Valley Central’s boys’ basketball team proved it could compete in the first half against Burke at home Thursday.
The Vikings trailed 21-10 after the first quarter. In the second quarter the Vikings put it all together with a 15-1 run to lead 25-22 at the half.

“Shots fell,” said Eric Bartle, Valley Central’s coach.

That was the end of the Valley Central’s momentum. Burke came back and scored 5 points in the first minute of the third quarter. That set a pace the Vikings could never catch up with as Burke went on to win 45-37.

The Vikings were perfect from the foul line in the second quarter, knocking down 6 shots with 6 tries.

In the second half, the Vikings did not reach the foul line and scored 12 points in the final two quarters, 3 points less than their second quarter total. In the fourth quarter, while trying to battle, one long shot after another failed to drop as Burke’s defense pressured the perimeter.

“We just didn’t knock down any shots after that,” said Bartle, of Valley Central’s second half futility.

Jaeden Tice led Valley Central with 10 points as the Vikings dropped to 2-9.