Valley Heights moves on in the Class 2A Girls State tournament with a dominant 52-35 win over top seed Wichita County, giving the Indians their first loss of the year. The Mustangs never trailed in the game, getting the scoring started with Senior guard Maggie Toerber. Toerber delivered nine points in the first frame to pace the ‘Stangs as they led 16-10 at the end of one.

In the second, Toerber continued scoring the ball while Sophomore Ava Smith added four. At the break, the game remained a Valley Heights six point lead 23-17. M. Toerber paced the way with twelve first half points with Smith chipping in six. Rebounding was astounding in the half for Valley Heights as they out rebounded Wichita County 28-15. Defense was good for the ‘Stangs, but it would get turned up another notch in the second half.

Valley Heights would turn up the defensive pressure, forcing twelve second half turnovers collecting thirteen points off of those turnovers. Outscoring the top ranked Indians 29-18 in the second half to run away with the opening round win. Defense is the focus on this team, and defense led to a massive opening round win for Valley Heights.

Smith played large for the Lady Mustangs as she poured in twelve in the second half to lead all scorers with eighteen points while adding in eleven rebounds in the game. She was named our Farmers State Bank of Onaga Player to Bank on. Maggie Toerber finished the night with sixteen points, fellow Senior Delana Murk finished with seven as she fouled out of the ball game with 6:53 left in the game. Eight seeded Valley Heights will take on the fifth seed Riverside Cyclones who knocked off Hoxie 43-38 in their opening round contest.