Salina Lakewood
8A
The Valley Center Hornets came away with a 33-23 victory over the Salina Lakewood Mustangs in a hard-fought matchup. The Hornets’ defense was the story of the night, keeping the Mustangs in check for much of the game despite some early struggles offensively.
Averie Dewey led Valley Center with 6 rebounds and 5 assists, while Kylie Skladzien added a team-high 5 steals, fueling the Hornets’ fast breaks. Skladzien also led the scoring with 16 points. Supporting efforts came from Dewey, Gia Hall, and Tessa Black, who each added 4 points, Zoey Nelson with 3, and Josslyn Lewis with 2.
The Hornets improved to 3-2 on the season.

8B
The Valley Center 8th grade B team experienced their first loss of the season, falling 23-13 to Salina-Lakewood. Despite the setback, Tessa Black brought energy and spark to the team, helping get Valley Center on the scoreboard. Peyton Gonzalez contributed off the bench with key deflections and a steal, while Hayley Johnston led the team with three steals on the night.
Valley Center will look to bounce back in their next matchup.

7A
The Valley Center Hornets managed to pull out a 24-17 victory over Salina Lakewood on Monday night, despite an uncharacteristically slow start. Though the Hornets entered the game with a clear edge, they found themselves scoreless through the first quarter and searching for rhythm offensively.
Cold shooting plagued the team early, as Valley Center struggled to convert from the field. Foul trouble added to the challenge, with Kendall Merrifield spending key minutes on the bench.
Despite the rough start, the Hornets showed resilience down the stretch, finding just enough offense to secure the win. Merrifield led the Hornets with 11 points, while Sophia Fellows added 7, Evie Taylor chipped in 4, and Laura Garten contributed 2. Despite the sluggish start, Valley Center found enough offensive spark in the second half to secure the win. It wasn’t pretty—but it counts in the win column.


7B
The Valley Center Hornets 7th Grade Girls B team earned a convincing 19–4 victory over the Salina Lakewood Mustangs on Monday night. The Hornets’ aggressive defense set the tone early, limiting the Mustangs to just a pair of baskets the entire game.
Sierra Robles led the defensive charge with aggressive play that forced several turnovers, keeping Lakewood off balance and creating fast-break opportunities for the Hornets. Lucille Waggoner paced the offense with 6 points, while Olivia Wilson and Laura Garten each added 4 to the scoreboard.
After showing major improvement in their defensive efforts since last week, the Hornets are focusing next on sharpening their offensive execution. The team will look to carry their momentum into Thursday’s home matchup against Derby North.