Twins achieve unusual milestone Hartwell brothers both hit 1,000-point career scoring mark at Valley

Reaching the 1,000-point plateau in high school basketball isn’t as rare an accomplishment as it used to be with expanded schedules, increased ability and better-skilled players, but when two brothers on the same team do it the same week, that’s something.

When those brothers happen to be twins, that’s really something.

And so it was that Valley High of Bingham wrote another chapter in its still-in-progress book about a Class D team in northwest Maine that has enjoyed an unmatched run of hoop success the last few years.

Oh, and then there’s that ongoing win streak that’s up to 97 now and the fact the Cavaliers are four-time defending state champions.

“It’s a pretty good accomplishment because we don’t play tons of minutes,” said senior forward Jason Hartwell, who beat his brother to the 1,000-point punch three days earlier. “Our games are usually pretty much over after the first or second quarter, so the starters don’t stay in a long time.”

The 6-foot-3 twin forwards, who are the third and fourth boys players to reach the milestone in the last four years at Valley, have been talked about for years as they grew up in Bingham. Now varsity starters in their fourth year, they’re glad to have a big personal milestone behind them.

“It was funny because I’d missed my two previous shots,” said Luke Hartwell, who stole the ball and scored the big points on a layup. “I just wanted to get it over with, but it’s pretty exciting to get it.

“We both did it in the second quarter, but Jason got his at home and I scored mine on the road. Seeing Jason experience it at home was a little different, but we still had a big crowd because we get great fan support and have good crowds wherever we go.”

Jason, who scored his 1,000th on a pass from Tony Hibbard, said the end of his quest may have been a bit more nerve-wracking at home.

“A lot of fans had 1,000-point banners and one person kept doing this countdown thing every time I scored,” Jason recalled. “I just looked over and went ‘Oh man.’ I’m glad it’s behind us.”

The 18-year-old twins, who are being heavily recruited by Colby-Sawyer College of New London, N.H., still have plenty of other goals to focus on. Foremost among them is pushing their win streak into triple digits and then winning a fifth straight gold ball.

“This ranks up there pretty good, but the number one goal is still winning the state championship and we really don’t want this win streak to end, at least as long as we’re here,” Luke said.

Emotional 1,000th for Guilford

Bucksport senior Corey Guilford also joined the 1,000-point club on an emotional and bittersweet night at the Golden Bucks’ gym.

It was another high point in a season which Guilford has dedicated to his father Don, who died suddenly of a heart attack June 25 at the age of 56.

“I’m just trying to focus and do everything he’d want for me to be the best I can be,” said Guilford. “It’s all for him. That’s how I feel.

“This was his dream ever since I was 3 years old. He coached at Millinocket and I saw Aaron MacDonald get his 1,000th point at Stearns and he told me he couldn’t wait for me to do that.”

Guilford scored the milestone hoop on a 3-pointer from the top of the arc on a pass from the right wing by fellow 1,000-point scorer Jason Harvey just 81 seconds into Monday’s game against Caribou.

“That’s what we planned. He told me before the game just to spot up and not worry about it because he’d get it to me and I’d hit the shot,” said Guilford.

A ceremony immediately followed in which Guilford was presented a banner and a plexiglass case-enclosed basketball signed by college coach Bobby Knight – his father’s favorite coach.

“All day today I was pretty sad because I just thought about him all the time,” Guilford said. “I sort of felt him there. When they gave me the ball and talked about Bobby Knight being his favorite coach, it just made me cry.”

Guilford became the fifth 1,000-point scorer in Bucksport school history. He and Harvey are the first teammates to do it.

“I think it’s just amazing that with so few 1,000-point scorers at this school, here we’ve had two from the same team do it,” said head coach Dave Gonyar. “They both love the game and they’ve played it so long, it seems kind of appropriate that they would both be able to do it.”

Don Guilford compiled more than 200 wins during a 19-year coaching career at several schools including Stearns, Searsport, Sacopee Valley of South Hiram, Georges Valley of Thomaston, Fryeburg Academy, and most recently Rockland, where he also coached middle school baseball.

He became Bucksport’s JV head coach and varsity assistant at Gonyar’s request and was on the bench during his son’s sophomore and junior seasons.

“I’ve never really had a year that I’ve never had him around me,” said the Bucks senior guard. “This is the first year without him and it’s really tough because he’s always been on the bench and been there after games.”

Andrew Neff’s High school report is published each Wednesday. He can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or aneff@bangordailynews.net.