English Valleys Girls Enjoy Senior Night with Win Over Pekin

NORTH ENGLISH—On February 5, the English Valleys girls’ basketball team hosted the Pekin Panthers for a non-conference matchup. The Bears bested the Panthers by a final score of 69-34.

Before the game, English Valleys celebrated the careers of seniors Kennedy Axmear, Delaney Hall, Imigyn Stratton, Jaidyn Rugg and Ada Mews.

The Bears started the game on a 12-0 run with Rugg, Mews, Axmear and Stratton all getting early baskets. The Bears pushed to a 30-8 halftime lead.

The second half was more domination from the Bears, as they out-scored the Panthers 16-4 in the third quarter. The Panthers managed to win the fourth quarter 6-2, but the Bears still secured the 69-34 victory.

Three Bears hit the double digit mark for points on the night: seniors Kennedy Axmear, Imigyn Stratton and freshman Addison Achenbach.

After the game, the five English Valleys seniors were asked about their experiences of senior night.

Captain Delany Hall spoke first with, “It is just a really good experience to end our regular season on our home court with a win, and with the people we have been playing with since we can remember.”

Imigyn Stratton followed up with, “I just had a lot of fun tonight. I am just really excited that I got to spend the past four years with these guys.”

Jaidyn Rugg described her night with, “I cried last night knowing it would be our last game, and I might cry again.”

Fellow captain Kennedy Axmear encapsulated her experience with, “We’ve been playing with each other a long time, and that first quarter really showed. We lit it up. We played together as a team, and it was a lot of fun.”

Stratton added to Axmear’s sentiment with, “It was fun guys! It was so much fun!”

Lastly, Ada Mews spoke of her experience with, “I really agree with Kennedy (Axmear) and Delaney (Hall). The chemistry on the court really showed. We have been playing together since fourth grade, and had the same coach all the way through. It was a lot of fun. Sad to know it was our last home game of the regular season, but there is no one else I would rather do it with.” 

When asked about what these seniors mean to the program, and himself, English Valleys Head Coach Jeff Sprouse responded with, “Very special. Two of them, Kennedy (Axmear) and Delaney (Hall) have been captains for two years. I have never had two players come back as captains. They are smart. They are organized. They are close knit and that shows. It is going to be tough. Not only are we losing really good players, we are losing really great personalities. I just wish the best for them, and appreciate the time we had together.”

The English Valleys Bears improve to 13-8 with a conference record of 8-6. They will return to action for the first round of the IGHSAU playoffs, when they host the Keota Eagles.

The Pekin Panthers fall to 6-14 with a conference record of 6-9. They will return to action on February 7, when they visit the Sigourney Savages for the first round of the IGHSAU playoffs.