DISTRICT CHAMPS — The Indian Creek girls basketball team celebrates after winning the district championship on Saturday. - Mike Hughes

CADIZ — In eight minutes of basketball, every facet of Indian Creek’s game worked in unison, save one – the offense.

Leading scorer Kaydence Walker struggled through a mini-funk, going 1-for-9 in the first quarter, allowing upset-minded Indian Valley hope its Cinderella run through the Ohio Division IV Eastern District tournament would continue.

Walker found her touch, scoring 13 of her game-high 21 points in the second quarter as the second-seeded Redskins advanced to the regional round via a 48-19 victory Saturday at Cadiz.

The win gives head coach Steve Eft and company another district title and a meeting with Buckeye Valley (23-2) on Tuesday at Zanesville. The Barons advanced with a dominant win against Worthington Christian, 56-22, in the Central District 2 finale.

“We kind of got off to a slow start, but the poise we played with and the defensive energy was outstanding,” Eft said as his Redskins return to the regional tournament. “I couldn’t be more proud of our seniors and the whole team.”

Creek’s roster consists of just two seniors – point guard Gabby Taylor and post Riley Salder. Both were influential in doing their part in backing Walker’s outburst.

Sadler finished with only three points, but hammered the boards to the tune of 12 rebounds. Taylor, the team’s ever-steady point guard, dished out four assists, scored five, and most importantly, ensured her team limited its mistakes in taking care of the basketball. 

The Redskins committed 11 turnovers to Indian Valley’s 15, but all but four came in the fourth quarter after Eft made mass substitutions with the game no longer in doubt.

“We did a nice job overall of taking care of the ball, that’s for sure,” Eft said.

Creek will need that ball security on Tuesday. The Barons cruised through the district round, allowing an average of 18 points per game in three games. Buckeye Valley averages 15 steals per game throughout its 25-game slate.

Leading 8-5 after one, Walker made every shot she took in the second quarter, sparking a 9-0 run to start the second frame and forcing Indian Valley to burn a timeout. The final piece of the puzzle fell into place, and from that point, there was little the Braves could do.

Creek owned the boards, so second-shot opportunities were nonexistent. In addition to Walker’s heroics, sophomore Gracie Klinesmith ignited for 12 of her 19 points in the third quarter, allowing the designated hosts to hold a 33-5 edge during the middle periods. Comeback hopes nullified.

“I thought our defense was there the whole game,” Eft noted. “We had a lot of good energy defensively. We were moving and doing what we asked them to do.

“Once Kaydence got a couple shots to fall, everything else started to roll and others made plays. Riley was a monster on the boards.

“Everybody fits their role so well for this team. They play together, and it was a great game to coach.

“Now we’re going to go to Zanesville and give it everything we’ve got and see what happens.”

Walker and Taylor each finished with five rebounds to go with their totals. Cassie Miceli led Indian Valley with 11 points while no other Braves’ player scored more than three.

Indian Creek 48, Indian Valley 19

Indian Valley 5 3 2 9 – 19

Indian Creek 8 16 17 7 – 48

IV – McConnell 1-12 0-0 3; Miceli 5-1 1-2 11; Latella 0-0 0-0 0; Holbrook 1-1 0-0 2; Klaserner 0-6 0-0 0; Steele 0-0 0-0; Love 1-1 1-2 3; Totals: 8-32 2-4 19.

IC – Walker 8-18 4-4 21; Taylor 2-3 1-2 5; Wiley 0-1 0-0 0; Sadler 1-1 1-2 3; Klinesmith 6-10 4-4 19; Crouch 0-1 0-0 0; Florczak 0-0 0-0 0; Leach 0-0 0-0 0; Miller 0-0 0-0 0; Cozart 0-0 0-0 0; Brandon 0-0 0-0 0; Totals: 17-34 10-12 48.

3-pt Goals: Indian Valley (McConnell); Indian Creek 4 (Klinesmith 3, Walker).