In the first of two rivalry games earlier this season, Spring Valley defeated Elmwood/ Plum City 45-35 and in the aftermath, the Wolves players and coaching staff felt like they let a winnable game slip away On Friday night, the Wolves avenged that loss with a 49-44 victory at home over the rival Cardinals.

For Elmwood/Plum City head coach Tom Sauve, Friday night’s home game against the Cardinals was a game that his team had been waiting for since the final buzzer sounded and solidified their loss on the road against Spring Valley on Dec. 1.

“We let that first one go and it left a pretty sour taste in our mouth,” Sauve said. “We respect Spring Valley, but there’s a rivalry there. It’s the one we always want to get. It dates back to volleyball season when they played (for a conference championship). There’s a lot of respect, but a lot of determination on both sides.”

While both teams played with a lot of intensity and hustle, Elmwood/Plum City simply executed its plan better than Spring Valley. The Wolves threw on their now-signature full-court press – which they began implementing around Christmas – and disrupted Spring Valley’s offense early and often.

Through the opening 10 minutes of the first half, Elmwood/Plum City held Spring Valley to just four total points, all while building a 12-4 lead that culminated in a three-pointer from the top of the key by senior guard Isabella Forster.

Spring Valley head coach Sean Hoolihan immediately signaled for a timeout to try and slow the Wolves’ momentum. Coach Sauve spoke about the effectiveness of the press and how his girls have been perfecting it in practice.

“Our press has done us really well since we implemented it in December,” Sauve said. “Back then we were talking about finding our identity as a team. When we played Independence two weeks ago, the press really started to work and the girls were getting confident with it.”

Throughout the middle and later portion of the first half, Spring Valley adjusted to the press and began finding an offensive rhythm. After trailing 17-8 with six minutes to play in the opening frame, Spring Valley went on a 10-2 run the rest of the half to pull within one point, 19-18.

For as sloppy as Spring Valley played through the first nine minutes of the game, the Cardinals were more than within striking distance of Elmwood/Plum City going into the break. While the Wolves’ press was unquestionably effective, coach Hoolihan felt as if some of those press break turnovers were self-inflicted, particularly by junior guard Mara Ducklow, the team’s primary ball handler.

“I challenged Mara because I didn’t think she was valuing the basketball and was passing it when she didn’t need to and to people that aren’t ball handlers. She was turning it over,” Hoolihan said. “So I challenged her and she responded awesomely, and that’s what you want to see in your leader. I saw a lot of maturity in that response tonight that will only help moving forward. She’s really grown up a lot this year in a good way.”

Even as Elmwood/Plum City continued to make shots and try to pull away in the second half, Spring Valley regularly responded and even managed to get within two points, 39-37, with just over two minutes to play in regulation.

However, Elmwood/Plum City kept attacking. The Wolves proceeded to go on a quick 6-1 scoring burst that included a threepoint play the old-fashioned way by senior forward Allyson Fleishauer. By then the Wolves had built a comfortable 45-38 lead with under 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

Elmwood/Plum City eventually secured the 49-44 victory and improved to 5-13 overall and 4-6 in Dunn-St. Croix Conference action. Spring Valley slipped to 5-14 overall and 5-6 in league play.

The aforementioned Fleishauer and senior forward Hannah Forster led the charge for Elmwood/Plum City on Friday night. Even when Spring Valley made runs throughout the second half, Fleishauer and Forster always responded with big plays. Coach Sauve spoke about their impact in a big rivalry game.

“Both of those girls are energizers for us and they’re in very good shape. I could probably leave them on the floor all games if I wanted to,” Sauve said. “They both have a strong will to win and they’re in the gym all summer long and are just excellent athletes. When they’re clicking like they were tonight, things usually go well for us.”

Although Spring Valley and Elmwood/ Plum City are well below .500 for the season overall, both programs feel as if winning a first-round playoff game is more than possible. Coach Hoolihan spoke about his Cardinals in the upcoming playoffs.

“Hell yeah we can win a playoff game,” Hoolihan said. “We can play with all of the teams we might see in the playoffs. I firmly believe this team can get more than just one playoff win. Especially when you’ve got a kid like Mara, she can get 20 for you and even has a 38-point game this year. If we make some shots and play defense, hell yeah we can win a playoff game.”

Coach Sauve followed a similar line of thinking as Hoolihan. He spoke about what he wants to see from his Elmwood/Plum City roster come playoff time.

“The goal for us moving forward is to keep climbing as we get into the playoffs,” Sauve said. “We know we’re going to go on the road, but we want to win a road game. We want to play our best ball going into the playoffs.”

Spring Valley is back in action at home against Mondovi on Tuesday, Feb. 7, and Elmwood/ Plum City will be back on the floor against Durand on Monday, Feb. 6. Those games are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. respectively.

Elmwood/Plum City sophomore Hailey Webb and Spring Valley junior forward Charli Vanasse battle for rebounding position during the rivalry game in Elmwood on Friday, Feb. 3. Photo by Reagan Hoverman

The Elmwood/Plum City girls basketball program honored four players in person – and one via Zoom – that played for the 1992-93 Elmwood team that finished the year with a 14-11 record and went on a Cinderella run to the state tournament. The players from that magical team were honored at halftime of the home game against Spring Valley on Friday night. That Elmwood team remains the only girls basketball team in school history to make it to the state tournament.Photo by Reagan Hoverman