Southern's Alyssa Shroades

SALINEVILLE — Playing for a second straight night, Southern got its second wind to surge past Valley Christian, 56-38, in Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference play Thursday.

Southern improves to 10-5 overall and 7-2 in league play.

Valley took an early 11-3 lead as the Eagles had their highest-scoring game in two years. The 38 wins is their most in the last 40 games, when they have posted a 3-37 record.

Allyssa Shroades topped the Indians with a game-high 16 points, four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Makenna Jones totaled 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Maddy Jones had nine points, nine rebounds and three steals, Haylee Kellogg eight points and three rebounds and Hailey Maines three rebounds and three steals.

Southern’s bench outscored Valley’s, 29-0, for the difference.

The Indians were 3-of-15 from the foul line, including 1-of-10 in the second half.

Valley connected on three three-pointers in the opening 3 1/2 minutes to take an 11-3 lead. Shroades hit two three-pointesr and Maddy Jones had another to give the Indians the lead for good at 17-15 through one quarter of play.

The Eagles trailed 22-20 with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter, but was held to three free throws the rest of the quarter as Southern took a 30-23 lead.

Southern’s lead got down to five at 33-28 in the third quarter, but the Indians defense took over by holding Valley to five points in the final 11 minutes. The Eagles were within 37-30 with 3:06 left in the third quarter, but managed only a layup with 6:39 left in the game and a three-pointer with three seconds remaining.

Southern will host Leetonia for a varsity-only contest at 6 p.m. Monday.

VC: 15- 8- 7- 8–38

SL: 17-13-12-14–56

VALLEY SCORING: Dynasty Bratton 1-0-2, Brooklyn Barnette 3-1-9, A’Liyah Underwood, 4-0-11, Na’ariyah Graham 4-2-10, Kayvonna Crockett 2-2-6, Anyah Williams 0-0-0. TEAM TOTALS: 14, 5-12: 38.

SOUTHERN SCORING: Allyssa Shroades 6-1-16, Rylee Digman 0-0-0, Hailey Maines 0-0-0, Lidia Spahlinger 1-0-2, Maddy Jones 4-0-9, Makenna Jones 6-0-13, Haylee Kellogg 3-1-8, Addy Martin 1-1-4, Raelea Carosiello 1-0-2, Sarah Hawk 1-0-2, Ava Reed 0-0-0, Emerson Gotschall 0-0-0. TEAM TOTALS: 23, 3-15: 56.

Three-point goals: Valley 5 (Underwood 3, Barnette 2), Southern 7 (Shroades 3, Maddy Jones, Makenna Jones, Kellogg, Martin).