Valley Christian has one of the most consistent boys basketball programs in the state and is proving it and thensome again in 2021.

Graduating three first-team, all-region players last season, a pair of players have emerged to shoulder the scoring burden for the No. 1 team in 3A and lead this year's team to a perfect record with one game left in the regular season.

Win No. 15 in as many tries was captured Tuesday night with Valley Christian handling No. 5 Florence, 85-64, in a non-region game at Valley Christian. 

Jacob Rice, a 6-foot-1 senior who played off the bench for half of last season, paced Valley Christian with a season-high 32 points. All his points were scored in the first three quarters Another senior, Jaden De Boer, new to the program this year after transferring in from Washington state, wasn't far behind checking in with 25 points. The pair have been a dynamic duo for coach Greg Haagsma. The Trojans are a team that plays good defense, has good depth and pieces on the floor to go with their scoring leaders.

Rice played the perimeter last year and has been up to the challenge as a rugged inside presence. Rice is like watching a plow horse with an attitude.

"With Jacob we have to ramp him down a little every once in a while," Haagsma said. "He has an engine that never quits. He is relentless rebounding, especially going after his own shots. Jaden gives us a three-point threat, and he has plenty of experience." 

De Boer's previous experience was at Lynden Christian High School in Lynden, Wash., where he helped his team to a state title game last year with a 28-point effort.

Rice made 10 of 17 shots, three on put backs and connected on 13 of 14 free throws. He tossed in one trey for good measure. De Boer sank  4 of 8 threes among his 25 points and also didn't score in the final period as the Trojans cleared their bench with 73-47 advantage after three quarters.

Valley Christian gradually pulled away in a game it controlled from the start. The Trojans led 17-9 after the first quarter, 39-25 at halftime before putting up 34 points in the third period. The Trojans had 10 players score with one more in double figures behind Rice and De Boer. That was senior Spencer Seigworth (11 points).

Florence (11-4) relied on its leading scorer - Malik Payton -- for the bulk of its points. Payton poured in a season-high 41 points, 16 above his average for the year. The senior guard made eight threes (10 of 18 field-goal attempts overall) and 13 of 16 free throws. 

Both teams have one game left and will be on the road in their regular-season finales on Friday. Valley Christian visits 3A No. 7 Gilbert Christian and Florence journeys to 3A No. 7 Winslow. 

Valley Christian's Jaden De Boer launches a three-point attempt in first-half of victory over Florence. (Azpreps365 photo)