RAPID CITY — The James Valley Christian Lady Vikings fought hard, but a late Arlington Cardinal surge in the third quarter opened up a deficit too large to overcome, as the Lady Vikes dropped a 51-41 decision in the opening round of the Class “B” State girls’ basketball tournament Thursday afternoon on Summit Court in the Monument.

The Arlington press defense caused turnovers early and led to a 7-2 lead with points coming directly or indirectly from turnovers.

The Lady Knights used turnover transition of their own to get back into the game and even take a 9-7 lead after Kaylie Robinson scored a pair of baskets off turnovers.

The two teams then battled back and forth the rest of the way in the first quarter Jolyssa Steffensen hit a basket with 20 seconds left in the quarter to give Arlington a 16-13 lead, the score the teams would take into the second quarter.

The two teams struggled with putting points on the board the first half of the second quarter as Arlington had pushed the lead out to 21-15 as they reached the four-minute mark of the second period. From that points, the two teams played even again, with Arlington taking a 27-21 lead to the halftime break.

Both teams struggled from beyond the arc throughout the first half, and those struggles continued into the start of the second half, which limited scoring for two clubs who typically lean on their outside shooting. Alexa Goertz hit a long-range bucket with less than a minute remaining in the third for JVC’s first three-point basket of the game, but Jaelyn Huntimer immediately answered with a three for Arlington.

Jolyssa Steffensen drained a 3-point basket as time ran out in the third for Arlington, sending the game into the final period with a 40-28 Arlington edge.

That burst at the end of the third quarter for Arlington would weigh heavily as the teams played fairly even throughout the final period, the Lady Vikings trying but not able to really chip into the Arlington lead, with the Cardinals pulling out a 51-41 victory.

The Cardinals move to 22-2 behind 18 points and four steals from senior Harley Johnson, including her 1,000th career point during the game. Huntimer added 15 points.

Addalyn Steffensen grabbed seven rebounds to lead Arlington.

The Lady Vikings (16-7) were led by Kaylie Robinson with 14 points. Alexa Goertz chipped in 10 points.

Addyson Knight and Robinson each had eight rebounds to lead JVC and Rhayonna Hood dished out six assists.

James Valley Christian 13 21 28 41
Arlington 16 27 40 51

James Valley Christian (16-7): Addyson Knight, 3 0-0 6; Rhayonna Hood 3 0-0 6; Kaylie Robinson 6 2-6 14; Addison Bartholow, 1 3-3 5; Alexa Goertz 3 2-2 10. Totals: 16 7-11 41.

Arlington (22-2): Addalyn Steffensen 4 0-0 8; Harley Johnson 7 3-6 18; Jaelyn Huntimer 6 2-2 15; Isabelle Steffensen 2 0-0 4; Jolyssa Steffensen 2 1-2 6. Totals: 21 6-10 51.

FG: JVC - 16-50 32%; A - 21-57 37%. 3-pt FG: JVC - 2-19 (Goertz 2); A - 3-15 (Johnson, Huntimer, J. Steffensen). Rebounds: JVC - 40 (Robinson 8, Knight 8); A - 34 (A. Steffensen 7). TO: JVC - 18; A - 15. Assists: JVC - 9 (Hood 6); A - 12 (Johnson 3, I. Steffensen 3). Fouls: JVC - 10; A - 14.