It certainly wasn't anything close to a previous meeting this season when Riverside handed Valley Falls their worse loss of the season 75-30 in mid January. Instead it was a game of runs in the 2A Sub-State Championship at Valley Heights and it took overtime before the Dragons avenged that loss and prevailed 68-58 to advance to state for the first time since 2014. 

Valley Falls led 13-6 after one quarter and 29-21 at halftime, thanks in part to Dylan Cervantez knocking down four treys and scoring 14 points in the second quarter for the Dragons. Yet, with a 20-6 third period, Riverside came storming back to take the lead. The Cyclones had the ball in the last 11 second with the game tied at 52, but Valley Falls got a deflection jump ball and called timeout. Nate Hawk banked in a half-court heave, but it didn't release his hands before the final horn sounded to send the game to overtime.  The Dragons dominated the extra four minute session to improve to 17-4 on the season. 

Cervantez scored 21 points for the Dragons while Avery Gatzemeyer added 13 and Hawk and Cooper Jepson each chipped in 10. Valley made 26 of 37 free throws in the game and will make their 14th boys state tournament apperance by hosting Wabausee (11-12) on Monday at 6 PM with live coverage on KAIR Radio 93.7 FM.  

The two coaches meeting in this game, Tyler Herbster for Riverside and Caleb Gatzemeyer of Valley Falls were teammates for the Dragons in the late 1990's before Herbster was a part of the 2000 state tourney that VF placed fourth in Class 3A before the Dragons placed second in 2A in 2001. 

Riverside got 15 points each from Braden Chalfant and Xavier Stillman while Nehemiah Bryd added 14, but the Cyclones made just 9 of 16 free throws on the night. Their best season in school history ends at 15-7, and like the girls, fell just one game short of advancing to the state tournament for the first time.