Honk! Honk!

The parents cheered, the players hugged and the one they call "muffin" just couldn't stop smiling.

Jessica Soto, an outsized but never out-hustled guard with the nickname of a pastry, a height of 4-foot-10 and a 3.5 points per game average, gave the Yuba City High girls basketball team an unprecedented gift on Thursday — a win streak.

Soto swished a go-ahead, 14-foot jumper with 13.8 seconds left to lift the Honkers to a 43-42 win over River Valley in a rousing rivalry game unlike any recent contests between the two programs.

"Oh it was amazing, it was really big. I can't believe I made the last shot," said Soto, who finished with four points. "I can't believe that we beat RV - unbelievable."

The Honkers haven't beaten the Falcons since the 2008 season, which was also the last time they won back-to-back games. On Tuesday, Yuba City rolled Pioneer by 14. On this night, the Honkers' first lead of the game came after Soto's jumper.

Though the senior's big shot was the defining moment, Yuba City wouldn't have been in a situation to win if not for the clutch shooting of Chloe Periero, who hit two 3-pointers and added a jumper in the fourth quarter to finish with 16.

Factor in Yuba City in going 11-of-14 from the free-throw line and the fact that River Valley hit one field goal in the last five minutes, and the Honkers, a team that has struggled mightily, finally has a reason to celebrate.

"My hats off to Yuba City," Falcons coach Tom Zaragoza said. "They played with a lot more confidence."

The Falcons (8-14, 4-6), who beat the Honkers at home, 40-24, in January still had an opportunity to send the Honkers home unhappy but couldn't convert. After Soto's shot, River Valley's Alexandra Tanner drove the length of the court, but the ball bounced off a Honkers defender under the hoop with 6.3 seconds remaining and rolled out. Hayley Thompson, the tallest player on either team at 6-foot-1 had one last shot that rimmed out.

After a scrum for the rebound, a jump ball was called, the possession arrow favored Yuba City (4-18, 3-7) and there was less than a second on the clock. An inbound heave to Soto sealed the victory.

"Man it was an excellent game," Honkers coach Lauren Perez said. "Fun to watch, nerve-racking to coach, but fun to watch."

Tanner, who had to sit out an extended period due to foul trouble, led the Falcons with 11 points and Thompson added 10.

For Perez and senior's like Soto, the victory is a first over River Valley at the varsity level and it came on the last home game of the year. Before tip-off, each senior was honored with the announcer reading off the players' favorite basketball memory.

It's safe to say Soto's is now different.

"Yes, yes it is — the winning shot," she said.