VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - The end is what people remember, not the start. For the first time since 2021, Mike Helfer’s Blazers have qualified for the postseason.

Valdosta State spent the first six weeks of the season off the radar. It wasn’t until week ten that they cracked the top ten. They were projected to finish fifth in the conference Fast forward to fresh of a Gulf South championship appearance, they are dusting off their dancing shoes.

“You know, I think this group is probably one of the closest groups I’ve ever coached, as unit everybody,” said head coach, Mike Helfer. “I always like to say this is the closest locker room I think I’ve ever had in my career. I think that comradery, that connection, has helped us win games and put us in the position to play in the NCAA tournament.”

The Blazers enter as the four-seed, they’ll face five-seeded Lynn. The last time these teams played each other was back in 2022.

When asked about facing an unfamiliar opponent compared to one like Alabama-Huntsville or Montevallo, Helfer said “I like that in the regional this year, you don’t have anyone playing a conference team in the first round. I didn’t think it would be right if we played Montevallo, they’re in our conference. So it’s good to play someone outside of your conference, and I’m sure they feel the same way. You’re just gonna go about your prep the same —you know, watch video, do a scouting report, just make it a process.”

Offensive output is where the Blazers have shined. Over 2,900 points have been scored this season, which is a single-season record. They’ll lean on the team’s top leading scorers, Braxton Williams and Carlos Hart, to keep that number counting.

Hart said “Everybody’s capable of bringing something to the table. We have very great scores on our team starting five. They’re like all 12-15 points, we all can score points.”

Williams added, “It’s really just us being able to play fast getting up and down the floor just play at our pace, coach allow us to do that.”

There is a lot of familiarity in the South Regional for the Blazers.

Of their six losses this season, four come from teams on their side of the bracket. Alabama-Huntsville accounts for three, including the conference championship, Montevallo has the other one.

Things get even harder for the Blazers when you take into account the host team, Nova Southeastern, is on an 81-home-game win streak.

If both the Blazers and Sharks advance, they’d clash in round two, but for now, the Blazers’ focus is handling Lynn on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m.

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