COLUMBUS “When you advance this far, you gotta have some things bounce your way and today they didn’t,” New Philadelphia High School girls basketball head coach Tracy Payne said.
There weren't a lot of bad bounces, but there were enough to help contribute to the Quakers' 62-57 loss to No. 6 Toledo Rogers in the Division II state basketball tournament semifinals on Friday.
The now 26-3 Rams advance to play Saturday at 5:15 p.m. against No. 3 Gates Mills Gilmour Academy, who knocked off Bellbrook 47-40 in the first semifinal Friday.
When you see the retired jerseys of Ohio State University stars in the rafters of the Jerome Schottenstein Center, and then look down to see your players on the court, you know you’ve done something special throughout the season.
The Quakers put together an historic run through the tournament and end their season at 25-3.
“We have nothing to hold our heads down for," Payne said. "I can honestly say we left everything out there, and as coach that’s all you can ask for.”
Although the Quakers kept the game tight throughout Friday's action, they led only once. The plentiful New Philadelphia faithful erupted after senior Megan Maurer hit a 3-pointer that gave the Red and Black a 3-2 lead with 6:25 left in the opening period.
With 3:03 left, Maurer hit her second triple, cutting the Rams lead to 10-8. The Quakers did not score again in the opening period and trailed 18-8 after one.
With one minute to go in the opening quarter, junior Aaliyah Currence -- the team's leading scorer at 19.5 points per game -- picked up her second personal foul and did not play the rest of the half.
She ended the game with 12 points after a scoreless first half.
Toledo Rogers scored first in the second quarter for a 20-8 advantage. New Philadelphia sophomore Paige Kaiser scored to end a four-minute scoring drought. The two teams then traded buckets for the remainder of the half, with the Rams' lead fluctuating from eight to 12 points.
Rogers took a 33-24 lead into the break. Rams freshman Madison Royal-Davis led all scorers in the first half with 16 points, and provided a spark as the Quakers' defense had contained the Rams leading scorer junior Zia Cooke for most of the opening half.
Still, Royal-Davis and Cooke provided a one-two scoring punch for Rogers as Royal-Davis led with 23 points and Cooke added 21. Junior Tanaziah Hines just missed double figures with nine.
"Zai and Madison were great tonight," said Rogers head coach Lamar Smith. "They have carried us all year long and tonight was no different. Madison kept us afloat the first half and Zai finished the game for us in All-Ohio fashion."
Opening the third quarter, New Philadelphia junior Rachel Anderson scored back-to-back hoops to cut the lead to 33-28. After a basket by Cooke, Quaker junior Kate McEwan and Currence scored in succession to cap off a 9-2 spurt to pull within 35-33 and seize the momentum.
It didn't last. Although the Quakers fought hard, they could not overcome 4-for-18 shooting in the fourth period. Toledo Rogers took advantage of that cold shooting to slowly pull away as the minutes disappeared from the clock in the final period.
New Philadelphia made one last run during the final two minutes, getting to within three points. Then, Cooke showed why she is an All-American, knocking down four consecutive free throws to seal the victory.
“It’s really disappointing. When you have worked as hard as we have all year long, this is not the result we had in mind,” Anderson said after leading the Quakers in scoring with 16 points.
Sophomore Josie Pry was next with 13, followed by Currence with 12.
“Just can’t believe it’s over. We worked so hard and we were so focused, we never imagined losing as an option,” Currence said.
If there is a silver lining, the Quakers return 12 of 14 varsity players next season as they look to make history again -- and hope for better bounces.