Hutchinson

8A
The Valley Center Hornets pulled off an impressive 38-30 win over the Hutchinson Salthawks in a hard-fought game on Tuesday, 10/28. The Hornets led 22-17 at halftime, but Hutchinson battled back in the third quarter to tie the game 29-29, setting up an exciting finish.
In the fourth quarter, Valley Center’s defense came up big, holding the Salthawks to just one point and securing the victory. Standout performances on the boards fueled the Hornets’ effort, with Averie Dewey grabbing 13 rebounds and Gia Hall collecting 12. Dewey also contributed three of the team’s nine steals, showcasing her all-around defensive presence.
On offense, Kylie Skladzien led the way with 16 points, followed by Dewey with 10 and Hall adding five. Zoey Nelson and Audrey Shifrin each chipped in three points, while Tessa Black and Peyton Gonzalez added two apiece.
The Hornets’ team effort on both ends of the floor, especially in the final quarter, was the difference in the game and demonstrated their determination to finish strong.

8B
8th grade B team started out strong with a big win over Hutchinson, 30-3. The team played some solid defense with Tessa Black and Hayley Johnston getting 6 steals each. On the offensive end, Ryleigh Ray led the team in scoring with 14 points while Josslyn Lewis had 3 assists. Josslyn also pulled down 6 rebounds while Layla Becker had 5. “While there is still plenty we need to work on and fine tune in the coming weeks, I am proud of the hustle and intensity I saw.” said Coach Kyli Burns.

7A
The Valley Center Hornets opened their basketball season with a hard-fought matchup against Hutchinson, ultimately coming up short with a 23–36 loss. Valley Center kept the game close through the first three quarters, trailing by just two points heading into the third. The Hornets showed strong defense and solid teamwork early, but Hutchinson turned up the pressure in the fourth quarter with a full-court press that proved difficult to handle. Foul trouble also played a role in the outcome, as a couple of Valley Center’s key guards were forced to spend extended time on the bench. Leading the way for the Hornets was Kendall Merrifield with 10 points, followed by Laura Garten with 8, and Sophia Fellows adding 5.

7B
The Valley Center Middle School girls B team Hornets took to the court Tuesday night against the Hutchinson Salthawks, putting up a determined fight despite a 29–10 loss.
Lucille Waggoner led the Hornets in scoring with 5 points, showing strong offensive instincts throughout the game. Kate Stratton made her presence known on defense, disrupting Hutchinson’s rhythm with several key steals and tight coverage. Olivia Wilson helped keep the offense organized, displaying confident ball handling and steady control in bringing the ball down the court.
Though the scoreboard didn’t fall in the Hornets’ favor, the team showed a positive attitude and worked hard until the end. The Hornets will look to continue to improve as they prepare for their next matchup Thursday night against Salina South at home.

Salina South
8A
The Valley Center Hornets captured a 35-28 victory over the Salina South Cougars on Thursday, October 30, in a hard-fought middle school matchup. The Hornets came out firing, opening the game with a 9-0 first quarter to set the tone for the night.
Valley Center built a lead of up to 16 points, but the Cougars made a late push in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap. Despite the comeback attempt, the Hornets’ early dominance proved too much to overcome.
Kylie Skladzien led the Hornets in scoring with 13 points and also secured 10 rebounds for a strong double-double performance. Averie Dewey was a force on both ends of the floor, collecting 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 assists. Gia Hall contributed 9 points, while Zoey Nelson added 5 and Peyton Gonzalez chipped in 2 to round out the scoring.

8B
The Valley Center 8th grade B team picked up another solid win, defeating Salina South 22-13. Ryleigh Ray led the Hornets’ offense with 10 points, while also contributing four rebounds. Tessa Black made her presence felt on the boards, pulling down five rebounds, and Hayley Johnston matched Ray with four rebounds of her own while adding five steals on defense.
“We’re continuing to figure things out offensively and stay aggressive on the defensive end,” said coach Kyli Burns.


7A
What a game for the Valley Center Hornets! In their home opener against Salina South, the Hornets battled through a tough first half before rallying for an exciting 38–30 victory. Early on, Valley struggled to find their rhythm offensively, while Salina South hit several three-pointers to build a 12-point lead by halftime. But the Hornets refused to back down. In the third quarter, Valley’s offense came alive as they attacked the basket and drew key fouls, trimming the deficit to just four points heading into the final period. A full-court press in the fourth quarter energized the team and the crowd, sparking a huge momentum shift. Kendall Merrifield continued to attack the rim and get to the free-throw line, while Emary Tyler knocked down two clutch three-pointers in the fourth. The highlight of the night came when Merrifield drained a buzzer-beating three to seal the win and put the Hornets up by eight. Merrifield led the team with 14 points, followed by Tyler with 11, Sophia Fellows with 5, Madison Truman with 4, Laura Garten with 3, and Evie Taylor adding 1.

7B
The Valley Center Hornets 7th Grade B Team girls’ basketball squad earned an impressive 24–18 win over Salina South this week, showcasing steady improvement on both ends of the court.
Kate Stratton led the Hornets’ scoring effort with 7 points, while Lucille Waggoner added 6 and Olivia Wilson chipped in 5. The balanced offense kept Salina South on their heels throughout the game.
Latyn Moore made her presence felt in the paint, providing a defensive spark that helped shut down Salina South’s inside scoring opportunities. The Hornets’ defensive intensity, combined with sharper offensive execution, marked a clear step forward from the previous game.



Andover Central
8A
The Valley Center Hornets showed grit and determination but came up short against the Andover Central Jaguars, falling 36–26 in Thursday’s matchup.
The game started close, with Andover Central holding a slim 8–7 lead after the first quarter. The Jaguars gained momentum in the second, outscoring Valley Center to take a 21–12 lead into halftime. By the end of the third quarter, Andover Central had stretched its advantage to 30–18.
Refusing to quit, the Hornets sparked a 7–0 run midway through the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 30–25, bringing energy back into the gym. However, the Jaguars closed the game strong to secure the win.
Kylie Skladzien led Valley Center in scoring with 13 points, while Gia Hall added 5, Zoey Nelson 4, and both Tessa Black and Averie Dewey chipped in 2 apiece. Dewey also led the team in rebounding with 7, followed closely by Hall with 6.
8B
The Valley Center 8th grade B team improved to 3-0 with a hard-fought 23-21 win over Andover Central on Monday night. Audrey Shifrin and Tessa Black led the Hornets with six points each, while Ryleigh Ray sparked the defense with five steals. Shifrin had the game-winning basket with 7 seconds to go in the game. Black also grabbed four rebounds, and Jayleen Cabral-Gomez added three steals with strong play in the post. “We made improvements on the offensive end, getting into our plays quicker and finding the open player,” said coach Kyli Burns. “We’re moving in the right direction and getting better each day.”


7A
The Valley Center Hornets put up a strong fight Tuesday night but came up just short against Andover Central, falling 31–39 in a competitive matchup. The game stayed close from start to finish, with the Hornets matching the Jaguars’ energy and execution through three quarters. Valley entered the fourth quarter down by just three points, keeping the pressure on until the final minutes. However, the Hornets struggled to control the boards and find quality shots in the fourth, allowing Andover Central to pull ahead late. Kendall Merrifield led Valley Center with 10 points, followed by Emary Tyler with 9, Sophia Fellows with 6, Kate Stratton with 4, and Laura Garten adding 2.

7B
The Valley Center Hornets 7th Grade B Team girls showed grit and determination Tuesday night but came up just short in a hard-fought 20–16 loss to the Andover Central Jaguars.
Laura Garten led the Hornets with 8 points, while Kate Stratton added 6 in a strong offensive effort. Despite their eventual rally, the Hornets faced early challenges as Andover Central’s tough man-to-man defense limited scoring opportunities in the first quarter. Valley Center trailed by 8 at halftime.
The Hornets came out of the break with renewed energy, clamping down defensively and holding the Jaguars scoreless through the third quarter. Their comeback effort narrowed the gap, but Andover Central regained momentum late, finding key baskets in the fourth quarter to seal the win.