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VHS WEEKEND WRAP-UP – FEBRUARY 1, 2021

payton-gage-going-after-a-ball-against-hutchison-photo-courtesy-of-joe-prax-2

Nordic Ski Team

January 30, 2021

Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Valdez High School Nordic Ski Team reached their distance time trial goal of the season last weekend with a 10-kilometer race. 12 Buccaneer skiers competed in the 10K and another 5 competed in a 5K race. Fantastic conditions this Saturday allowed for a great race! 10-Kilometers is the farthest distance for our team time trial series this season. For most of our team, this was distance was a first and is a huge accomplishment for the first-year skiers. Great job to the skiers that set this as a season goal!

Varsity Girls Basketball

Kylie Fletcher Gilbert goes to the hoop against Hutchison, Photo courtesy of Joe Prax

Valdez Girls Varsity Vs. Hutchison Hawks

Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Buccaneers Girls Basketball Team welcomed the Hutchison Hawks to town this past weekend for their first conference games of the season. Building off the momentum from last week, the girls came out shooting well and taking control of the games early in each contest.

On Friday night, the Bucs jumped out to an early 14-3 lead in the first quarter, and cruised on to a 56-33 win.  On the night, the girls hit 6 of 9 of their 3-point attempts, and averaged 45% from the field overall. Another tough night of team-oriented defense again held the Hawks to just 3 of their players reaching the scoring column.

On Saturday, the game was largely a repeat of the Friday night performance. The final score was 43-22 in favor of the Bucs. Rylie King took a charge during the contest.  You may see some of the girls during warmups with a “crossed sabers” logo or number of logos on their warm-up sleeve. To celebrate the courage and skill it takes to successfully take a charge, each time they do so during their varsity career, they get to add another “crossed sabers” on their arm. You all are encouraged to take note and congratulate the girls on their spectacular courage to take a charge on
defense.

This weekend the Monroe Rams will visit Valdez and will provide an exciting matchup. We hope to see you there.

Varsity Boys Basketball

Payton Gage going after a ball against Hutchison, Basketball photos courtesy of Joe Prax

January 29th & 30th

Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Buccaneers opened Aurora Conference action over the past weekend, playing host to the Hutchison Hawks.

Friday, January 29th: Valdez 64, Hutchison 56

Friday’s evening matchup saw the Bucs jump out to an early 23-12 lead, fueled by Dennis
Mott’s 10 first quarter points. After the first stanza the scoring was near even throughout the rest of the game. The second quarter saw each team record 12 points as the Bucs took a 35-24 lead into the intermission. The second half was nearly equal as well, with the Hawks scoring 32 points while the Bucs scored 28 points en route to a 64-56 victory.

While the Buccaneers never trailed in the game, the 23 turnovers allowed Hutchison to close the gap to a three possession game in the fourth quarter. Timely free throw shooting down the stretch helped seal the win for the Bucs, who shot 15 for 22 from the charity stripe for the game.

The Buccaneers featured a balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures and two others netting 9 points apiece. Dennis Mott led the scoring column with 14 points, while also grabbing 7 rebounds. Dillon Fowler and Hunter Mathews each chipped in 11 points, while Payton Gage added 10. Aiden McAtee and Bryce Tucker contributed 9 points apiece, while Tucker led the team in rebounding with 11.

Saturday, January 30th: Valdez 59, Hutchison 65

Saturday’s midday contest saw the Bucs start more lethargic than the previous night, resulting in a poor first quarter and an early 14-10 deficit. Early foul trouble sent Dennis Mott to the bench for the entirety of the second quarter, during which Hunter Mathews and Payton Gage combined for 14 points to keep the game within 5 points (34-29) at intermission.

While the Bucs played the Hawks near even the second half (30-31), they could not break
through and take control of the game. The Hawks proved themselves the more aggressive
team, gathering timely offensive rebounds and winning the 50/50 loose balls, enabling them to secure a 65-59 road Aurora Conference victory.

Hunter Mathews led the scoring for the Bucs with 19 points. Payton Gage and Bryce Tucker added 11 and 10, respectively.

Notes:
The Bucs next face the visiting Monroe Catholic Rams in another Aurora Conference matchup.
This matchup may be the last regular season Aurora Conference matchup for the foreseeable future, as the Rams have been officially reclassified to 4A for the Boy’s Basketball 2021-2022 season.

 

JV Girls Basketball

JV Girls Basketball Vs Birchwood Christian

Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The JV Girls Buccaneers had an exciting first weekend of basketball against Birchwood Christian. Friday night’s game was a tough one all the way through. Birchwood had the lead all the way until the end of the 4th, but the Bucs were able to take the lead and won by 1 point. Moe Togagae lead the team with 10 points, and Ariel Mitchell followed with 7 points.

Valdez 28 – Birchwood 27

Saturday morning the Bucs came out and had another close game. We came out aggressive, but got into foul trouble right away which ultimately hurt us in the end. We held the lead in the beginning of the 4th quarter, but in the last few seconds ended up losing by 2.

Valdez 27 Birchwood 29
Overall, this young team had a great weekend. The girls played hard, came out aggressive, and worked together. I’m excited to see what we can accomplish this season!

 

JV Boys Basketball

Valdez JV Boys Vs. Birchwood Christian

Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Junior Varsity Bucs had another slate of games this weekend against the Varsity Birchwood Warriors. Friday night, the Warriors got the jump on the Bucs taking a 20-point lead after the first quarter.  Valdez came together over the next three quarters to nearly pull even with the Warriors overall, however the first quarter deficit was too much to overcome. The three leading scorers were Zach Rissman, Gavin Morris and Theron Diesenroth with 6 points apiece.

Saturday morning Valdez had another shot. The Bucs played great, entering halftime only down one point. An inspired defensive effort by the team had them take the lead midway through the third quarter, however the size and experience of Birchwood’s varsity eventually allowed them to pull away at in the closing minutes in a defeat for Valdez. Gavin Morris lead the Bucs with 12 points.

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