Redhawks fall short of state championship
Before the game, senior Alyssa Nayar and her teammates stretch on the floor of the Alamodome. For some seniors, this is the second time taking the court for a chance to obtain a state championship.
With the girls’ basketball teams state championship win being apart of last years season, the celebration hasn’t stopped yet. The girls finally received their personal rings presented to them by head coach Ross Reedy and their teammates.
After months of practice the cheer team was able to take home 11th place at the state competition. The team was able to out place all of the other Frisco ISD teams.
Senior Kelsey Kurak drives the ball across the court, while being defended by the Sandies. Despite having a lead the first three quarters, the Sandies made a comeback in the last quarter.
Senior Makenzi Glover looks to pass the ball to her teammates.
Head coach Ross Reedy was named assistant athletics coordinator for the 2020 -2021 school year. Reedy let the team to win the state championship, making it the district’s first one.
The crowd gets riled up as Redhawks lose their lead in the fourth quarter. In a back and forth game, the Redhawks got out-scored in the 4th quarter 19-8.
Coach Reedy looks onto the court as the team loses 47-42. “We’ve always pride ourselves and being really mentally tough and there’s probably no other group in the past nine years that has been this mentally tough,” he said.
Senior Mackenzie Glover hugs senior Mara Casey following the medal ceremony upon the conclusion of the UIL 5A girls’ state championship game. Making their second appearance in four years in the state final, the Redhawks lost to the Amarillo Sandies 47-42 in the 5A state championship.
Senior Randi Thompson accepts the runner up trophy from Principal Ashley Rainwater. The team fell short in the fourth quarter against the Sandies.
Following the game, senior Randi Thompson shares an intimate moment. With this being the last game with some of her team members, it was a bittersweet moment.
Within minutes of reaching a goal set at the beginning of the season, the girls’ basketball team fell just short of the 5A state championship on Saturday in San Antonio, losing to the Amarillo Sandies 47-42.
It’s the second time in three years the Redhawks advanced to the title game, only to come up short both times.
For several seniors, being put in the same situation as they were three years ago exemplified the persistency the team utilized to make it to the finals again.
“Four played significant minutes when we came here three years ago,” head coach Ross Reedy said. “For them to get back through it especially since we’ve dealt with a lot of personal hardships and tragedy and and also been through some really special moments and so to be seen back at the stage and fight they way they did was absolutely special.”
In a back and forth game, the Redhawks got out-scored in the 4th quarter 19-8. Despite the loss, Reedy believes this has been his best team.
“We’ve always pride ourselves and being really mentally tough and there’s probably no other group in the past nine years that has been this mentally tough,” he said. “I knew what we were down nine that we had the opportunity to make a run and if anything I thought that you know it was kind of serendipitous that we’d have to come back again.”
For the seniors, it was a difficult end to the season, but one they’ve shared with the same teammates since middle school.
“I’ve been able to play with these girls ever since middle school, whether I’m playing with them or against them and to just be able to play with them all four years and then make it this far it’s really rewarding,” senior Makenzi Glover said. “It feels really great to have some of my best friends playing next to me. So I mean obviously you know, it didn’t end the way that we wanted to, but I’m I’m very proud of all the way we’ve been able to accomplish over the four years just with injuries and other setbacks that we’ve had.”
Although the pressure of winning was tremendous, Reedy tried to keep things simple before the game.
“We just we talked about seizing the moment having fun you know, and I was proud of them,” he said. “That’s what we talked about we said look, everything’s been said in the hallways in the foyers you know so I don’t really have any new words. Play boldly, love each, other play dang good defense, keep yourself in the game.”
Reflecting on the past five years of her basketball career, senior Randi Thompson left the Alamodome with her head high.
“It’s been very exciting,” Thompson said. “We’ve been playing together since seventh grade and I’m just proud of everyone in general.”
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