Springs Valley Community High School

Every team prefers to play in its home venue. At home there’s no packing bags, no pregame travel, no figuring out where the locker room is. At home there’s no hostile road environment, no rushed pregame, no looming return trip. At home there are fewer obstacles to overcome and, because of that, there’s comfort. That’s true for pretty much every team, but for this year’s Springs Valley girls’ basketball squad playing at home isn’t just comforting, it’s been catalyzing. Entering Thursday’s regular-season finale against Class 1A No. 8 Borden, the Blackhawks were 10-1 in their home gym as opposed to 4-6 away from it. They’d ripped off nine wins in their previous 10 contests, six of which were at home. Two of those home wins were over Crawford County and Paoli to clinch a Patoka Lake Athletic Conference championship despite being underdogs in both contests. On Thursday they continued to use that home momentum, wrapping up their regular season at The Hawk’s Nest with a signature win. On Thursday, the Blackhawks took down Borden 43-41. “I don’t even know if the kids appreciate how big of a win it is. I didn’t downplay Borden, but I didn’t overhype them either, just kind of acted like they were a good opponent so I don’t know if they realize what a nice win this is,” Springs Valley coach Marty Niehaus said. “It just seems like having the home crowd behind them and the familiarity of being here knocks us up a level or two. “I wish I knew what it was because I’d try to turn it into something that we could use on the road.” Aside from the results and the numbers — the Blackhawks average nearly 11 more points per game at The Nest and allow four fewer — the familiar surroundings of home also make the Blackhawks a more energetic and determined group. “Something about playing in this gym just gives us all the feels,” Springs Valley senior Brynne Buchanan said. “Seeing our fans, our pep section, there’s just a different feeling here. It’s like no other.” Making the win even more special was that it came on senior night. Before tipoff the Blackhawks celebrated the contributions that Ashlyn Bonta, Brynne Buchanan, Macy Hall, and Bella Shipman have made to the program in their careers. The Springs Valley girls’ basketball class of 2023 has and never will participate in a losing season on the hardwood, the win over Borden improving their overall record to 57-34. They’ve also been great at home, going 31-12 at The Nest during their high school days. In the actual game itself, each of them contributed in their own ways. Buchanan stuffed the stat sheet, tying for the game highs in assists with four and rebounds with eight. She also put up five points and only turned the ball over twice. Hall chipped in a point and five rebounds and Bonta and Shipman provided steady hands and tons of effort off the bench. The result was a rewarding one for a class that’s been a big part of the program and goes all the way back to junior-high with Niehaus as she taught three of the four seniors when they were seventh-graders. “The three who have been with me since seventh grade — Brynne and Macy and Bella — have been fun to work with because they’re really outgoing kids and have always been so coachable. They’ve really listened to coaching and taken it to heard and tried to do what you ask them to do, which isn’t always the case,” Niehaus said. “Ashlyn just joined us this year and she’s been a great addition to the team. She gives a lot of hustle and works really hard. She’s brought good depth to us coming off the bench. “This has been a really solid class for us and it was just great to see them pull off this win tonight.” Springs Valley (15-7, 5-1 PLAC) has now won six games in a row and 10 of its last 11, claiming a conference championship in the process. With the regular season wrapped up, the Blackhawks’ focus will shift to the State Tournament. They’ll start their run on Friday, Feb. 3 against the winner of a game between Class 1A No. 13 Vincennes Rivet and Loogootee earlier in the week. When they take the floor they’ll enjoy the same friendly surroundings they’ve thrived in all season as the hosts of IHSAA Sectional 63 and Thursday’s experience against Borden will only make them more confident. “This was the same atmosphere that we’re going to have in sectional, Coach (Niehaus) even said when we got in the locker room that this was definitely like a sectional game,” Buchanan said. “It was nice to get a game like that under our belts going into the postseason.” BORDEN BRAVES 41 3P;AFG;FT;R;PF;Pts Rarick, g;0-4;5-16;1-1;8;3;11 Mallad, g;0-2;3-6;4-6;2;4;10 Wheeler, f;0-1;3-11;0-0;8;3;6 Cissell, f;2-7;3-8;2-2;3;3;10 Hart, c;0-0;2-3;0-1;2;4;4 Robinson;0-0;0-2;0-0;1;0;0 White;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;0;0 Loy;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;0;0 Smith;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;0;0 Hurst;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;0;0 Hall;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;0;0 Totals;2-14;16-47;7-10;24;19;41 Shooting;.143;.340;.700 SPRINGS VALLEY BLACKHAWKS 43 3P;AFG;FT;R;PF;Pts Buchanan, g;1-3;2-5;0-0;8;1;5 Eckerty, g;0-3;1-5;2-2;1;1;4 Carnes, f;1-2;8-19;3-6;8;4;20 Hall, f;0-0;0-4;1-4;5;0;1 Nottger, c;0-0;2-3;0-0;5;1;4 McCormick;0-0;2-3;2-2;0;0;6 Allstott;1-2;1-2;0-0;1;0;3 Bonta;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;2;0 Shipman;0-0;0-0;0-0;0;0;0 Totals;3-10;16-41;8-14;28;9;43 Shooting;.300;.390;.571 Borden (16-6);14;6;9;12—41 Springs Valley (15-7);8;15;10;10—43 TO: Springs Valley 15, Borden 9.