Cameron Beardsley

It has been an up and down start to the 2020-21 season for the Valley Heights boys’ basketball team and Friday night the task was no easier with just eight guys available for the Mustangs road contest at Troy.

Still, the Mustangs battled through foul trouble and came away with a 47-40 victory behind big night from senior point guard Cameron Beardsley who poured in 28 points to will Valley Heights to the victory.

Beardsley set the tone early on with 11 points in the first quarter to give the Mustangs an 18-4 advantage heading into the second before Troy battled back and pulled within two at halftime.

He came right back in the third quarter with 11 more points hitting tough shot after tough shot to give the Mustangs an 11-point advantage heading into the fourth.

Troy was able to pull within four late, but Beardsley hit four clutch free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

Beardsley at one point had more points that Troy did as a team as the senior scored a game-high 28 points in one of the better performances of his career.

It continues his strong play from before the holiday break where he scored 18 points in a win over Republic County and after Friday’s big night pushes his season average to 17.5 points per game.

He was an all-state selection and all-league selection a year ago, helping lead the Mustangs to a Twin Valley League tournament championship at the midseason tournament.

Beardsley will look to continue his strong play Tuesday night in another road game as the Mustangs are set to travel to Minneapolis.