Newest Union/A-C Valley Co-op Aims to Improve Fortunes in Girls Basketball for Both Schools

RIMERSBURG, Pa. (EYT/D9) — It was something done out of preservation.

Quite simply, both programs would have struggled to survive on their own.

(Pictured above, Maddy Dehart)

So in the mold of other successful merging of sports between the Union and A-C Valley High Schools, the girls basketball programs have come together.

“Currently there are 10 A-C Valley girls and six Union girls,” said Union/A-C Valley coach Josh Meeker. “I have another Union girl who wants to play, but she doesn’t have her paperwork in, so that will bring our number to 17. I’ve always said between 15 and 18 is kind of an ideal number.”

Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.

Alone, the numbers would not be ideal, especially at Union, which would have had significant issues with putting a team on the floor with just six or seven players.

“When I first saw the list of A-C Valley girls, I said to my (athletic director), “They may not have needed us,’ but I think they still did. They would have only had around 10 girls, so that still would have tough.”

Meeker is hoping the blending of the talent from both rosters will help both programs improve on what was a trying season a year ago.

Union went 6-16. A-C Valley was 0-22.

But Meeker said the team is meshing well and has already formed a bond and report.

“Sometimes just putting a few pieces of the puzzles together can make such a difference,” Meeker said. “They’re really getting along well. They’re even talking about hanging out and doing things together outside of basketball.”

Co-ops between Union and A-C Valley have been successful in other sports, especially football where the meshing of the two schools saved both football programs and helps the Falcon Knights become perennial Class A contenders in District 9.

The track and field teams also formed a highly successful co-op, producing three state champions.

“We’ve started the co-op in the junior high program as well,” Meeker said. “If this is going to continue, that will really help, because now those girls are just gonna get used to playing together even more.”

The makeup of the roster is encouraging.

Maddy Dehart scored 5.7 points and also led A-C Valley in rebounding at 10.3 per game last season as a freshman and adds an inside presence to go with sophomore guard from Union, Kya Wetzel, who got off to a late start last year because of a medical condition.

Ava Stauser also adds size and length and has the ability to shoot from the outside, as well.

“I’m optimistic,” Meeker said. “Right now it’s kind of a baby steps thing. We just want to keep seeing improvement.”

Redbank Valley, Keystone, and Union/A-C Valley sports coverage on Explore and D9Sports.com is brought to you by Heeter Lumber.