THE THRILL OF VICTORY — Indian Creek players celebrate after the clock hit zeros to seal their regional semifinal victory Tuesday night in Zanesville, the first regional win in program history. - Andrew Grimm

The Redskins overcame a slow start and turned up the defense to grind out a 44-39 victory over Deleware Buckeye Valley Tuesday night in the Division IV, Region 15 semifinals inside Zanesville’s Winland Gymnasium — the first regional victory in program history.

With the historic victory, Creek is one of the last eight teams remaining in the state and one win away from a berth in the state tournament.

“This group continues to amaze me,” Indian Creek head coach Steve Eft said. “We aren’t deep, I think all five (starters) played almost all 32 minutes and they gave it everything they had. I am just so proud of them. These seniors are the most decorated class we’ve ever had in school history between four-straight OVAC titles, back-to-back district titles and now they’re going to the regional finals for the first time in school history. They just keep making history. These kids are unbelievable.”

It was a battle the whole way, and an uphill climb early. Creek (21-5) started by missing its first five shots from the floor as the Barons (23-3) scored the first eight points. The Redskins started to get going in the closing minutes of the quarter, though, and a Gabby Taylor (eight points, three rebounds, two assists) shot at the buzzer made it a 15-10 deficit after one.

FROM UNDERNEATH — Indian Creek’s Gabby Taylor splits the Buckeye Valley defense to put a shot up. - Andrew Grimm

“We had a little bit of a slow start again, we had to settle in and get rid of the nerves I think,” Eft said. “We just told them to keep battling. We told them to stay focused on the next play no matter what happens and make the next play. We stayed focused on the game plan and kept battling.”

Creek trimmed the margin down to three early in the second quarter and, after another late Taylor make, were within two, 23-21, at halftime.

Early in the third, Riley Sadler (10 points, six rebounds, two steals, block) knocked down a 3 to give Creek its first lead and a 9-0 run put them on top by five midway through the frame.

Buckeye Valley trimmed that margin to two after three at 31-29 and knotted the score at 31-all early in the fourth, but Kaydence Walker (game-high 14 points, five assists, three steals, two rebounds, block) went the other way and converted on an and-one to again put Creek up three.

The lead went to five twice midway through the quarter, but the Barons did not go away, pulling within one with infer three to play.

Creek’s Riley Sadler attempts to shoot on the way to 10 points and six rebounds. - Andrew Grimm

Gracie Wiley’s only make of the night was a huge one — a 3 with under two minutes to go to make it a four-point lead again.

“Gracie Wiley, God bless her, she’s 5-foot-3 and 100 pounds soaking wet but she comes out and plays as hard as she can all night, she gives you everything she has every night,” Eft said. “She did a fantastic job guarding their best shooter all night long and hit a big 3 there to put us up, that was huge.”

Buckeye Valley pulled within two in the final minute, but the Barons missed a shot to tie the game with 13.4 second left and Sadler grabbed the rebound and was fouled. She made one of two at the line to make it a three-point lead. The Barons came the other way and had a shot for 3 to tie the game, but that attempt was also off line with 2.4 second left and the pivotal rebound was grabbed by Taylor, who hit a pair of free throws at the other end to seal the deal. Taylor was not able to play in last year’s regional loss as she was out with an injury, making her to be the one to seal the win that much more meaningful.

“Gabby has been through so much, two ACL surgeries, she takes ice baths after every practice and every game,” Eft said. “For her to keep grinding and have a senior season like she’s had, I just could not be happier for the kid.”

After falling in the early hole, the Creek defense held the Barons to single digits in the next two quarters, to shooting 36 percent overall after starting over 50 percent in the first quarter and 0 for 12 from beyond the arc.

Indian Creek’s Kaydence Walker puts up a layup attempt against Buckeye Valley on Tuesday. She led Creek with 14 points. - Andrew Grimm

“The defense was great,” Eft said. “I can’t ask for any more from these girls, they played an unbelievable game and keep buying into what we’re telling them.”

Creek’s offense shot 55 percent in the final three quarters, finishing 48.4 percent overall after the tough start. They attempted just four shots in the fourth quarter and made all four and finished 11 of 15 from the line, three late makes proving pivotal.

The Redskins will get their shot at a first state final four appearance Friday night against Circleville (22-4) back in Zanesville. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m.

“We just have to keep doing what we’re doing and playing the type of basketball we’ve been playing,” Eft said. “The chemistry of these girls is the key, they’re such a tight-knit group and love playing together and you can see that out there. They’re playing for one another and that’s what it takes to keep advancing. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

OHSAA Girls Basketball Tournament

Division IV Region 15 Semifinal

Indian Creek 44, Buckeye Valley 39

BV 15-8-6-10 — 39

IC 10-11-10-13 — 44

BUCKEYE VALLEY (23-3): McMillen 2-5 0-0 4; Berske 1-3 0-0 2; Wagner 5-20 2-2 12; Graham 1-5 0-0 2; Cress 6-8 0-0 12; Eliason 0-5 0-0 0; Rafey 1-1 1-1 3; Mooney 2-3 0-0 4. TOTALS: 18-50, 3-3; 39.

iNDIAN CREEK (21-5): Walker 5-10 4-7 14; Taylor 3-5 2-2 8; Wiley 1-4 0-0 3; Sadler 3-6 3-4 10; Klinesmith 3-6 2-2 9; Crouch 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 15-31, 11-15; 44.

3-POINTERS: Buckeye Valley 0-12; Indian Creek 3-8 (Wiley, Sadler, Klinesmith). REBOUNDS: Buckeye Valley 15 (Cress 3); Indian Creek 20 (Sadler 6). ASSISTS: Buckeye Valley 11 (Wagner 4); Indian Creek 8 (Walker 5). STEALS: Buckeye Valley 11 (Wagner 8); Indian Creek 7 (Walker 3). BLOCKS: Buckeye Valley 2 (Berske, Mooney); Indian Creek 3 (Walker, Sadler, Klinesmith). TURNOVERS: Buckeye Valley 10; Indian Creek 18.