The outstanding 2015-16 Turkey Valley girls’ basketball season came to an end Friday night in Des Moines. The magical season featured over seven consecutive weeks atop the Class 1A rankings, an undefeated record in the regular season, and the school’s first-ever appearance in the State Tournament. Following a heartbreaking 49-48 loss to Springville in the championship game, Trojan players, coaches, cheerleaders, and managers proudly display the team’s runner-up hardware. Members of the program include (front, l-r) Kennedy Balk, Sarah Busta, Kayla Gebel, Shelby Reicks, Macie Njus, Sadie Nymeyer, Sloan Huinker, Kassidy Reicks, Stephanie Martin, Ashley Baumler, Julie Stahley, Jenna Schmitt, and Alison Leibold; (back) Jessica Schmitt, assistant coach Jason Bakula, co-head coach Carla Nymeyer, Abbey Ott, Taylor Kuennen, Delaney Lensing, Morgen Kuennen, Kayla Schaufenbuel, Emily Busta, Lydia Schuchhardt, Elli Winter, co-head coach Dan Stepan, Amy Schmitt, Kaitlyn Baumler, and Breanna Busta. (Zakary Kriener photo)
Heartbreaker
Zakary Kriener
News Writer
zkriener@fayettepublishing.com
After nearly 32 minutes of battle between the Turkey Valley Trojans and Springville Orioles in the State Championship game Friday night, it all came down to the final 3.2 seconds to decide the 2016 Class 1A girls’ basketball champion in front of a record Wells Fargo Arena crowd.
After Turkey Valley beat Springville in January, Springville was able to extract its revenge when it mattered most, picking up a thrilling 49-48 win over the previously unbeaten Trojans.