Alexis Epie (23) of the Valencia Vikings scrambles for the loose ball against Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Kamilla Basyrova (34) of the Valencia Vikings drives to the basket against Julianne Tan (11) of the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers shoots over Kamilla Basyrova (34) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers shoots over Keira McLaughlin (13) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Alexis Epie (23) of the Valencia Vikings shoots over Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Alexis Epie (23) of the Valencia Vikings shoots over Casey Higgins (35) of the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Alexis Epie (23) of the Valencia Vikings shoots over Casey Higgins (35) of the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Aliyah Casas (4) of the La Salle Lancers scrambles for the loose ball againt Keira McLaughlin (13) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Aliyah Casas (4) of the La Salle Lancers scrambles for the loose ball againt Keira McLaughlin (13) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Erica Fan (5) of the La Salle Lancers rebounds along with Aislin Tamez Torres (21) of the La Salle Lancers as Alexis Epie (23) of the Valencia Vikings looks on in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers shoots over Keira McLaughlin (13) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Valencia Vikings look on late against the La Salle Lancers in the second half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers drives to the basket against Kamilla Basyrova (34) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Jared Honig of the Valencia Vikings reacts toward Kamilla Basyrova (34) of the Valencia Vikings against the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Julianne Tan (11) of the La Salle Lancers scrambles for the loose ball against Kamilla Basyrova (34) of the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Erica Fan (5) of the La Salle Lancers rebounds against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers saves the ball and passes against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) La Salle Lancers fans cheer in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game between the La Salle Lancers and the Valencia Vikings at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Scott Wiard, right, with Richard Wiard of the La Salle Lancers reacts against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Scott Wiard of the La Salle Lancers reacts against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Alicia Rivera (20) of the La Salle Lancers reacts against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Sophia Sarkar (11) of the Valencia Vikings along with teammate Alyssa McKell (20) of the Valencia Vikings high five the La Salle Lancers after La Salle Lancers defeated the Valencia Vikings 51-35 to win a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Aislin Tamez Torres (21) of the La Salle Lancers shoots against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Jared Honig of the Valencia Vikings reacts against the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Aislin Tamez Torres (21) of the La Salle Lancers drives to the basket against the Valencia Vikings in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Aislin Tamez Torres (21) hugs teammate Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers after defeating the Valencia Vikings 51-35 to win a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Emilyn Hum (3) celebrates with teammate Emily Fong (24) of the La Salle Lancers after defeating the Valencia Vikings 51-35 to win a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Aislin Tamez Torres (21) of the La Salle Lancers celebrates after defeating the Valencia Vikings 51-35 to win a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) La Salle Lancers celebrates after defeating the Valencia Vikings 51-35 to win a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Show Caption1 of 29Alexis Epie (23) of the Valencia Vikings scrambles for the loose ball against Riley Higgins (25) of the La Salle Lancers in the first half of a prep girls CIF-SS Division 1 championship basketball game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario on Friday, February 27, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Expand
ONTARIO – Valencia came into the CIF Southern Section Division 1 girls basketball championship having been battle tested throughout the season. The Vikings were 28-4 overall and went undefeated — 12-0 — in the tough Foothill League.
But the Vikings came up short in the title game, losing to La Salle 51-35 on Friday night at Toyota Arena.
The Lancers’ strong interior offense proved to be too much for Valencia.
The Vikings led by four points early in the first quarter, but that would be their biggest lead of the game.
La Salle was able to score 22 points in the paint, largely through the efforts of Aislin Tamez Torres, Emily Fong and Riley Higgins, who combined for 37 points.
Senior forward Kiera McLaughlin was the standout for Valencia, as she had a team-high 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Vikings had 20 turnovers in the game.
It was a disappointing showing for Valencia, which all season had been led to victories by sophomore wing Kamilla Basyrova and freshman point guard Sophia Sarkar.
Basyrova went into the final averaging 19.8 points per game and shooting 44 percent on 3-pointers. Sarkar was putting up 9.6 points per contest along with 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
Valencia head coach Jared Honig complimented the two players postgame, and he said he was optimistic about the program’s future.
“They’re extremely hard workers,” he said of Basyrova and Sarkar. “They put in a ton of time with us and outside of what we’re doing, so it’s no surprise that they’re able to do what they do on the court. So I think as long as they keep working, as long as our team sticks together, I think we’ll be great moving forward.”
The loss snapped a 13-game winning streak for the Vikings. They went into Friday’s game with their last loss being a 60-57 setback against Corona Centennial on Jan. 10.
Valencia will continue its season in the CIF state playoffs that begin Tuesday.
“I’m super proud of everything they accomplished,” Honig said.
“I thought they competed hard tonight, just didn’t get it done. But just really proud of them and we’re gonna look to keep playing as long as possible in the state playoffs.”
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