ROCKSPRINGS, Ohio — Someone was getting its first win of the girls basketball season.

The only question was which team?

River Valley rallied back from a five-point third quarter deficit with a 25-13 surge down the stretch, allowing the visiting Lady Raiders to secure a 55-48 victory over Meigs in a non-conference matchup at Larry R. Morrison Gymnasium.

Both RVHS (1-2) and the host Lady Marauders (0-2) battled through five ties and seven lead changes in the contest, and each squad led by as many as eight points during regulation. In the end, however, the Lady Raiders sank 8-of-13 free throws down the stretch and took the lead for good with 5:15 remaining to gain the seven-point decision.

River Valley stormed out to a 9-0 advantage less than four minutes into the first period, then went scoreless over the final 4:17 of the quarter as Meigs mounted a 7-0 run to pull within two after eight minutes of play.

The Lady Marauders tied things up at nine with 7:24 left in the first half, but RVHS ended a 5:08 scoring drought just 16 seconds later after Leia Moore made a basket for an 11-9 edge. That field goal sparked a 7-0 run over the next 1:25, giving the guests a 16-9 cushion with 5:43 left in the half.

MHS responded with a goal at the 4:55 mark to end a four-and-a-half minute scoring drought, which sparked a 12-4 run that pulled Meigs’ deficit down to a point (22-21) entering the intermission. The Lady Marauders — who also forced a 21-all tie at the 1:32 mark of the second stanza — never led in the first half and had one more turnover than RVHS at the break (7-6).

The hosts reeled off four straight points to start the second half, but River Valley answered with a three-pointer from Cady Gilmore to knot things up at 25-all with 5:20 remaining. Meigs, however, countered with an 8-0 surge over the next 3:47 for a 33-25 lead with 1:33 left in the canto.

Both squads traded baskets over the next 1:06 for a 35-27 contest, but the guests closed the third out with a small 3-0 run to pull within 35-30.

The Lady Raiders went on a 12-7 run over the opening 2:14 of the fourth to pull even at 42 with 5:46 left, then took the lead permanently 31 seconds later when Shelby Brown scored to give the guests a 44-42 edge. Meigs pulled to within 47-46 with 3:30 left in regulation, but RVHS closed the game with an 8-2 run to wrap up the final decision.

River Valley forced the Lady Marauders to commit eight turnovers over the final eight minutes. RVHS had 13 turnovers in the triumph, compared to 18 by the hosts. The Lady Raiders also connected on 8-of-15 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter charge.

RVHS connected on 20-of-61 field goal attempts overall for 33 percent, including a 3-of-19 effort from beyond the arc for 16 percent. Meigs, conversely, made 21-of-54 shot attempts for 39 percent, including a 2-of-5 outing from three-point territory for 40 percent.

Meigs outrebounded the guests by a 31-29 overall margin. Both teams had 16 offensive rebounds apiece.

Cady Gilmore led the Lady Raiders with a game-high 19 points, eight of which came in the crucial fourth period. Shelby Brown was next with 12 points, followed by Chelsea Copley with 11 points and Leia Moore with nine markers. Courtney Smith rounded out the winning tally with four points.

RVHS was 12-of-23 at the charity stripe for 52 percent, recorded 16 assists and also had 10 steals as a team. Brown led the guests with 14 rebounds, while Gilmore paced the guests with seven assists and five steals.

Brittany Krautter paced MHS with 18 points, followed by Hannah Cremeans with 12 points and Mercadies George with eight markers. Kelsey Hudson was next with five points, followed by Tess Phelps with three points and Morgan Russell with two points.

Meigs was 4-of-9 at the free throw line for 44 percent had team totals of 12 steals and eight assists. Phelps hauled in a team-best 11 rebounds, while Krautter added four steals and three assists. Phelps also had four steals in the setback.