CHERRYVALE — Capturing their first-ever Tri-Valley League title, the Cherryvale Chargers girls routed Fredonia, 62-30, on Friday night to secure their share of the crown.
“It’s one of those things you always talk about, but our league has always been so competitive,” Cherryvale head coach Kelsey Overacker said. “The three teams that won it are the three teams I thought would be at the top. For our school, it’s been a long time — never done. It speaks volumes about who we play all the time. Our kids have shown up all year and come up in big moments. They deserve it more than any team I’ve ever had and it rightfully showed.”
Cherryvale, alongside Neodesha and Eureka, split a three-way share of the league title. The league normally uses head-to-head tiebreakers, but Cherryvale’s matchup against Eureka last week was called off due to snow and won’t be made up. The Chargers joined the Tri-Valley League in 1995.
Cherryvale was an overtime loss to Eureka away from winning last year’s league title and has been one of the most dominant teams in the area, making sub-state championships in five of the last six years.
But that league title has remained elusive … until now.
Cherryvale’s run to a Tri-Valley championship started after Christmas. The Chargers headed into the holidays with a 2-3 record but have won 13 of their 14 games since.
“Our kids have just wanted to get better,” Overacker said. “They don’t ask questions even when I ask them to do something crazy. They wanted this. It was tough going into break, but I knew what they were capable of doing. These kids are competitors and have gone out every night and competed.”
Rodney Vigil, who coached Overacker when she was a player for the Chargers, commended his former point guard and eventual successor — Overacker also surpassed 100 career wins earlier this winter.
“It’s huge and I’m very proud,” Vigil said. “It’s such an amazing accomplishment. But Kelsey has been very successful in all levels of athletics. It couldn’t happen to a better coach.”
In Friday’s win over Fredonia, Harmony John’s 18 points led the way for Cherryvale. John has come alive down the stretch, leading the Chargers in scoring in their last seven games.
“The game is starting to slow down for her,” Overacker said. “When people guard her, she knows how to attack. She plays inside out and can score one way or another. She’s confident with the ball and her teammates are finding her.”
Up next
Cherryvale’s postseason begins on Thursday with a first round sub-state tilt against Anderson County. The Chargers and Neodesha are the top-two seeds in the bracket.
“Anderson County is playing better,” Overacker said. “Obviously, I’ll take my team on any night. There’s teams in this field, including us, that you don’t know what they’ll bring. And you can’t have an off night. So we’ll focus on one game at a time and get it done.”
