The Valparaiso Vikings have made a habit of sweeping their opponents off the court, having now won eight games by 21 points or more this season. Couldn't have asked for a better start to 2024 than the 65-30 blowout they got at home against Portage. The win was some much needed relief for Valparaiso as it spelled an end to their four-game losing streak.
Becca Gerdt was her usual excellent self, scoring 25 points along with five rebounds. The match was her 16th in a row with at least ten points. Lillian Barnes was another key contributor, scoring 18 points along with six rebounds and four steals.
Portage's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Ava Kingery, who scored 12 points. The match was Kingery's fifth in a row with at least ten points. Another player making a difference was Evelyn Garza, who scored six points.
Valparaiso's win bumped their record up to 11-6. As for Portage, their defeat was their third straight on the road, which bumped their record down to 9-8.
Both teams will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Valparaiso won't have much time to rest: their next matchup is against Harrison at 6:30 p.m. on January 6th. Hopefully Harrison focused on turnovers this week since the team gave up 17 on Wednesday. Portage will be staying on the road on Tuesday to face off against East Chicago Central at 7:00 p.m. on January 9th.
