by Jamie Harris
The Berkeley Springs Lady Indians basketball team battled through one of the busiest stretches of their season last week, hosting four games in five days that culminated in a historic night honoring 50 years of Lady Indians basketball. With alumni from across five decades in the stands, future stars participating in pre‑game activities, and a charged home atmosphere, Berkeley Springs capped the homestand with the 300th milestone coaching win for longtime head coach Dale McCumbee, a resounding victory over the Clear Spring Blazers.
The week began on Monday, February 9, when the Lady Indians faced off against the visiting Meyersdale Lady Indians from Pennsylvania. Meyersdale held a narrow 9–8 edge after the first quarter and used a strong second period to take a 24–14 lead into halftime.
After the break, Berkeley Springs surged back behind improved defense and timely scoring, trimming the deficit to just 29–27 at the end of the third quarter. In a tense fourth quarter, the Lady Indians generated several chances to tie or take the lead, but the shots didn’t fall, and they ultimately fell 33–31 in the opening contest of the week.
Berkeley Springs was led by Maddie Close with 15 points, followed by Katie Risinger and Ava Michael with six points each, and Avery Dhayer with one.
On Tuesday, February 10, the Lady Indians bounced back in convincing fashion against Faith Christian, thanks in large part to a breakout performance by freshman starter Avery Dhayer. Dhayer lit up Faith Christian with a career‑best 15 points, controlling the game on both ends of the floor. Her energy helped propel Berkeley Springs to a 32–24 victory. Supporting the effort were Maddie Close with six points, Hailey Adkins with two and Katie Risinger with nine as the Lady Indians evened their week at one win apiece.
Thursday’s matchup brought another Pennsylvania opponent to town as Southern Fulton returned to Berkeley Springs after winning the previous meeting between the two teams by a staggering 63 points. This time, however, the Lady Indians displayed noticeable growth and resilience.
Despite falling 45–30, Berkeley Springs played with composure and determination, staying competitive throughout the night and refusing to be overwhelmed. The scoring effort was led by Close with nine points, followed by Dhayer and Risinger with seven each, Ava Michael with five and Adkins with two.
Everything built toward the highlight of the week on Friday, February 13, when the Berkeley Springs gymnasium filled with former players, community supporters and future Lady Indians to celebrate the 50th year of the program. With the energy at its peak, the Lady Indians turned in their most dominant performance of the week in a 47–30 victory over the Clear Spring Blazers.
Senior standout Maddie Close delivered one of the finest games of her career, pouring in 27 points and setting the tone from the opening tip. The team’s balanced play and high‑intensity defense secured win number eight on the season and, more importantly, the 300th victory for Lady Indians head coach Dale McCumbee.
Additional scoring came from Risinger with 10 points, Dhayer and Maci Michael with three each and Ava Michael and Alexis Barker with two apiece.
With their record now standing at 8–10, the Lady Indians turn their attention to the final two matchups of the regular season. They will travel to rival Hancock on Thursday, February 19 for a 5:30 p.m. tip‑off before closing out the schedule on Saturday, February 21 at Moorefield at noon. With momentum on their side after a memorable week, Berkeley Springs looks to finish strong and carry that energy into postseason play.