Valencia’s Cara McKell maneuvers around a pair of Hart defenders during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hart’s Andrea Aina puts up a shot while defended by Valencia’s Cara McKell in a girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Kamilla Basyrova puts up a shot against Hart during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hart High School’s Morgan Mack grabs a rebound during a Foothill League girls basketball game against Valencia Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Cara McKell tries to get around Hart’s Morgan Mack during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hart’s Emery Eav defends Valencia’s Diana Reyes in a girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Cara McKell and Hart’s Faith Purfoy try to control a loose ball during a girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Alexis Epie puts up a shot in front of Hart’s Taylor Koebel during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Hart’s Taylor Koebel grabs a rebound as during a Foothill League girls basketball game against Valencia Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Alexis Epie is all smiles as they pull ahead of Hart during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Valencia’s Alexis Epie gets off a pass after grabbing a loose ball under pressure from Taylor Koebel of Hart during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Kamilla Basyrova celebrates as Valencia defeats Hart High School in a girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Show Caption1 of 12Valencia’s Cara McKell maneuvers around a pair of Hart defenders during a Foothill League girls basketball game Jan. 17, 2025. (Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
ExpandVALENCIA — Kamila Basyrova went to the free throw line with three seconds left on the clock. Hart was pushing the pace and imposing its will, but Valencia’s Basyrova — a freshman — had an important job to do.
“I practice my free throws every day after practice,” Basyrova said. “I just had to close out all the noise. Shut all the noise out and focus and make it for our team.”
She released her shot and secured the point needed to diminish the Hawks’ chances of last-minute heroics in a battle between the Foothill League’s top two girls basketball teams Friday night.
The Vikings pulled off a 52-48 win, which marked a vast improvement from the first time the two teams met.
Hart beat Valencia 65-35 on Dec. 3 in its home gym. This time around, the Vikings (19-3 overall, 6-1 Foothill League) cupped their hands into a heart gesture in front of the Hart crowd and quickly snapped their fingers apart — symbolizing heartbreak.
“This means we can beat anyone,” said Basyrova, who scored 20 points. “That’s what it feels like.”
However, the regular season is far from over. Five more Foothill League games remain on each team’s schedule and the top of the league standings are tied up, making each game equally critical.
“I told them in the locker room, enjoy the win tonight but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t take care of business on every league game moving forward,” Valencia head coach Jared Honig said. “It’s exciting for sure, but there’s five more league games and in league anything can happen.”
The Vikings got their first lead in the opening quarter but gained even more ground in the second frame. They settled down on the perimeter on offense and set up screens on defense when Hart (15-7, 6-1) tried to push the pace.
Basyrova hit a deep 3-pointer to give Valencia a 22-14 advantage and had 10 points in the first half alone.
As Basyrova attacked from the outside, Cara McKell patrolled the paint and made multiple layups to keep Valencia’s energy flowing.
“(McKell) has the ability to attack the basket and draw so much attention,” Honig said. “Her willingness to make the right play really helped us.”
Sophomore Keira McLaughlin showed up in a big way and took advantage of situations in which she was left unguarded to contribute 14 points.
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Basyrova shot freely in the second half, steady on her feet and shoulders squared. The Hawks’ Morgan Mack, a Long Beach State commit, made six free throws in the fourth quarter to finish the game with 24 points.
Valencia next hosts Saugus on Tuesday and Hart has a nonleague game on Monday against Crescenta Valley before resuming league play at home against Golden Valley on Friday, Jan. 24.
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