Wright City had a tough task on its hands in girls basketball action against Valley Park Jan. 13. 

Valley Park’s Deja Hayes posed a big challenge down below at 5-foot-9 and averaging 14 points a game.  The Wildcats held the junior to just eight points in the first half, but couldn’t capitalize, dropping the game 61-39.

The loss puts Wright City at 2-8 on the year, while Valley Park improves to 6-6 for the season.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 7-1 lead early on, with four of those points coming off a basket and a pair of free throws by sophomore Abbey Jaspering. Wright City’s defense kept the Lady Hawks without a basket for the first five minutes of the game, but free throws kept Valley Park in it in the first quarter. 

The Lady Hawks used a 10-0 run in the first quarter to take an 11-7 lead, capped off on a 3-pointer by junior Amanda Kraus with just under two minutes left in the quarter. Wright City fought back to tie it at 11 with baskets by Jaspering and senior Savannah Bridges.

After the first quarter, Valley Park used a full-court press defensively that caused the Lady Wildcats fits, resulting in eight first-half turnovers. 

Wright City Coach Fred Ross said his team prepared for that pressure, but simply had trouble executing.

“We had seen a bit of the Valley Park press and prepared for it,” Ross said. “The girls were not getting to the open areas quick enough. When we did break it and attack the basket, we could not make a shot or our free throws.”

Valley Park took full advantage offensively. A steal at half-court and a lay-in by Hayes gave the Lady Hawks a 19-15 lead with five minutes left in the half. Later in the half, the Wildcats closed the gap to 24-22 on a basket by sophomore Alyssa Hart, but Valley Park scored the last four points of the half to take it to 28-22 at intermission.

The Wildcats shot just under 50 percent from the field in the first half while Valley Park connected on just 10 of 26 chances from the floor in the first half.

Wright City scored the first four points of the second half on baskets by sophomore Jada Hunter, but the Lady Hawks’ Hayes took over after that, scoring seven of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter. Valley Park used a 16-3 run to put the game out of reach.

Ross said the game plan going in was to try and keep Hayes in check.

“Our post and weak-side defense broke down and the girls stopped rotating over as quickly as they needed,” Ross said.  

For the Wildcats, Bridges led with 11 points. Jaspering chipped in 10 points and nine rebounds. For Valley Park, freshman Jordan Nelson scored 10 points.

With a week break between contests, Ross said the team will have time to work on some things in practice.

“We will be focusing on a better team defensive approach and trying to become competitive for the whole game and not just a half,” Ross said.

Wright City (2-8) hosts Trinity Wednesday and travels to Winfield Friday. 

EYES UP — Amy Janowski surveys the defense in a game earlier this season. File photo.