Valencia proved they are here to defend their Foothill League crown despite the experience they lost to the 2017 graduating class.

Yes, last season’s Foothill League Player of the Year Kayla Konrad is now plying her trade at UC Davis. But the defending CIF-SS D1AA champions have another sharpshooter looking to take over the league.

Sophomore Nicole Weatherman helped the Vikings bust Tuesday’s league opener against Saugus wide open, knocking down five 3’s en route to a 21-point performance (8-for-10 from the field) as the Vikings cruised to a 63-27 victory.

The Centurions were still in it at halftime, down 30-16, but could never get going offensively. They were outscored 20-3 in the fourth quarter, where Valencia pulled away for good.

After a 13-game winning streak was snapped by Pacifica last week, Saugus has now had their lowest scoring efforts of the season in back-to-back games and head coach Jason Conn will have to come up with some answers to right the ship before a big game against West Ranch on Friday night.

As for the Vikings, at 8-9 overall and a tough non-league schedule (every team they lost to has a winning record), the reigning league co-champions appear back on schedule as a favaorite for another Foothill League title along with Canyon. They have a road test at Hart on Friday who is also 1-0 in league play.

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