Gallery • 23 Photos

By Morgan Gurwell

Within the first few minutes of the game, sophomore Claire Kaifes drives towards the basket.

Girls basketball lost to Blue Valley 52-43 after a close game on Friday, Feb. 24.

Mill Valley gained the lead early in the first quarter, but the game quickly proved to be close one, with both teams trading the lead back and forth.

According to assistant coach Andy Preston, this was something the team was prepared for in the practices leading up to the game.

“[Blue Valley is] really a quality team, very well coached, they have some college players on their team,” Preston said. “I know they had back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday so … they were very tired, but they’re a solid team, [and] they don’t beat themselves, so w

e knew it was going to be a tough game.”

The first quarter had ended with the two teams tied 12-12, but by halftime, Blue Valley had the lead 26-23.

Senior Courtney Carlson felt confident going into game and believes the whole team was looking to come out on top against Blue Valley.

“We were pretty confident, I mean it’s the last game of the regular season, so I think we were excited and hoping to get the win, but hopefully next week we do,” Carlson said.

Ultimately Blue Valley did defeat the Lady Jags 52-43, and according to Preston,is because of small mistakes Mill Valley made.

“It’s just a lot of little things, rebounding, getting too many post touches down low defensively, and offensively we didn’t attack the basket well enough and settled for too many jumpers,” Preston said. “Just a pretty simple game.”

This was the last game in the Lady Jags regular season, and next week the postseason starts. They will play Blue Valley Southwest, and according to Carlson, the team will have to be prepared even though they did beat BVSW in regular season play.

“We play on Wednesday, so we only have a few practices, but we’ve been preparing these last few weeks,” Carlson said. We’re ready to play, we’re playing BVSW, who we beat earlier this year by a considerable amount, but we aren’t taking anything for granted. We’re taking it one game at a time.”

The Lady Jags play Blue Valley Southwest on Wednesday, March 1.