Union/A-C Valley's Maddy Dehart (24) joined the 1,000-point club last week, becoming the first since the two schools became a co-op to reach the mark. Butler Eagle file photo

Before each game, Maddy Dehart goes through a transformation. Not physically, but one the senior forward for Union/A-C Valley girls basketball says helps to get her “in a game-state of mind”.

To do that, she likes to make herself angry.

“It’s something that she really has to work on to do, because that is not her nature,” Falcon Knights coach Kelli Kifer said. “Maddy is such a sweet person, is always so kind and caring toward her teammates.”

Prior to each contest, you will find Dehart donning headphones.

“I like to listen to Metallica, and my favorite song is ‘Enter Sandman,’” she said. “It gets me pumped up. When I get mad, I feel it makes me a stronger player. It helps me play to my full potential.”

With a nod to one of heavy metal’s most popular bands, Dehart made history Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, against Smethport when she became the first Union/A-C Valley player to score 1,000 career points. Both schools had multiple players attain the achievement before they entered a co-op with each other three years ago.

“During my freshman and sophomore year, I focused more on rebounding,” Dehart said. “I started to score more last year, and at the end of the season, I noticed that I had a shot to get (to 1,000).”

She currently leads the Falcon Knights in points and rebounds with 17.5 and 12.1, respectively. Teams have been focusing their defensive efforts on her all season, but even more so since starting point guard Emma Raschiatore was lost to injury a month ago.

Union/A-C Valley's Maddy Dehart reached 1,000 career points with a 22-point effort in Monday's 56-50 girls basketball loss at Smethport. Submitted Photo

“They double-team her, faceguard her. When we get the ball inside to her, they’ll even get a third player to move down and defend her,” Kifer said. “Other teams know she’s a great player. She’s faced a ton of pressure and has done fantastic against it.”

“Teams have really tried to limit my drives,” Dehart said. “I’ve begun to take a few more shots from the outside.”

Dehart, who attends A-C Valley, played for the Falcons as a freshman.

“The co-op was the best thing that could have happened to us because we all clicked immediately,” she said.

Dehart also stars in three other sports — volleyball, softball and track and field. She said she plans to compete in both softball and track this spring, which would give her 16 varsity letters by the time she graduates.

She will enroll at Thiel College, but her sport of choice there has changed.

“I was planning on playing basketball in college,” she said. “On New Year’s Day, I was thinking about it. I love basketball, but have decided to play volleyball instead. I’m a middle hitter, and just think it’s a better fit for me.”

If volleyball proves to be her sole athletic focus in college, Dehart has one game remaining in her basketball career — Monday’s meeting against North Clarion in Rimersburg.

“She’s been so consistent for us,” Kifer said. “We’re very thankful she’s stuck with it.”