Derrick Webb, Managing Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
LUCASVILLE — At one point late in Monday’s third quarter, Eastern had taken a 31-29 lead over Valley.
The Eagles had, to that point, played opportunistic basketball — turning turnovers into points, knocking down contested shots, and crashing the offensive glass.
But in what seemed to be an instant, that script flipped.
The Indians became the aggressor and used much of the same recipe to turn the tides, ripping off a 19-2 run that spanned deep into the fourth before they closed out a 50-38 win in a Division VI District Quarterfinal.
“I just told our girls that it’s tournament time and that anything could happen,” Valley coach Whitney Cunningham said. “But I really just told them that it was about our effort. We’ve been in battles every single game this season and we kind of thrive in that environment. So I just told them to give it their all. Effort and attitude is what we preach. The girls have bought into that. So it was, ‘Guys, give me one-hundred percent effort and we win.’ That was it.”
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
Cunningham’s request was granted as her Indians (14-9) shifted into a higher gear, flying towards the basketball and creating chaos on the defensive end.
All in all, Valley forced 33 turnovers throughout Monday’s contest to help extend their season.
“Our 1-3-1 defense, we really try to wear people down in it,” Cunningham said. “[Katelyn Queen] plays the middle of that, Ella [Thompson] is at the top and Austin [Frantz] in the back, they’re kind of like the spine is what I like to say. If Katelyn is off in there, the whole defense is off. If Ella is off, the whole defense is off. So they all thrive trying to stay together and force turnovers. Then, we try to push the ball up the floor.”
Queen was a focal point for the Indians’ offense all night long.
Despite being sent to the bench in early foul trouble, the junior made her mark throughout the contest, ending with 16 points and nine rebounds.
“She’s jut an excellent kid. You can’t beat her,” Cunningham said. “She responds well, she’s the most coachable kid and she is really excellent. I told her at halftime that it was like a new game. She wasn’t in any trouble and we wanted her to play like she had all five [fouls left]. She’s big for us. If we don’t have her in there to rebound, we really struggle.”
The Eagles (8-15) took an early lead when Liberty Ward scored with 6:51 left in the first quarter. But it was short-lived as Queen and Mia Rose produced back-to-back baskets to put Valley in front.
Rose scored again at the 3:27 mark before nailing the back end of two free throws, adding a lay-in and nailing a 3, extending the lead to 12-4. The Eagles answered with a 3 from Kami Pollard before the frame ended, bringing the game to 12-7.
“[Rose] had an excellent game I thought,” Cunningham said. “Me being able to change out her and Ella Thompson at the top is pretty huge. Running [the offense] can be hard on somebody. So that was a big game-changer for us and Mia came up strong for us. She had a really good week of practice, so we were pretty pumped for her coming out tonight.”
Valley managed to retain a lead until the 3:19 mark in the second when Callie Rader scored to put Eastern back in front at 20-18. But Rose scored to tie the game and later gave the Indians a 24-23 lead before they went into the break ahead 27-23.
In the third, the Eagles continued to battle.
Ella Thompson broke a tie to put Valley ahead 29-27 but her score was answered by back-to-back buckets from Ward, catapulting Eastern on top at 31-29.
And then, put simply, the wheels fell off for the Eagles.
After going into the fourth in a 33-33 tie, Valley ripped off a 15-0 run — heavily highlighted by Queen and Rose — to go ahead 48-33 with 3:42 remaining in the game.
It was all but a done deal at that point.
Following Queen’s totals was Rose, who finished with a game-high 17 points and three assists while Brooke Riehl added 11 points, five rebounds and four helpers. Thompson also chipped in with three points and three assists.
The Eagles were led by Ward, who had 14 points and five rebounds. Rader added eight points and seven boards, and Kenleigh Bapst helped out with six points and two assists.
While Eastern’s season comes to an end, Valley advances to a Division VI district semifinal at 8 p.m., Monday at Southeastern High School.
The Indians will meet a familiar foe in South Webster, who’s already beaten them twice this year — 40-34 on Jan. 5 and 43-38 on Jan. 31.
“We’ve been using it for motivation, even before this game,” Cunningham said. “I told the girls that this was our first stop, but we want that game [against South Webster]. All the girls have responded really well to that, too. We were pretty disappointed at their place. So I’m hoping we can come in with some fire, ready to roll.”
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