It was a few minutes after the Half Moon Bay High School senior played her final basketball game for the Cougars, a 37-23 loss to Scotts Valley in the Central Coast Section Division IV quarterfinals, Saturday at Santa Cruz.
The scene was similar to the one that took place last year.
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This Saturday, Half Moon Bay’s game with Scotts Valley was the opening act of the four games scheduled.
Half Moon Bay (16-13) was even in the same locker room as last year.
“Last year, we had to say goodbye to two seniors,” Ward said. “I’m in their shoes this year.”
Also saying their final farewell to Half Moon Bay girls’ basketball were Katie Walker and Jerika Barron.
“I’m still in game mode,” Ward said. “It hasn’t hit me yet that this is my final game.”
It hit other players by then. Some tears were shed, not for the loss to Falcons, but instead because Half Moon Bay would be out there next year without the seniors.
“Though I have only been playing with them for two years, it will be weird next year,” Miranda Reimche said.
Half Moon Bay went 1-1 in the CCS, starting with a 62-42 win over King City on Feb. 25.
Diana Cariaga led the Cougars with 19 points. Reimche scored 11 points and Ward had 10.
The Cougars jumped out to a 14-2 lead in that one, and just ran the Mustangs off the court.
“We were determined to slow the game down,” Scotts Valley coach Jim Hart said. “We didn’t want to get into a running game with them.”
Scotts Valley’s defense not only prevented the Cougars from running, but also getting off any good shots when the Cougars had the ball.
Half Moon Bay was called for four shot clock violations.
The Cougars were in the game until the final moments of the first half when the Falcons went on an 8-0 run, taking a 21-13 lead at halftime.
Half Moon Bay couldn’t make any sort of run in the second half.
“Their defense did a nice job,” Half Moon Bay coach John Carey said. “They took us out of our rhythm.”
Carey tried just about any combination he could find to look for an offensive spark. The Falcons stopped the Cougars from doing anything.
While the Falcons look ahead to tonight’s semifinal game with Mercy of San Francisco, Carey had the painful task of saying farewell.
“It’s always tough to say goodbye to the seniors, especially one who has played varsity all four years,” Carey said.
A majority of the players are expected to be back next year. Throw in members of the frosh-soph team that had a 20-win season, and Carey says the potential is there to contend for league and section titles.
“The question is how much work will the girls put in between now and the start of practice,” Carey said.
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