Aviator attitude: Cedar Valley shows typical resolve in taking a thrilling 50-47 win over Westlake
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- Cedar Valley’s Hadley Whiting rises over the defense to score two of her four points during Wednesday’s 50-47 win over Westlake. February 3, 2026
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- Cedar Valley guard Daisy Thayne pulls up for two of her eight points scored during Tuesday’s 50-47 win over Westlake. February 3, 2026
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- Cedar Valley coach Kawika Akina instructs his team during a timeout during the Aviator’s 50-47 win over Westlake
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- Westlake guard Avery Thompson looks to penetrate during Tuesday’s game versus Cedar Valley. February 3, 2026
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- Cedar Valley guard Daisy Thayne penetrates with off the dribble during her team’s 50-47 win over Westlake. February 3, 2026
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- Cedar Valley’s Katalina Larson drives the lane during the Aviator’s 50-47 win over Westlake. February 3, 2026
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- Cedar Valley applied good defensive pressure throughout its 50-47 win over Westlake on Tuesday. February 3, 2026
It wasn’t exactly the play Cedar Valley coach Kawika Akina drew up during his team’s final timeout of Tuesday’s thrilling 50-47 win over Westlake, but he’ll certainly accept the result.
With 9.1 seconds left on the clock, and the game tied at 47-47, the Aviators had the full length of the court to go in order to win the game in regulation. Several cuts toward the basket were upended, along with other aspects drawn up by Akina, until Savannah Klodt found herself with the ball about five feet behind the 3-point arc with a defender right up on her with time in regulation quickly expiring.
The junior guard had just one option; hoist it up and hope for the best.
Klodt’s shot found just about every inch of the rim, along with some of the backboard before miraculously finding the bottom of the net for the game winner. Klodt’s teammates erupted in celebration in beating a formidable Thunder team that was first place in the Region 2 with a gleaming 17-2 record on the season prior to Tuesday’s game.
“It wasn’t exactly what I drew up, but I left it to her to figure something out, and she certainly did,” Akina said regarding Klodt’s heroics. “We had nothing to lose, and I just told her to get something, and she got a good one.”
A minute before her game-winner, Klodt had begun cramping, uncertain if she could even finish the game before finding enough resolve to not only finish it out, but do as much in the best way possible.
Klodt’s resolve served as a microcosm for what Cedar Valley has done all season in exhibiting her team’s toughness and determination.
“We’ve been down all year. We get down by 10 points every game, it seems, but the girls are just tough and gritty,” Akina said. “They never, ever give up and pack it in and that’s what I love about this team. They never stop believing they can pull out a win, and having done that all year really prepared us to do it tonight against a very good Westlake team.”
Cedar Valley led for most of the game on Tuesday before the Thunder regathered and went to work toward the end of the third quarter. Down by as many as 11 points, Westlake closed to within three points at the end of the third quarter before overtaking the lead midway through the fourth.
“We got our lead by making a lot of 3-pointers, but then it was Westlake that couldn’t miss, and then all of a sudden they’re back in the lead,” Akina said. “But we got it going at the end there, much like we have a lot of times this season.”
Klodt finished with a team-high 13 points scored with Ellie Larson and Daisy Thayne adding 12 and 11 points, respectively. The three of them combined for seven made 3-pointers while passing out some timely assists and applying stingy defense along with teammates such Presley Whiting, who finished with eight points and Hadley Whiting, who added four.
With the win Cedar Valley improves to 12-7 on the season, the program’s first at the 6A level, which can prove an uphill battle most years.
“Tonight wasn’t just a big win for our program, but for the school,” Akina said. “We haven’t beat Westlake much in all sports, so doing it tonight, and that’s a very, very good Westlake team, it’s huge. That’s the number one team in our region and for good reason. They’re very good, but our girls just showed that gritty never-say-die attitude and that got us through. I love this team and the attitude they have in every game they play.”
