MENTONE - In the closest of games, it was the most insignificant of spurts that made the difference. For the Tippecanoe Valley Vikings, an eight-point run midway through the third quarter helped them get by the Whitko Wildcats on Saturday night in girls basketball action, 59-55.

In many games, eight consecutive points is nothing unusual. But in this game that teetered back and forth perilously, that streak put the Vikings in the driver's seat.

Leading 35-34 with 5:08 remaining in the third period, Valley began to pull away on Jenny Sanders' first basket of the game. Brandi Fisher followed that up with her second three-pointer of the game, and Andria Parker connected on a three-point play to end the run. When the smoke cleared, Valley led 43-34. The lead would never grow larger than that nine-point advantage, but Whitko would never get closer than two points the rest of the way.

Rhonda Doud led Valley with 17 points and Andria Parker added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. They were the only two players in double figures in scoring, but they certainly weren't the only two Vikings to help the team pick up the win.

"We talked about after the game with the girls how at critical times in the game, we had a different person step up each time," Valley head coach Mike Walters said. "Jenny Day hit a big basket toward the end. To me that was one of the most important baskets of the game."

Day's basket came late in the fourth quarter after Whitko cut the lead to two points at 52-50 with 3:10 left. Her jumper put the Vikings back up by four and forced the Wildcats to begin fouling, and Valley made enough free throws down the stretch to get the win.

"Earlier in the year, we would not have won this game," Walters said. "They're starting to believe in themselves a little bit, and they're getting better."

In the first quarter, BrieAnn Starkweather scored eight points for the Wildcats, and Doud had six for Valley as the lead switched hands often. There were four ties and two lead changes in that first eight minutes, and the Vikings came out with a slim 15-14 advantage.

In the second period, Valley led most of the way as Doud added seven more points to her total. For Whitko, Tisha Rowland nailed a pair of three-pointers to help keep the Wildcats close. Valley led 28-23 with a minute left in the half, but Aly Frantz came off the bench to score four points in the closing moments as Whitko got to within two points, 30-28, at the break.

In the third quarter, Starkweather got the game tied at 30-30 on two free throws to open the period before Brandi Fisher made a three-pointer. Starkweather made two more free throws and the teams traded baskets until Valley's 8-0 run.

Starkweather led Whitko with 19 points and seven rebounds ,while Brittany Waybright had seven points and seven assists. Rowland scored 16 points on four three-pointers.

Valley (8-11, 4-3) will be at Wabash on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Whitko (7-11, 2-4) will host Southwood on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]