Magnolia received a big night from sophomore Kaylee Yost to lift the Blue Eagles over the Lumberjills 61-42 on Tuesday night, January 20, in New Martinsville.

The two teams looked to be headed for a showdown after a first half that ended with the Lady Eagles on top by a basket 25-23. The Lumberjacks senior star Laken Dawson paced her team in the first half scoring 15 of their team’s to keep them in the game.

Magnolia’s Yost failed to score in the first quarter, but knocked in eight in the second frame, however, she was only getting warmed up as she took over following the halftime break and scored nine straight points to open the third quarter and finished the frame with 15, with three baskets coming off steals.

But then, Valley’s star got going midway through the period and pulled her team back in contention by hitting 13 straight points, including a 3-pointer to get within eight points 46-38 after they had fallen behind by 16.

Magnolia then turned up the pressure defense and forced the visitors into 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter and held them to just four points in the final eight minutes all by Dawson who was facing a box and one defense. The Blue Eagles hit for 15 in the period with Yost adding six more to her team high 29 points, including a trio of 3’s, while hitting 6-13 free throws.

Valley’s Dawson finished as the game’s high scorer with 30 for her team, which included two 3’s and a 4-4 showing from the free throw line. She also had four steals and three assists.

Backing Yost in support of the Eagles was Karlie Warder with 10 points and nine rebounds. Aubrey Warder added seven points, while Bella

Sockman and Sydney Quinet each had five. Audrey Quinn got three and Zoey Mast had two points.

Supporting Dawson for Valley was Aubree Mason and Michaela Miller with four points each, while Kendall Loy hit a 3-pointer and Maddi Miller added a free throw. Mason finished with seven rebounds as well.

Valley turned the ball over 32 times on the night, while the Blue Eagles committed 18 miscues. Magnolia controlled the boards with a 36-19 rebound advantage.

Valley fell to 3-4 with the loss, while Magnolia moved to 5-6.