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The Empire League girls basketball race features a strong front-runner that might soon add another player but the intrigue doesn’t stop there.

Cypress and Valencia proved that Friday night.

The two ranked teams faced off not only as challengers for No. 8 Crean Lutheran but as improved squads looking to take another step.

Cypress seized the opportunity behind its speed, defense and outside shooting.

Junior center Myia Collins scored 16 points to lead four players in double-figures as No. 19 Cypress defeated No. 21 Valencia 72-59 in a fast-tempo game at Cypress High.

Shooting guards Jasmine Arnold and Sara Shigekawa each scored 13 points for the Centurions (15-7, 3-1) while point guard/forward Isabella Caceres added 12.

“It’s a very good victory because we’re playing Valencia, which is a very good team,” Cypress coach Nathaniel Rivera said. “They’re a nonstop team, too. They don’t get tired, and I’m praying that we don’t get tired before them. It went our way today.”

Cypress, ranked 14th in CIF Southern Section Division 3AA, led 55-49 going into the fourth and opened the quarter with a 10-4 spurt to seize control.

Arnold, a 5-foot-1 senior, help spark the run by sinking a baseline jumper and one foul shot after a rough close-out. Caceres followed with a driving bank shot before Shigekawa drained one of her three 3-pointers off the bench.

Shiagekawa, a sophomore, made three of her six attempts from beyond the arc.

“We made some timely shots when we had to,” said Rivera, who was missing several reserves due to non-COVID illness. “It’s a very balanced team.”

Cypress’ three-quarters of the court trap took care of the rest as Cypress forced eight turnovers in the final frame. Arnold, Caceres and Shigekawa each finished with three steals.

The Tigers’ press forced seven turnovers in the third period as they stayed close but Cypress benefited from the rotation of point guards Jan Lim (nine points), Lauryn Nakamura (9 points) and Caceres.

“We don’t rely on one person,” Caceres said. “We don’t care who shoots or scores.”

Valencia (15-4, 2-1), ranked second in CIF-SS Division 4AA, never led but showed poise in several recoveries. Sophomore Anaya Beard scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Allison Mirhan scored 14 points while her sister Lauren added 10.

The Tigers played without freshman Jaylen Lorge (finger).

Cypress had Valencia on the ropes a few times in the first half but had to settle for a 40-35 lead at intermission.

The Centurions closed the first quarter with an 8-0 run, fueled by their press, to take a 21-10 lead. They led by as many as 12 in the second period.

Cypress challenged Crean Lutheran last week in a 55-51 loss. “I think it shows how much better and how good we actually are,” Collins said. “We’ve improved.”

Next week, Valencia plays host to Crean Lutheran on Tuesday while Cypress travels to rival Kennedy. Crean Lutheran co-coach Bianca Ziemann confirmed this week that former San Juan Hills and Pacifica Christian guard Elizabeth Elder has enrolled at Crean Lutheran but the Southern Section lists her eligibility as pending.

In other Empire League games:

Crean Lutheran 69, Pacifica 15: Emily Reed scored 20 points and Taylor Feldman added 17 to lead the visiting Saints (14-3, 4-0).

Tustin 39, Kennedy 38: Junior Brooklyn Hampton scored the go-ahead basket and blocked a shot in the final 12 seconds to lift the host Tillers (1-2 in league).

In the Freeway League:

No. 9 Sonora 46, No. 25 Sunny Hills 44: Jazmin Sheikh made a late steal and foul shot to help lift the visiting Raiders (13-4, 4-0) past the Lancers. Sheikh finished with a game-high 18 points while Larissa Robles added 17. Natalie Do scored 16 points for Sunny Hills.

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