Tippecanoe Valley’s Anne Secrest slices through the Bremen defense for a bucket Thursday night in Valley’s 49-29 season-opening win. (Photos by Mike Deak)

AKRON – After spending over seven months thinking about what might have been, Tippecanoe Valley finally got the chance to do something about it. Storming out of the gate, the Lady Vikings basketball team started its new season on a shining note, pounding Bremen 49-29 Thursday night in the lid lifter for both clubs.

Meredith Brouyette drilled her first shot of the season – a three-pointer.

With inferences all around the Tippecanoe Valley gymnasium, the state run the girls made a season ago was still fresh on the minds of many. As the Class 3-A runner-up banner loomed in the northeast corner and the green state tournament shirts dotting many in the crowd, Valley played like a state contender right from the gate. Taking a 16-3 lead late in the first quarter, Valley spread out a 33-10 halftime score. Coach Chris Kindig’s group looked motivated and ready to open its calendar.

“You never know with everything that’s gone on since last year how this team will respond. I thought tonight they handled things really well,” said Kindig, donning his state runner-up ring during the postgame presser. “I thought we came out and executed our game plan pretty well and I love the balance we have in scoring. There is going to be a lot of opportunities for different kids to step up for us, and we saw a little bit of that tonight.”

Anne Secrest began her season much like most games in her career, drawing double teams and still making good on chances. Secrest had 20 points on the night to lead all scorers, but chose to pass the ball to open teammates on numerous occasions. Secrest also chipped in four rebounds and three steals, running both ends of the court with equal care.

Addy Miller and Meredith Brouyette combined to hit three from downtown and posted 11 points while teammate Sophie Bussard chipped in six points and five rebounds.

Valley freshman Sophie Bussard totaled six points and five rebounds in her debut.

Kindig expressed a level of concern with the team’s revamped offense, missing the leadership of the graduated Caylie Teel and Taylor Trippiedi, as well as injured point guard Karis Tucker. But a furious approach on the glass, both defensively and on the backside, gave Valley an edge after pulling down 18 team rebounds which led to a dozen second-chance points.

“We talked at halftime that we really wanted to duplicate that first half,” Kindig said. “I thought we dialed it down a little bit in the fourth quarter. But I’m really pleased with our ball movement tonight. I thought our six, seven, eighth man, and thought they fit in really well.”

Bremen had Maggie Whitinger lead the club with 12 points – all on four three-pointers – and Alexis Jennings chip in eight second-half points. The Lions, however, were overmatched by Tippy’s transition offense from the start, which saw Valley pull away after a 10-3 run in the second quarter, and doing so with sparkplugs Secrest and Brouyette on the bench.

Valley also did a fine job possessing the ball, committing just nine turnovers on the night.

“This is a marathon and we are just trying to get better with each game,” stated Kindig.

As the ballgame closed and Valley celebrated its 20-point victory, the players asked Teel, who was making the rounds in the stands for most of the night, to join the team huddle at center court. Despite Teel now showing off her talents as a Grace College volleyball player, the former captain was still viewed as part of what Valley is currently doing. It was like old times in so many ways.

Tippecanoe Valley’s Brynda Krueger dives to the basket against Bremen.