Episodes

Courtesy of VHS Ski Coach Pete Toye – The Buc ski team made a very long road trip to Homer which paid off nicely with some very strong top-10 overall performances by a number of athletes. Valdez joined teams from Kenai, Soldotna, Nikiski, Seward, Wasilla, and host Homer for the two day event featuring classic on Friday and skate on Saturday. The Lookout Mountain course is the most demanding in the state with lots of steep climbs and screaming turns so it was a significant mental and physical challenge to teams not familiar with the venue. The kids showed the great courage that only skiers on intimidating courses can appreciate. It is also not easy to sit in a bus for 500 miles then get out and race a new and challenging venue! This was the first time Valdez has skied there in 5 years due to the great distance and skiing danger if the course is icy, but conditions were perfect this time around.

As has been the case all season, senior Rylee Norris was the top Buc racer finishing 2^nd overall consisting of 2^nd place finishes in both events. She had an outstanding race showing great control, courage, and skill throughout the course. Senior Taylor Huston had a competitive weekend on this demanding venue finishing 11^th in classic and 14^th in skate. The Buc varsity boys were again led by ever improving junior Ben Swanson who finished 10^th overall consisting of 12^th in classic and 6^th in skate. Following Swanson solid efforts were senior James Hancock who placed 20^th overall and senior Chris Cummins finishing in 24^th.

The junior varsity girls continue to excel in only their first or second year of the sport winning the girls team JV title in impressive fashion. Senior Angie Alfaro had a great meet finishing 2^nd overall and 2^nd in both events. This is Angie’s second year in the program. The remainder of the team are all first year racers and continue to improve each day. Senior Caitlin Connell finished a very strong 3^rd overall-4^th classic/3^rd skate; sophomore Victoria Korenev had a great event finishing 6^th overall-7^th classic/5^th skate; freshman Grace Keller had a very good weekend earning 9^th overall and 9^th in both events; and sophomore Rowan Miller had her best races of the season with a 10^th place overall finish and 10^th in both events. Senior, and first year skier, John Banner was the lone Buc boy in the JV event with a strong 7^th place overall performance-5^th classic/9^th skate.

The Bucs now enter home stretch month and will next see action this weekend in the valley at the Matsu Borough Championships.

KVAK Sports Shorts is brought to you by our local sponsors:

MVP Sponsors

Subway, Prospector, Napa, Harris Sand and Gravel, Valdez Native Tribe, and Foothills Dentistry

Other Sponsors

Crowley Petroleum, Safeway, Eagles Order 1971, Innovations Hair Design, Copper Valley Telecom, Sound Realty, Conoco Phillips, and Arts Design

The boys varsity team competed in the Husky Invitational this past weekend in Kotzebue. The Bucs first game of the tournament was against Unalaska last Thursday. Valdez played evenly in the beginning with Valdez leading 11-9 at the end of the first. In the second quarter Unalaska outscored the Bucs by 11 points and ended the half with a 26-17 lead.  Over the next two quarters Valdez fought their way back, but lost 44-41. Valdez was led by senior Seth Auble who finished the game with 17 points 8 rebounds.

On Friday, the Bucs bounced back  with a huge win over the Nome-Beltz Nanooks. After jumping out to a quick 12 point lead in the first quarter the Bucs added onto the lead for the rest of the game and won 61-42. As a team Valdez shot an efficient 53% for the game. Auble once again led the way for Valdez in scoring with 17 points. Also contributing was freshman Jalen Freeman who scored 15 points.

On Saturday, Valdez played their final game of the tournament against the hometown Kotzebue Huskies. At the end of two quarters Valdez sat comfortably with a 23-13 going into the second half. In the 4th quarter the Huskies tried to diminish the lead, but the Bucs were able to maintain control and won the game 55-48 led by Seth Auble who scored 25 points on 68 percent shooting. Bennett Hinkle scored 15 points and recorded 3 steals.

KVAK Sports Shorts is brought to you by our local sponsors:

MVP Sponsors

Subway, Prospector, Napa, Harris Sand and Gravel, Valdez Native Tribe, and Foothills Dentistry

Other Sponsors

Crowley Petroleum, Safeway, Eagles Order 1971, Innovations Hair Design, Copper Valley Telecom, Sound Realty, Conoco Phillips, and Arts Design

The VHS girls varsity team traveled to Seward for a tournament this past weekend.  Last Thursday the Lady Bucs competed in their first game against the home town Seahawks. Valdez won easily by a score of 63-39 to advance in the tournament. They were led to victory by junior Bobbi Mott who scored 30 points on 10-18 shooting, tallied 13 rebounds, grabbed 5 steals and got 3 blocks. Sophomore Jade Watts also had a standout game with 4 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists on only 2 turnovers and 7 steals.

On Friday, the Lady Bucs played the Delta Huskies. Valdez scored double digits in every quarter of the game to cruise to a 48-23 victory. The Lady Bucs did a good job as team getting to the free throw line, and converted 17 of their 25 attempts. Mott led the team in scoring and rebounding with 26 points and 17 rebounds.

In the championship game the Lady Bucs competed against the Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves. The Braves defense caused numerous problems for the Lady Bucs throughout the game. At the end of the first quarter the score was 18-9 with Mt. Edgecumbe leading. Valdez just couldn’t seem to get into a rhythm offensively shooting 8-28 for the game. The Buccaneers lost to Mt. Edgecumbe 57-21. On a brighter note, junior Makenzi Mott of Valdez scored the 1,000^th point of her high school career. There will be a small ceremony during the Elks Tournament on Thursday before the girls varsity game to acknowledge Mott’s accomplishment.

KVAK Sports Shorts is brought to you by our local sponsors:

MVP Sponsors

Subway, Prospector, Napa, Harris Sand and Gravel, Valdez Native Tribe, and Foothills Dentistry

Other Sponsors

Crowley Petroleum, Safeway, Eagles Order 1971, Innovations Hair Design, Copper Valley Telecom, Sound Realty, Conoco Phillips, and Arts Design

VHS Ski Coach Pete Toye – The Buc ski team ventured north to Fairbanks last Saturday to join 150 other skiers in an exciting ski-cross competition. The races consisted of two heats over jumps, around slalom gates and under “limbo” gates. All skiers raced in preliminary heats, then advanced to final heats depending upon their results in the prelims. Final groupings were classified A (fastest group in prelims) thru C (slowest group in prelims).  Many of the skiers competing in this race will be racing next weekend for a spot on the Alaska Junior National team to compete in the Junior National Championships in lake Placid, NY this March. College skiers also competed in this event as well making for stiff competition.

Final Heat Valdez results are as follows:

Men’s Varsity C Final:

1. Ben Swanson
2. John Banner
3. James Hancock
4. Chris Cummins
5. Colton Prevost

Women’s Varsity C Final:

2. Rylee Norris
3. Taylor Huston

Women’s  JV B Final:

1.Victoria Korenev

3. Rowan Miller

Women’s JV A Final

5. Caitlin Connell
6. Angie Alfaro

The race was a good training opportunity for balance and step-turning.  All skiers showed great technique improvement since their last race there on Nov. 19, including the first year athletes. The team now heads to Homer this weekend for their two day event at Ohlsen Mountain.

KVAK Sports Shorts is brought to you by our local sponsors:

MVP Sponsors

Subway, Prospector, Napa, Harris Sand and Gravel, Valdez Native Tribe, and Foothills Dentistry

Other Sponsors

Crowley Petroleum, Safeway, Eagles Order 1971, Innovations Hair Design, Copper Valley Telecom, Sound Realty, Conoco Phillips, and Arts Design

The VHS varsity basketball teams will be going to separate basketball tournaments this weekend away from home. The Boys varsity team will be traveling  to Kotzebue to compete in the Husky Invitational. On Wednesday, the Lady Bucs will travel to Seward to play in a three-day tournament. Both teams have participated in three tournaments this season. Next weekend the Buccaneers will be playing at home for the annual Valdez Elk’s Tournament.

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW ELKS TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

KVAK Sports Shorts is brought to you by our local sponsors:

MVP Sponsors

Subway, Prospector, Napa, Harris Sand and Gravel, Valdez Native Tribe, and Foothills Dentistry

Other Sponsors

Crowley Petroleum, Safeway, Eagles Order 1971, Innovations Hair Design, Copper Valley Telecom, Sound Realty, Conoco Phillips, and Arts Design

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