Izzy Kaiser fighting for the ball, Photo by Joe Prax
Valdez Girls Basketball
45th Valdez Elks Tournament Results
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Girls High School Basketball Team had an outstanding weekend of basketball. It was nice to have some home games and play in a great tournament with tough
competition!
Valdez vs Redington (53-14)
We started off the tournament on Thursday playing the Redington Huskies. The last time these two teams met it was in the 2022 State Basketball Tournament. The Lady Bucs were excited to have a rematch on their home court.
The girls jumped out to a quick start and never looked back. The full court defense and aggressive rebounding held the Huskies to only 3 and 4 point each quarter, while the Lady Bucs scoring in double digits in all but the fourth quarter.
Masen Holmes lead all scorers with 15 points and 8 rebounds, Carsyn Hinkle 10 points and 4 steals, Lily Brown with 9 points and 3 rebounds, Destiny Day with 9 points and 6 assists, Izzy Kizer with 4 points and 4 rebounds, Carlie VanBuskirk had 4 points and 3 rebounds, Mya Christoffersen had 4 points and 4 assists, Rylee Wade had 2 points and 1 rebound.
Valdez vs Seward (45-31)
Moving on in the Tournament Bracket, the Lady Bucs next met the Seward Seahawks. These two teams played in the Seward Tournament last year and this was a much anticipated rematch.
Once again the Lady Bucs jumped out to a quick lead. Seward battled hard in the second half as their press created 28 turnovers for the Bucs. The 51% field goal percentage of the Bucs compared to the Seahawk 24 %, along with strong rebounding gave the Bucs the advantage and the win.
Lily Brown scored 14 points and 8 rebounds, Carsyn Hinkle had 12 points and 5 rebounds, Masen Holmes had 8 points and 9 rebounds, Mya Christoffersen had 5 points and 3 rebounds, Izzy Kizer had 4 points and 3 rebounds, and Destiny Day added 2 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists. This was a good team effort for the win!
Mya Christofferson and Masen Holmes on Defense, Photo by Joe Prax
Valdez vs Wasilla (17-54)
Advancing to the Championship Game, the Lady Bucs faced the number two girls’ team in the State, the Wasilla Warriors.
Wasilla showed why they are the number two team, by pressing and creating 33 turnovers for the Bucs, and feeding the ball to their 6’6 center, Layla Hays. The girls battled hard on the rebounds and out rebounded the Warriors, but turnovers lead to easy layups for the Warriors.
The girls fought hard and never gave up. They grew as a team as Izzy Kizer, Carlie VanBuskirk, and Kelli Malcuit came off the bench to contribute to ball handling, scoring and rebounding.
Mya Christoffersen had 5 points and 4 rebounds, Carsyn Hinkle had 4 points and 2 rebounds, Carlie VanBuskirk had 4 points and 5 rebounds, Masen Holmes had 7 rebounds, Izzy Kizer had 4 rebounds, Kelli Malcuit had 3 rebounds, Lily Brown had 2 rebounds, Sofia Ramos had 2 points, and Destiny Day had 2 points.
This was a great tournament for the girls. They are starting to work together as a team and begin to prepare for the end of the season.
This weekend there will be an Alumni Scrimmage instead of Hutchison games, because Hutch does not have a girls’ team this year.
A BIG thank you to all the volunteers that came to the games and supported the girls and boys’ teams.
The Community Pep Band was great! This event would not be possible if we did not have all the great Volunteers and Community support!!
Thank YOU!
All-Tournament Team
Three Lady Bucs were selected to the All-Tournament Team: Lily Brown, Masen Holmes, and Carsyn Hinkle