Girls Varsity Basketball
Mya Christofferson Goes After a Ball
Photos Courtesy of Joe Prax
Home Games vs Galena
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Valdez Girls had their first home games against, Regional opponent, Galena this past weekend. The Valdez team was missing some players due to injuries and illness, so the JV team played with the Varsity team. The girls really stepped up and played hard.
Moe Togague Going for the Ball
Friday, January 21, 2022 (Valdez 48 – Galena 25)
This was Galena’s first game of the season and the Valdez Girls seventh game. The Valdez girls used their experience against some tough 4A schools to run the ball and execute some tough man to man defense. They were able to take the lead early and keep the lead throughout the game. Kylie Gilbert was the leading scorer with 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 steals; Carsyn Hinkle had 12 points, 5 rebounds; Kelsey Prax had 7 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals; Mya Christoffersen 3 points and 5 rebounds; Momoe Togaga’e had 7 rebounds. Galena was led in scoring by Rianne Isaac with 13 points.
Kylie Fletcher Gilbert with a Steal
Saturday, January 22, 2022 (Valdez 54- Galena 22)
On Saturday, the girls set out to eliminate some of the 26 turnovers that they had on Friday night, and to run the floor with more control, and execute their offense. This was a much better game for the team, both on offense and on defense. Turnovers were cut to 17 and Kylie Gilbert had 5 assists and Kelsey Prax had 5 steals.
Seniors, Kylie Gilbert and Katarina Taylor had 8 points each, and provided leadership for the younger players. Kelsey Prax added 8 points and 6 rebounds. Carsyn Hinkle, Mya Christoffersen, Carlie VanBuskirk, and Momoe Togaga’e each had 6 points. Lily Brown added 4 points and 5 rebounds. and Izzy Kizer scored her first point of the year!
The girls grew as a team this weekend and will be working on rebounding and executing their offense, as they prepare for next weekend’s games at Eielson.
Carsyn Hinkle going to the basket
Valdez Dance Company performed at Basketball Games
Boys Varsity Basketball
Andrew Baczuk Jumps for the Ball
VHS Varsity Boys Basketball Wrap-Up [January 21 – 22]
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Buccaneers welcomed Aurora Conference opponents Galena Hawks for the first home games of the season on Friday and Saturday. Despite being short-handed, the Bucs dominated the Hawks throughout both contests -registering a pair of 40+ point blowout victories.
Jarrett Gage Goes Up for a Shot
Friday, January 21st: Valdez 79, Galena 31
Any trepidation felt due to the lack of availability of 7 rostered Varsity players for Friday’s game was quickly put to rest, as the Bucs that were able to suit up stampeded out to a 31-2 advantage after the first quarter. It proved to be an insurmountable deficit for Galena, as Valdez continued to maintain and build upon the lead the remainder of the game, taking a 44-18 edge into the half. At the end of the third quarter the margin had swollen to a 67-23 Valdez advantage, activating a “running clock” rule for the final stanza.
The Bucs clicked on all cylinders most of the night on both ends of the court, dominating all facets of the game. While Friday’s “Blackout” night is largely designed to increase spectator participation, the name was apropos as the Bucs essentially shot the lights out. This was especially true during the first and third quarters of the contest, during which Valdez outscored Galena a combined 55-7 and shot a scintillating 10 of 12 from the field during the third quarter.
All 10 Bucs registered a minimum of 7 minutes of playing time and contributed statistically, with all but one chipping in to the scoring column. Bryce Tucker led all scorers with 29 points in a mere 11 minutes of play, shooting 12-of-15 from the floor (including 3-of-4 from behind the arc). Payton Gage netted 13 as the only other Buc to score in double figures.
Allen Watson goes up for a shot
Saturday, January 22nd: Valdez 66, Galena 23
Saturday’s contest yielded similar results from both teams, albeit with a little less scoring. The contest was never really in doubt, as the Bucs held leads of 18-3 after the first quarter, 34-8 at the half, and 58-14 at the conclusion of the third quarter. That lead once again activated the “running clock” for the fourth quarter as the Bucs coasted to a 66-23 win – their sixth in a row.
Once again all 10 rostered players played significant minutes and contributed statistically – 9 of them in the scoring column. The scoring was spread more evenly amongst the Bucs than the night before, as Payton and Jarrett Gage each paved the way with 13 points, followed by Bryce Tucker with 12.
Notes: The Bucs shot an anemic 53% (23-of-43) from the charity stripe over the weekend and are a woeful 72-of-141 (51%) overall this season.
Next Game: The Bucs next travel to Eielson Air Force Base to take on Aurora Conference foes Eielson Ravens on January 28th and 29th.
Valdez Cheerleaders
Music
Courtesy of VHS Staff – Blythe auditioned in the fall for the National Association for Music Education National Honor Ensemble. She qualified to audition by making Alaska’s All-State Honor Choir in 2021. Blythe’s audition was an a cappella video of the soprano line of a classical piece. She was notified in November that she made the National Mixed Choir, a group of about 110 students from across the country. She will be participating virtually January 22-24, when she will be instructed by choral conductor, Geoffrey Boers. She will follow up the weekend by making an individual video recording singing her voice part, soprano 2, in the selected
repertoire. Her recording will then be combined with all the other submissions and made into a virtual choir. The choral performance will be distributed later this spring.
Blythe was the only Alaskan to make the National Honor Ensemble in 2020 and in 2021. She hopes to make
Nationals again next year, as a senior, and enjoy the in-person event in Orlando which has not happened since 2019. She is instructed by VHS music teacher, Amanda Jones, and private instructor, Ann Norris.
VHS Choir sings Anthem at VHS Games