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Tri-Village is a small rural school district in Southwest Darke County extending south to the Preble county line and west to the Indiana border and includes three communities; Palestine, Hollansburg and New Madison. Each community boasted a rich tradition in basketball. This tradition continues today as one program the Tri-Village Patriots due to consolidation in 1973 of the three school districts. Tri-Village is a member of the Cross County Conference formed in 1978-1979 season. Original teams included Ansonia, Arcanum, Bethel, Bradford, Franklin Monroe, National Trail, Newton, Mississinawa Valley, Preble Shawnee, Tri-Village, Twin Valley North (now Tri County North) and Twin Valley South. In 1984, Preble Shawnee left and was replaced by Covington in the 1990-1991 season.
The Lady Patriots program has enjoyed much success over the years with 7 Cross County Conference Championships the most of any school. Coach Jim Maples and Roger Collins are tied with three titles each and Cathy Hunter with one title. Over the last 25 years they have averaged 14 wins and 8 losses a season. Coach Maples has the most wins of any coach at 187 followed by Collins at 135.
Though there have been a number of successful girls teams over the years, arguably one of the best would have to be the 2000-01 team. This team steam-rolled over most of its opponents reeling off 15 wins in row to start the season before they tasted defeat at the hands of Brookville. But they bounced back to beat Covington then a very tough state ranked Greenville lady greenwave team by one point in thrilling fashion. During this time they enjoyed the #1 State Ranking for small schools for three weeks before finishing the season ranked #3. The team went 11-0 in the league earning a third consecutive Cross County Conference Championship and then entered the tournament with high hopes and lots of momentum after garnering the #2 spot in the final Dayton Daily News area rankings. They played well in the tournament winning the sectional championship. The team lost a heartbreaker in the district championship in a close match-up with perennial state power Southeastern but finished district runner-up for the second year in a row while accumulating a number of records along the way finishing the season at 22-2.
4 players were named first team all confererence:
Kara Schlecty (14.6 pts, 5.7 rebs, 4.9 assists)
Lindsey Ward (14.9 pts, 6.3 rebs, 3.3 assists & a school record 58.3% fg)
Laura Sullivan (11.9 pts, 2,8 assists, 81% ft )
Miranda Willets (8.5 pts, 10.5 rebs, 3.1 assists)
Since the most any team can place on the first team is 4 players Kasey Falknor (deserving of a first team honor with 6.5 pts, 2.9 assists, 3.9 steals) made special mention and Brittani Buckley garnered honorable mention.
The team averaged 64.8 points a game second all time, 64.8% free throw shooting second all time, 41.7% field goal shooting third all time, 39.3 points allowed on defense second all time, 1,524 total team points third all times, and of course a school record 22 wins and 2 losses.
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