Maize South
8A
The Valley Center Hornets battled throughout but came up short Thursday night, falling 37-27 to the Maize South Mavericks. Valley Center opened the game with confidence, attacking early and taking a 10-5 lead after the first quarter behind steady defense and efficient scoring.
Momentum shifted in the second quarter as Maize South’s half-court trap began to take effect. The Mavericks forced several turnovers, converting them into points and swinging the game in their favor. Despite the pressure, the Hornets continued to compete and kept within striking distance heading into the second half.
Valley Center saw strong individual efforts on both ends of the floor. Gia Hall led the Hornets on the glass with 6 rebounds, while Averie Dewey provided a spark defensively with 3 steals. Offensively, Kylie Skladzien paced the team with 10 points, followed by Zoey Nelson with 9. Dewey added 6 points, and Hall contributed
The Hornets will play Saturday in the league tournament against Derby in Hutchinson at 9:30am.

8B
The last game of the season for the B team didn’t quite go the way we had planned with the team losing 14-25 to Maize South. On the offensive end, Layla Becker led the team with 6 points followed by Jayleen Cabral-Gomez scoring 4 and Audrey Shifrin with 3. Coach Kyli Burns said, “Though the outcome isn’t what we wanted, I’m extremely proud of the improvement I have seen with all of the girls this season! The team we saw on day one of practice vs who we saw at the end… it was night and day difference. I can’t wait to watch players develop in the offseason and watch them play in high school next year!”

7A

Valley Center 7A came up short Monday night, falling 15–22 to Maize South in a hard-fought defensive matchup. Both teams opened the game with intensity on the defensive end, resulting in a slow start and a 0–2 score after the first quarter.
The Hornets stayed within striking distance throughout the night, keeping the margin at just two points heading into the fourth quarter. However, momentum shifted when standout defender Sophia Fellows fouled out, opening the door for Maize South to knock down a pair of timely threes that extended their lead.
Offensively, Kendall Merrifield led the way with 7 points. Evie Taylor added 6, providing key baskets to keep the Hornets close, while Sophia Fellows contributed 2 before exiting late in the game.
The Hornets will play Salina South this Saturday at 9:30am at VCMS in the first game of the league tournament.

7B

The Valley Center 7th grade girls B team faced a tough challenge Tuesday night, falling 43–23 to the Maize South Mavericks in a fast-paced, high-pressure contest.
Evie Taylor continued her strong season, leading the Hornets with 12 points and providing much of the team’s offensive spark. Despite her effort, Valley Center struggled to find consistent scoring, with several good looks at the basket refusing to fall.
Maize South’s relentless full-court press proved to be the difference-maker. The Hornets had difficulty breaking the pressure, resulting in turnovers that the Mavericks frequently converted into quick points. The Hornets tried several tactics but fell short in the 2nd half to rebound from the press.
On the defensive end, Valley Center worked hard but had trouble containing Maize South’s outside shooting. Several timely perimeter shots by the Mavericks widened the scoring gap and made it challenging for the Hornets to mount a comeback in the 4th quarter.