Valley high school made the trip to Weirton, on Tuesday night December 23, to take on the Madonna Blue Dons in boys high school basketball action, and came home on the short end of a hard fought 56-49 score.

The Lumberjacks got on the board first on a basket by Wyatt Rogers and ended the first quarter on top 12-10. Madonna then tightened up on defense and got a few easy baskets in transition to win the second quarter 20-11 and go into halftime up by seven 30-23.

The second half had both teams scoring 26 points giving Madonna the win. The Blue Dons received a big night from Reno Fuscaido as he hit for a game high 29 points, with 16 coming in the second half.

Valley was led by Roger and Gaige Wichterman with 12 points each, while Zane Fluharty knocked in 11. Koleton Kinkade hit for eight, while Cayden Stackpole canned six. The Lumberjacks hit 15 shots from the floor, including a trio of 3-pointers by Wichterman, however they made just 16-31 free throws which proved to be the difference.

Madonna hit 20 shots from the floor, including six 3’s, and made 7-16 free throws. Aiding the Blue Dons in scoring was Wingett and Druga with eight points each, while Chiedi hit for seven and Dillon got two.