East Union High is in sole possession of first place in the Valley Oak League following Tuesday's 55-40 victory over Kimball.

 "We haven't won anything yet, but we've positioned ourselves well in the first half (of league play)," said Lancers coach Jim Agostini, as his team seeks its fifth straight VOL title.

East Union (4-0 VOL, 19-3 overall), in the process, won its 13th straight game. But it was bittersweet.

Junior center Alessandra Montes had to exit late in the game against the Jaguars due to leg injury. The extent of that was unknown, according to Agostini.

"She was having a great year," he said.

Montes finished with 10 points to go with eight rebounds.

Kimball (3-1, 12-5) came into the Dalben Center as a team known for its outside shooting from 3-point land.

"They've had games where they connected on 11 3s or nine 3s — our goal was to hold them under five 3s," said Agostini.

The Lancers defense did just that, limiting the Jaguars to just three treys during the game.

East Union got untracked offensively midway through the first, going on an 11-2 run.

Mariela Navarro scored on a put-back followed by baskets from Ava Barrera and Donnese Payne, who provided second and even third chance shots with her offensive rebounding prowess.

Nylah Dyson netted a 3, delivering off a pass from Barrera.

Ahead 17-9 at the start of the second, the Lancers maintained their advantage with Payne, Zyondupree Beasley, and Nylah Dyson providing the offensive punch.

Kimball, trailing 28-17 at the break, came out strong to open the third.

Ella Gregory, Emma Coronado, and Sierra Tuliau, who canned one from beyond the arc, trimmed the deficit, 30-26.

East Union answered with Alexa Zuniga delivering a 3 from the top of the key. Barrera, Montes, and Payne followed that up with points in the paint. Montes' put-back in the closing seconds gave the Lancers a 45-34 edge.

East Union slowed down the pace midway through the fourth while cruising on to the win.

Dyson finished with 14 points. Payne, who hauled in 16 rebounds with six of those on the offensive glass, and Barrera both chipped in with eight points.

Kimball's Coronado led all scorers with 15 points, with Tuliau finishing with 10.

The Lancers will travel to Oakdale on Thursday.