuries, the fifth-ranked Wildcats (13-4) have had additional adversity. The good news, said Small, is the team is finally healthy heading into the most important part of the season.

“We’ve got everyone back and the kids are playing well,” said Small.

The Wildcats have trailed in every overtime, said Small.

“Being in close games is a great teaching tool,” he said. “We’ve faced enough overtimes and done well in them that I feel we’ll be well-prepared if we have an overtime in the tournament. Against Falmouth, everyone was calm in the huddle before overtime.”

SIXTH-RANKED OLD Orchard Beach (10-6) has won eight straight with a home game against Freeport tonight remaining.

If their seeding doesn’t change, the Seagulls will host a preliminary game Wednesday night with a chance to advance to Augusta for the Class C quarterfinals Feb. 20.

Coach John Regan would prefer to head right to Augusta but said a prelim game isn’t so bad.

“It keeps you in your routine,” he said.

Quincy Grace, a rugged 6-foot-3 junior, has led the team with 13 points and eight rebounds per game. Grace scored 27 in a victory Tuesday against North Yarmouth Academy.

Regan said Mike Rague, Andrew Fleury and Cole Hamilton have provided strong senior leadership that has helped in the winning streak.

Juniors Anthony Langella-Law and Nick Carlan, along with sophomore guards Zach Seamans and Joe Gildard have made strong contributions.

“We were 2-6 after a loss to Poland on Jan. 12. The team has really come together,” said Regan.

HIS NAME doesn’t usually appear prominently in the scoring column, but senior Cal London of Deering has made his presence felt in other ways, particularly in his passing ability.

“Cal is a mature player who has a good understanding of how to play the game. He’s looking for teammates up the floor. Cal sees the floor very well,” said Coach Dan LeGage.

“He gets more enjoyment out of making a good pass than he does scoring a basket. We put him wherever we need him. Cal makes good decisions and makes the kids around him better, which is the highest compliment.”

With time winding down Tuesday night against Cheverus, London’s pass down low to Labson Abwoch set up the go-ahead basket.

Moments later his tip to a teammate of his missed free throw led to another basket.

The 5-11 London doesn’t usually start for Deering, but he plays about three quarters of any game.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH