OSSIAN - Tippecanoe Valley's girls basketball team has become the avengers of 2006.

After avenging an earlier loss to Elmhurst Friday to advance to the championship game of the Norwell Sectional, the Vikings overtook the host Knights 36-35 Saturday, winning their fourth sectional championship in five years and advancing to the Peru Regional.

Norwell, which beat Valley 71-70 in last year's sectional title game, beat Wayne 63-28 and Peru 57-28 to advance to the final game.

"We wanted to come out and stop the run they had on us last year," said Valley coach Gary Teel. "In the championship game last year they went up 15-0 and threw our whole game plan out the window. This year we wanted to keep that from happening."

Rachel Sitts picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter and had to be sat. Jessica Rice entered the game and also picked up two fouls. The game's pace remained the same. It was a tough, physical game between the two teams.

Valley scored six unanswered points in the final minutes of the opening quarter to take a 12-6 lead into the second stanza.

"I knew tonight would be a defensive struggle and our kids responded really well," said Teel. "They help each other out and shout to each other to let them know what is happening. They have really bought in to our defensive program this year. They have continued to improve on this all year."

Lela Rohrer scored a field goal to open the second quarter, boosting Valley's run to eight consecutive pionts. Norwell stopped that run with a basket from Mackenzie Warwick.

Valley scored just four points in the second quarter but took a 16-13 lead into the locker room.

"We kind of went off balance in the second," said Teel. "Norwell had us back on our heels and we had the shots but they just didn't fall for us."

Valley returned the favor in the third quarter, holding the Knights to four points in the eight-minute frame. Norwell managed to score on a three-point basket and free throw.

The three-point basket came late in the quarter and Valley took a 10-point lead, 27-17, into the fourth quarter.

"We did a great job of containing their scorers," said Teel. "We came into the game with many defensive schemes an executed them properly."

Valley held Manchester, which boasted a 16-2 record at the time, to no points in the second quarter in a game earlier this year.

"I am so proud of our girls," said Teel. "They played a hard physical game tonight. It was a tough one."

and coaches will not soon forget.

With much displeasure from both teams' fans, there was a constant harassment of the officials. Both coaches also reacted to officials' calls.

Norwell scored the first four points in the fourth to cut the lead to 27-21. Norwell later cut the lead to 28-25 on two free throws from Carlee Bauermiester.

Hannah Krueger then scored on a running jump shot to increase the Valley lead to 30-25, but Norwell scored four straight points to cut the lead to 30-29 with 4:04 left in the game.

Teel called a timeout to try and regroup.

Whitney Sparkman scored on a putback from a rebound to put Valley up 32-29. After Norwell scored and cut the lead to 32-31, Lela Rohrer hit two free throws to increase the Viking lead to 34-31.

After the Knights turned the ball over they began a full-court press.

Kreueger threw a long pass down the court to Rhoades, who scored on an easy lay up to go up 36-31 with 1:48 left.

Norwell scored four straight points to cut the lead to one with under a minute to play.

Krueger went to the line to shoot two free throws with 17.4 seconds left. She missed them both and Sparkman rebounded the ball. Valley was called for an over-and-back violation with 11.6 seconds left, giving Norwell one more chance.

Lynn Vogel took a shot with two seconds left and Krueger came up with the rebound, securing the championship for Valley.

And then the celebration began.

"Sparkman made some key plays for us tonight," Teel said of his freshman. "She hit a basket to put us up three. She also had some key rebounds and a jump ball on the blocked shot. It was great for a freshman to play big in a game of this magnitude. She will be a solid player for us in the future."

Five players scored for Valley in the game.

Rhoades led all scorers with nine points. Rohrer and Krueger scored eight points each, while Sparkman scored seven and Jennifer Hathaway four.

Valley will play NorthWood in the first game of the Peru Regional Saturday at 10 a.m. The second game will feature Jay County and Bishop Luers.

VALLEY 36, NORWELL 35

N 6 7 4 18 - 35

V 12 4 11 9 - 36

Norwell - Bauermeister 2 2-3 6, Warwick 3 3-5 9, Donaghy 1 0-0 2, Plummer 2 0-0 5, L. Vogel 0 0-0 0, A. Vogel 3 0-0 6. Totals 14 6-12 35.

Valley - Rhoades 2 5-7 9, Rohrer 3 2-2 8, Krueger 4 0-2 8, Sitts 0 0-0 0, Newman 0 0-0 0, Sparkman 3 1-1 7, Rice 0 0-0 0, Hathaway 2 0-2 4. Totals 14 8-14 36.

Three-point goals - Valley 0, Norwell 1 (Plummer). Turnovers - Valley 16, Norwell 14. Rebounds - Valley 28 (Krueger 10), Norwell 28. Fouls - Valley 19, Norwell 18. Fouled out - Bauermeister. [[In-content Ad]]