AKRON — The more things change, the more they stay the same.

What a different feel this season has been for the Tippecanoe Valley girls basketball team compared to last year. Yet, the Lady Vikings find themselves back in the regional as they did around this time in 2015. Valley will travel to Columbia City to play in a regional field that the entire state is talking about.

Valley enters the field ranked No. 4 in 3A. The Lady Vikings will play Concordia, a team with a deceiving 14-11 record at noon on Saturday. On the other side of the bracket to other top-five teams will square off in No. 5 Norwell (23-2) and No. 2 Heritage Christian (22-4). If Valley wants to repeat its trip to the state finals that it took last season, it will take another great effort at the regional level.

“I think we have a very good chance, I’m optimistic. We just need to play as a team and not get away from our game,” stated junior Hannah Dunn.

Senior Brynda Krueger offered a similar thought, “If we just play our game, we’ll be fine.”

“I think we can play with anybody on any given night. We’ll have to play two great games on Saturday to win but if everybody does their job then we know what we’re capable of,” stated head coach Chris Kindig.

So, what is their game? What is Tippecanoe Valley basketball?

“Our game would be everyone doing their job,” said Meredith Brouyette. “It’s everyone filling their roles. Our shooters hitting, Anne (Secrest) and Hannah doing work in the post, our guards penetrating and moving the ball around, getting fouls called.

“It’s that click. It’s our ability to have spurts. It’s our way of taking advantage of opportunities when they come our way.”

Valley surprised many with its run to state in 2015 and, perhaps, has surprised even more people, at least outside of its locker room, by going 24-1 so far this year. The Lady Vikings have been doing the same thing this year by staying true to “their way.” That way has helped Valley average 59.8 points per game on offense while surrendering just 33.6 on defense.

The depth that Valley brings to the table is just one of the things that makes this team so dangerous.

“We always talk about working the ball inside first,” Kindig said “Then we can get an idea of how they will play you. Then hopefully we’ve got Anne or Hannah that can kick it out to our shooters. The flow of the game will be big but both Anne and Hannah run the floor well, as does our whole team and we can get looks off the break.

“We’re going to have to have everybody playing well, at the same time, for two games. I think our bench is a little better than Concordia’s or Heritage’s. Heritage goes about six deep, but the top three are very good players. Even though we play the second game, these girls are used to play two games in one day so I’m not worried about the conditioning part of it.”

Secrest leads Valley statistically in four major areas. The junior scores 17.2 points per game, pulls down 8.2 rebounds per game and also leads the team in steals with 2.4 per game. Secrest also hovers just below two blocks per game.

When Secrest finds herself in foul trouble it’s Dunn that fills the role as the reliable big for the Lady Vikes. Dunn averages around seven points per game and is second on the team in total rebounds but she has the capability to go off for big games and carry the team for stretches when needed.

On the outside Valley benefits from two dynamic deep threats in Meredith Brouyette and Addy Miller. Both have gone off for big games and when both are hitting it’s hard to keep up with on defense. Krueger and Karis Tucker split controlling the offense at the point and Tucker provides a spark with scoring when needed.

Concordia presents a big challenge to start the day with roster full of talent, no player more polarizing than Shania Kelly. Kelly leads the team in points scored per game with 15.9 and rebounds with 10.1. The junior brings length with her, standing at 5’10” tall. Valley obviously benefits from its size in Dunn and Secrest, but has not seen many players that compare to Kelly.

Sylare Starks and Carissa Garcia both average 10.4 points per game and will additionally provide issues for the Vikings. But the depth for Concordia takes a steep decline after the top three players. That’s where Valley can benefit from a bench that goes three or four players deep.

Valley has benefited from its depth all season, having multiple different players step up at crucial moments. The development of Sophie Bussard has also been a pleasant surprise as she is just a freshman.

“She’s not a freshman anymore,” Brouyette said of Bussard. “She doesn’t play like a freshman and we love her for it.”

Bussard, a unsung member of the team if there ever was one, has increased her role and her worth throughout the season. She now averages over five points per game and exactly three rebounds.

“Being around these girls has allowed me slide into this role more comfortably,” Bussard said. “They all know the system so well so it has been easy for me to work myself into a role and contribute.”

Bussard and Brouyette interviewed together and the chemistry was easily seen between the two teammates. That chemistry has been another important piece to the puzzle for the Vikings. Every player talked about it at the team’s media day and having that bond definitely gives the girls confidence going into this next stage of the tournament.

Valley is saving any scouting of Norwell or Heritage for when the time comes, but both teams will be a handful.

“You think it will be Heritage, but it may very be Norwell,” said Kindig. “I don’t care which one. Either way you’re going to have to play well. If you don’t, you go home. It’s that simple.”

Heritage and Norwell will play at 10 a.m. with the Valley-Concordia game to follow. The championship game will be played at 8 p.m. The winner will advance to either Carroll of Crown Point for the semi-state.