Valley Christian starts league play with two wins

Maybe 2024 will be better than the last month of 2023 was for the Valley Christian Lions varsity boys' basketball team. After struggling to a 7-8 non-league record last month, the Lions opened league play with two wins, Saturday beating Sac Adventist 73-51, and Tuesday picking up a win over Buckingham Charter 77-43. In the win over Sac Adventist, the Lions led 27-20 at halftime and then broke the game open with a solid third quarter, outscoring the opponent 27-17 to take a 17-point lead into the fourth quarter, 54-37. "We had to contend with their 6-10 center and overall we did a decent job as a team against him," Valley Christian coach Brad Gunter Jr. said. "The first half was closer than we wanted, and we just couldn't put the ball in the basket. The third quarter was the difference in the game. Our defense was great, and the ball found the bottom of the net. "It was a good road league win to start the season, because that's a tough gym to play in." Chase Clary led the team with 20 points, while Malachi Urena scored 16 and Ian Glaspy finished with 10 points. James Shevchuck added nine points, while Daniel Barakat chipped in eight. Valley Christian worked up a 39-21 halftime lead on Buckingham Charter on Tuesday night, as they cruised to a 77-43 win to improve to 2-0 in league play. "Overall, we played decent," Gunter Jr. said. "The second quarter was the separating quarter on the scoreboard. We are slowly starting to get it. I know that is weird sounding, considering we're in league play, but we're playing an entire different style compared to the last 12 years. The guys are making progress adapting, and hopefully we can make a run this year." Clary scored 33 points to lead the way, while Glaspy scored 12 and Urena and Micah Cook both added eight points. Valley Christian plays host to Sacramento Country Day on Thursday and Cristo Rey on Friday. "We need these W's to stay in the hunt for league," Gunter Jr. said. "Western Sierra is the top dog, and defending league champs. They're having a great season, and we'll have to get better quickly to have a chance at them in a week and a half when we travel to them."