In a showdown of unbeaten teams from AVCTL Division 1, the Valley Center Hornets gave the Derby Panthers all they could handle but ultimately fell just short in a thrilling 68-66 loss on Tuesday night. Despite the final outcome, the Hornets demonstrated they belong among the league's elite with their resilience and competitiveness.
Game Recap
The game was a back-and-forth battle from the start. Derby jumped out to an 18-13 lead in the first quarter, but the Hornets responded with a dominant second quarter, outscoring the Panthers 21-13 to take a 34-31 halftime advantage.
In the second half, Derby’s balanced scoring and timely shooting helped them regain the lead, edging Valley Center 20-15 in the third quarter. The Hornets stayed within striking distance and had the lead late in the game before Derby struck back to take the lead in the final minute.
While the loss drops their record to 5-1, Valley Center has proven they are a force to be reckoned with in AVCTL Division 1. They’ll look to rebound and build on this strong performance in their next matchup.
Hornets Stats
Austin Saner: 20 pts, 4 stl, 1 ast
Colby Newton: 13 pts, 4 reb, 2 stl, 6 ast
Bryson Saner: 9 pts, 6 reb, 2 ast
Nash Jamolod: 7 pts, 2 reb, 1 stl, 2 ast
Evan Chavez: 7 pts, 5 reb, 2 ast
RayJ Logan: 4 pts, 2 reb, 2 stl
Doc Needham: 2 pts, 5 ast, 2 stl, 2 reb
Rylan Bailey: 2 reb, 1 stl, 1 ast