The West Valley Eagles refused to show last Friday, due to a chance of snow. On Wednesday, with the threat of a stray snowflake looming, the Eagles made the daring journey up the always treacherous I-5 to Yreka’s Miner Gym. Unfortunately for Yreka, the Miners were unable to do what a “chance of snow” did the prior week–stop West Valley.

The Eagles dominated the first quarter of play, outscoring the Miners 16-2. Yreka’s only basket came from Jeremy Cox at the 4:45 mark. The Miners held their own for the remainder of the game, and at times had mini scoring runs, but still fell by double digits, 52-39.

Trailing 21-2 in the second quarter, Yreka put up seven straight points. A put back by Cox got the mini-run started. Cox then dished to Ryan Kennedy for a hoop. Cody Hoff nailed a 3-ball to make the score 21-9, with 3:29 left in the first half. Going into the intermission, the Eagles led by 15 points, 27-12.

Yreka made another push in the third quarter, with West Valley up 29-14. Tyler Johnson scored to make it 29-16. Hoff hit another long-range shot, 29-19. A freebie from Kennedy, cut the deficit to nine points, 29-20. Cox grabbed a rebound and went coast-to-coast for a bucket, making it a 7-point game, 29-22.

That, however, was as close as the Miners would come for the rest of the game. West Valley led by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, 42-24, and went into the final frame up by 16 points, 42-26.

Yreka cut the margin to 13 points early in the fourth quarter. Michael Elfgen notched one from the charity stripe and then dropped a dime to Johnson who converted for a hoop, making it 42-29. West Valley went on to win by a 13 point margin, 52-39.

Johnson led the Miners with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Cox had 8 points and 6 rebounds. Hoff put up 7 points, pulled down 7 boards, and had a pair of steals. Ryan Kennedy had 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, as well as 5 points.

Yreka (0-2, 5-15) hosts Anderson (1-1, 8-12)  this Friday at Miner Gym.