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

At State for the third straight year and eighth time overall the Valley Falls lady Dragons captured a Top four finish for the third-straight year. The Dragons were looking for the second consecutive third place finish at State but a second half led evaporated and Valley Falls fell to Meade 51-40 to take fourth in Class 2A at State. 

Valley Falls worked out to the lead in the first quarter holding a 15-12 lead after the first quarter and a 10-5 second frame by the Dragons put them up 25-17 at the half. That lead did not hold up as Meade battled back outscoring Valley Falls 16-11 in the third to draw within three points and the Buffaloes closed the game with a 18-4 fourth quarter to ultimately take the win from the Dragons 51-40. Dragons despite outshooting the Buffaloes 36.1% to 27.7% from the floor saw Meade go 24-28 from the free throw line and force 18 turnovers on the Dragons to help complete Meade's comeback. 

In the loss Reagan Kirkwood and Allison Kearney led Valley Falls with 14 and 13 points, respectively, while Kearney added eight rebounds to her state line. 

The Dragons with the loss closed out the basketball season with a 21-5 record and earned fourth place in Class 2A.