Varsity Lady Bucs Compete at Elks Tournament

Young team shows growth despite falling short in bracket play

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Varsity Lady Bucs basketball team hosted the 48th Annual Elks Tournament, facing off against several rival teams over the weekend. While the young Bucs squad came up short in bracket play, they demonstrated growth and resilience throughout the tournament.

Why it matters

The Elks Tournament is a long-standing tradition for the Varsity Lady Bucs, providing an opportunity to compete against talented opponents and build team chemistry early in the season. Despite the losses, the tournament experience will be valuable for the team's development as they prepare for upcoming conference games.

The details

The Lady Bucs opened the tournament on Thursday with a close 47-50 loss to the Cordova Wolverines, led by Hali Fitka's 15 points. They bounced back on Friday, routing the Houston Hawks 53-24 with Rylee Wade scoring 20 points. However, the Bucs struggled against the Monroe Rams on Saturday, falling 53-26 despite 9 points from Fitka.

  • The 48th Annual Elks Tournament took place over the weekend of February 13-15, 2026.
  • The Lady Bucs faced the Cordova Wolverines on Thursday, February 13.
  • The Lady Bucs played the Houston Hawks on Friday, February 14.
  • The Lady Bucs took on the Monroe Rams on Saturday, February 15.

The players

Varsity Lady Bucs

The high school girls basketball team representing Valdez High School.

Cordova Wolverines

The girls basketball team from Cordova High School, a rival of Valdez High School.

Houston Hawks

The girls basketball team from Houston High School, one of the teams that competed in the Elks Tournament.

Monroe Rams

The girls basketball team from Monroe High School, known for their talented roster.

Rylee Wade

A standout player for the Varsity Lady Bucs, named to the All Tournament Team.

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What they’re saying

“Overall it was a great weekend of basketball for the Bucs. Although we would've like to finish a little higher in the brackets, we saw a lot of growth and strength from our very young team. Every week the Bucs seem to find a way to adjust to adversity and get better.”

— VHS Girls Basketball Coach (kvakradio.com)

What’s next

Next week the Lady Bucs travel to Monroe for a couple of conference games on Friday and Saturday.

The takeaway

The Varsity Lady Bucs' performance at the Elks Tournament, despite some losses, showcased the team's resilience and potential for growth as they continue to develop chemistry and skills throughout the season.