Within an hour or two of each other, both the girls’ and boys’ basketball seasons came to a sudden end in the playoffs on Friday with the girls’ team falling to Mansfield Summit 50-27 and the boys’ team losing on a last second shot to Mount Pleasant 64-62.

“It’s pretty emotional,” senior Jadyn Bennett said. “I’ve been here for four years and for it to end like that, on a buzzerbeater, is pretty crucial.”

Even with the tough loss and a second round exit from the playoffs, the boys’ team did win the District 13-5A championship with just one loss..

“It’s one those things where it’s a tough one to swallow but we gave it our all so we can’t really complain too much,” head boys’ basketball coach Stephen Friar said. “Season as a whole was great. We’ve been going 26-8, winning district; that’s always our goal. Our first goal is to win district. After that, it is for our guys to get better. Winning 14 games in a row and winning district, that was huge for us.”

For the girls’ team, the loss to Mansfield Summit 50-27 came in the 5A Region II semifinals; two wins short of making it to state.

“A lot of people didn’t think we were going to make it as far as we did,” junior Randi Thompson said. “They didn’t even think we were going to make it out of district. No one thought we were going to make it to the third or fourth round. We did that, I just wish we could have made it to state.”

For head coach Ross Reedy, Friday’s game was just one of those nights when the shots didn’t fall.

“We could have obviously played better,” Reedy said. “But what I think about our kids effort and their approach to the game and to the season, it was something I was really proud of. Even in our last game, our preparation was great, our focus, our mindset was great. It wasn’t like we were overwhelmed by their ability. We just didn’t hit shots.”

While the underclassmen have next year, seniors put on their jersey for the last time.

“First of all, it sucks that we lost but I couldn’t be any more proud of my teammates for how hard we played in that game, through the whole season,” senior Zac Watson said. “Just learn that things eventually come to an end whether good or bad. So to enjoy it while it’s here and try not to live with regret of what you wish you would have done or could have done. Just to have fun with the moment while you’re in it.”