Like a lot of seniors, Alfonza Brooks’ days on the high school hardwood are numbered. But the countdown to the end of Brooks’ career is a little shorter, because the Lewiston forward will turn 20 the last week of the regular season, rendering him ineligible for the Blue Devils’ final regular-season game at Edward Little and the post-season under Maine Principals’ Association rules.

“He is a very important guy,” Lewiston coach Pat Blais said. “More important than what he does on the court is he’s a great team guy.”

Brooks said he still plans on being involved with the team when his eligibility is up, but said he’ll devote his free time to focusing on the next stage of his life — prep school, probably at Bridgton Academy.

“It will give me time to hit the weights and study a lot more,:” Brooks said. “But it isn’t like I’m just done with the team. I’ll still come to games and help out at practice.”

Theriault rising

All of the attention and praise heaped upon Edward Little heading into the season centered around their three returning starters, guards Ben Hartnett, Kyle Philbrook and Eric Prue. But the Red Eddies have another emerging star on their squad that could ultimately decide how far they go this year – junior forward Corey Therriault.

Folks who follow KVAC basketball during the off-season saw Therriault’s potential to impact this year’s Eddies some time ago.

“I tell ya, he had a phenomenal summer,” Edward Little coach Mike Adams said. “You ask any of the KVAC coaches who we played against last summer, they would tell you that Corey Therriault might be our best basketball player. From a basketball IQ sense, I think Corey Therriault is our best basketball player.”

Though the biggest guy in EL’s staring lineup at 6-foot-2, Therriault is more comfortable on the perimeter. Because much of the Eddies’ scoring comes from their three guards and slasher Mukhtar Sharif, Adams has had to get production out of Therriault in the post.

“He’s definitely a perimeter player. I’m not trying to turn him into a post player, per se. I’m just trying to toughen him up a little bit and teach him how to use his body a little more,” Adams said.