Although their tournament run ended with a 62-57 loss to Toledo Rogers in the Division II state girls basketball semifinal Friday in Columbus, the New Philadelphia Quakers had already captured the hearts of their community.
The bus picked up the team and coaching staff at 9 a.m. on Thursday morning at New Philadelphia High School. They stopped at every elementary school in the district. On their way out of town, they passed business after business with banners in support of Quaker success.
That support traveled to Columbus on Friday as the Red and Black faithful sold out their allotment of pre-sale tickets, then swarmed the Jerome Schottenstein Center in search of more tickets.
New Philadelphia fans showed up in abundance, and provided plenty of Quaker Pride throughout the tight contest.
On paper, the Quakers were underdogs to No. 6 Toledo Rogers, but in their hearts they expected to win, a mentality that had carried the Quakers throughout the season.
This year's New Philadelphia squad was the first team in school history to win 23 games in a row; the first team to win a regional tournament game; and the first to reach a Final Four. They made history several times over, but the disappointment showing on the faces of the players after the loss only exemplified the true grit of this team.
Nobody was celebrating all the success they have enjoyed this season. They showed the frustration of losing what they felt was a winnable game. And with 12 of 14 varsity players returning next season, the sourness of this defeat has already created a new hunger for 2018-19.
“This experience will help us next season, simply because of the 'been there, done that' mentality we will be able to preach throughout the season,” said head coach Tracy Payne.
For seniors Megan Maurer and Anna Nguyen there is no next year, and the presence those two made on the locker room will truly be missed.
Lamar Smith, head coach of Toledo Rogers admittedly watched little film of the Quakers -- a sign of disrespect in some ways -- but was a believer afterward the game.
“That was a good team we just beat, with a ton of heart. They will be something to reckon with next year, and I expect to see them back here,” said Smith.
After the clock displayed all zeros, the Quaker fans gave their team an ovation loud enough that it seemed the squad had won.
In the hours after the game -- after the initial sting had subsided -- the Quaker coaches, players, and fans held their heads high, refusing to let the loss put a dark cloud over the best season any Quaker girls team has ever experienced.
New Philadelphia fought through adversity during the entire tournament. When things looked bleak early in the state semifinal, the Quakers could have folded their tent on an already fine season.
That wasn't the way of these Quakers. They responded with the fight and determination they had throughout the season.
And, everyone from Tuscarawas County who was in the arena on Friday left with a feeling of Quaker Pride, despite the final results on the scoreboard.