2017 Valley Falls Girls Sub-State Champions (photo courtesy of Bobbi Kearney)

Game Broadcast – click here.

For the third straight season the Valley Falls girls’ basketball team will play for third place in the Class 2A state tournament in Manhattan after falling in the semifinals to top seed and undefeated Central Plains Friday afternoon 53-41.

The Dragons hung right with the No. 1 team in 2A early on trailing by just four points, 12-8, after the first quarter, but the Oilers were able to push their lead up to eight heading into halftime at 24-16. Valley Falls fought hard to get back into the game out of halftime, but Central Plains was able to push their lead up to double digits after three which proved to be too much for the Dragons to overcome.

Valley Falls shot well in the game going 5-of-11 from the three-point line, but turned the basketball over 15 times which proved to be costly in the end.

The Dragons will now play for third place Saturday afternoon against Meade with tip off scheduled for 12-noon and coverage on KAIR 93.7 FM or online here.

Valley Falls: Reagan Kirkwood – 11, Allison Kearney – 9, Rachel Frakes – 8, Drew DeLong – 5, Paige Wildeman – 5, Mallory Burns – 5.

Central Plains: Emily Ryan – 20, Kylee Kasselman – 16, Cassidy Crites – 6, Avery Hurley – 4, Janae Ryan – 3, Chelsey Bieberle – 2, Julie Donecker – 2.