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The
sad faces tell it all after the Patriots dropped a heartbreaker to
the Hiland Hawks Thursday,
53-47 in the state semi-finals. The loss
ended the Patriots season with a 25-2 record.
CNO Photo by Doug Randolph
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Tough day for
everyone
Tradition never Graduates...
Opinion by George Starks
COLUMBUS- My photographer and I pulled out around 11 a.m. Thursday
morning. The weather was picture perfect. It was warm. A nice breeze
was coming out of the south and I had a good feeling about things.
My photographer for the day, Doug Randolph, and I talked every angle on
this game we could think of.
The further east we went, the worse the clouds looked and all of a
sudden that good feeling I had was gone. When we pulled into the
parking lot, the rain was pouring down. I was still praying for a win
but some how I felt God was telling me something.
It was raining and very gloomy. I didn’t like what I was feeling.
At the end of the first quarter, freshman Echo Brown was on the floor
at the far end. A sick feeling hit me at that point but I was trying to
stay positive in my mind. I knew she would walk off under her own power.
When she finally got to her feet, she had two people, one on each side,
helping her off. One foot was raised off the floor and at that point,
my heart sank. I knew it was not going to be easy from that point on.
At the end of the frame, the Lady Patriots trailed 12-10
All season, Tri-Village coach Brad Grey had said his team had 10
players, ready to go at any time and could step up and do the job. With
Brown on the shelf though, a big piece of the puzzle was missing.
Granted Brown wasn’t always big in the scoring department, but she
could handle the ball if needed and was good on the defensive. A
freshman, Brown is good, and the loss of her could be the difference in
the game.
The difference in the final score was a mere six points. Brown never
scored in that first frame but one has to believe she would have scored
and six to ten points; it was not out of the realm of possibility for
her.
As an alum, I was very proud to be there watching my alma mater playing
for a possible state title, and to beat it all, I was covering it for
County News Online.
I’m sure many, including myself, will be wondering ‘what if’ for a long
time to come if Brown had not been injured, but one thing is for sure...
The tears may have been flowing but heads were held high. It was done
in true Patriot fashion, nothing to be ashamed of.
In the post game interview, Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said that
Tri-Village was as tough as any team his Hawks had played all year.
That is high praise considering Hiland played several D-I, II and III
teams, beating most of them as the Hawks came in with an 18-8 record
and had thumped Windham, 64-9, in the regional finals
The Pats finish with a 25-2 record and will forever be known as true
winners. Ladies, congratulations on a great season. This team will go
down as the best team in Patriots girls hoops history.
I guess what I saw on the back of a t-shirt at T-V is true...
‘Tradition never Graduates.’
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