Springs Valley Community High School

Heading into Tuesday's matchup between the Springs Valley girls' basketball team and Orange County rival Orleans, there was plenty to be excited about for each team. The Blackhawks were 7-1 and, despite a recent loss to Northeast Dubois, ranked No. 6 in Class 1A with control of their own destiny in the Patoka Lake Athletic Conference. Likewise the Bulldogs were ranked No. 8 in Class 1A and had yet to lose a game. By the end of the night, the Bulldogs had lost a game with the Blackhawks taking a 42-38 victory. The Blackhawks took the lead early, dusting the 'Dogs 11-2 in the first quarter. They gave up a chunk of their cushion before halftime and led just 15-12 at the break. After outscoring Orleans 20-12 in the third quarter the Blackhawks had to grind out the fourth quarter, particularly after both Carnes sisters fouled out in the closing minutes. Maddie Carnes was Springs Valley's leading scorer in the game, putting up 13 points on five-of-nine shooting. The sophomore has scored in double-digits in every single one of Springs Valley's nine games this year. She also had a team-high five rebounds, four assists, and a steal. Maci Eckerty went for 12 points against Orleans, also tallying four assists, three rebounds, and a team-high three steals. Eckerty's been on quite the run defensively as it was her sixth-straight game with at least three steals. In Springs Valley's six games since Nov. 18, she's racked up a total of 24 steals. Gracie Breedlove was a spark plug off the bench for the Blackhawks. The freshman continued her ascension by providing seven points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal in 10 minutes. She hit three of her five shots including her only 3-point attempt. Tori McCormick had six points, two rebounds, two assists, and a block. Leigh Carnes had four points, five rebounds, an assist, and a block. Kynleigh Dalton had four rebounds, an assist, and two steals. Jordyn Land had a rebound and a steal. Springs Valley (7-1, 2-0 PLAC) has now won a pair of games in a row and remains in first place in the Patoka Lake Athletic Conference. The other teams in the conference without a loss include West Washington (2-0), Crawford County (1-0), and Paoli, which has yet to play a conference game. The Blackhawks will get a short break before returning to play on Monday when they host conference foe Perry Central.