In a prime Northeast Kansas League matchup on Friday, the Horton girls and Valley Falls boys kept their winning streaks alive and secured top finishes in the inagural NEKL standings. 

GIRLS = Horton 41, Valley Falls 32
The Lady Chargers never trailed on the road with a pair of five point leads in the first half and won the third quarter 11-2 to stretch the margin after three quarters.  Valley Falls tied the game at 16 late in the first half with a pair of treys by Macee Jepson but never really made a run offensively and was held without a field goal in the third frame.  Natalie Pickerell scored all 8 of her team-high points in the final stanza, but Horton made 18 of 27 free throws to keep distance, including 9 free throws in the fourth quarter alone.  Sarah Coversup was the "Player to Bank On" sponored by Citizens State Bank and Trust Company, as she made 9 of 10 charity tosses and finished with 17 points.  Mariah Hisle added 9 and Amber Wilhelm had 7 first quarter points as Horton improved to 14-4 overall and 7-1 in the NEKL with a seventh win in a row.  Valley Falls had a six-game win streak halted before falling to 13-5 overall and 4-2 in league play.  

BOYS = Valley Falls 61, Horton 56
Valley Falls boys jumped to a 9-2 and early 12-4 advantage in a game that featured a ton of fouls and free throws.  Trailing 36-22 entering the second half, Horton stormed back and got within 45-43 early in the fourth quarter.  Valley Falls answered by making 10 of 11 free throws in the final frame and hit 23 of 32 on the night for 72 percent to hold on for their 14th straight victory.  Luke Burns was 12-15 at the stripe and had a game-high 25 points to earn "Player to Bank On" accolades, after being crowed winter royalty king prior to the tip-off.  Ben Gantz added 11 while Max Badgett posted 9 before leaving with an injury in the second half.   Marty Gatzemeyer and Tyler Weishaar added 8 each as Valley Falls improved to 17-1 on the season and 6-0 in the NEKL.  Horton got 24 points from Trey Dishon and 12 from Dakota Bayles, but had three players foul out of the game before falling to 12-6 overall and 6-2 in the league.