The 2021-22 high school basketball season opened Friday night for area teams and in a non-league doubleheader the Jackson Heights Cobras and Royal Valley Panthers played to a split in Holton.

In the girl’s game Jackson Heights built an early lead and extended it throughout to force a running clock in the fourth quarter in route to a 61-30 victory.

The Lady Cobras led 14-7 after one behind five points from Kanyon Olberding who was forced to shoulder the load with fellow junior starter Kaylee Thompson out for most of the quarter with two fouls.

Thompson came back in the second quarter and made her mark scoring nine points in the frame to push Jackson Heights’ lead to 34-11 at the break.

The Cobras would extend that lead to 32 points going into the fourth quarter and were able to rest the starters the remainder of the way.

Thompson led Jackson Heights with 23 points while Olberding added 16 and McKenzie McMahon 11.

Royal Valley was led in the loss by Kennedy Bryan who scored 14 points on a pair of triples while Alysa Ladson added eight.

BOYS

The boy’s games was similar to the girls except for it was Royal Valley who got off to a quick start before pulling away for a 49-30 victory.

The Panthers raced out to a 16-5 lead after the first quarter behind 10 points from Mason Thomas before KJ Miller got going in the second scoring seven points in the frame to give Royal Valley a 31-15 lead at the half.

In a sloppy third quarter Royal Valley was able to extend their lead to 20 going into the fourth quarter and were able to get the young guys in the rest of the way.

Miller led the Panthers with 19 points while Thomas added 14 and Brady Klotz 10.

Jackson Heights was led in the loss by Grant Amon who scored 10 points while Silas Holliday chipped in eight.

Next up for Royal Valley (1-0) is a home game against Jeff West Tuesday while Jackson Heights (0-1) will host Oskaloosa.