‘I thought we had it …’: Lady Rebels fall in close semifinal game to Bowling Green

Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 17, 2018

Bit by bit, mistakes added up for the Adams County Christian School Lady Rebels Friday night.

ACCS faced a disciplined Bowling Green defense and struggled to find a rhythm until late in the game, leading to a 35-32 loss in the MAIS Class AAA South State Tournament semifinals.

“The first half was not good,” Lady Rebels coach Melanie Hall said. “We had too many mistakes and we didn’t execute on offense or defense at all. There were a bunch of times we didn’t even run an offense.”

Email newsletter signup

Hall said while her team fought with getting any open looks, it also could never recover from its own frustration.

After two turnovers to end the period, ACCS trailed by six points at the end of the first quarter, 14-8.

“We just made some poor decisions, and we got in too big of a hurry at times,” Hall said. “I know they wanted it so bad, and they wanted to do so much all at once.”

The intensity of the game didn’t exactly help the Lady Rebels, either.

ACCS had defeated Bowling Green twice already this season, most recently on a buzzer-beater layup from Caitlyn Gamberi at the beginning of February on the road.

“I knew it was going to be a dogfight,” Hall said. “I knew both teams were going to get after it.

“I thought we had it. I just thought we had it.”

By the second half, the Lady Rebels settled down and were able to sink a couple of quick baskets. And though standout guard Brianna Henson tallied her fourth foul by the end of the third period, her team managed to regain the lead by the final break, 22-21.

“I believe in every one of my girls, and we have people who can step up when someone goes out,” Hall said. “I was proud of the way they battled back.

When we did execute, we did some good things. We just have to take care of each other.”

ACCS traded baskets with Bowling Green in the final period, most notably as Gamberi sank two 3-pointers to keep the Lady Rebels alive down the stretch.

“They were huge. Those were game changers,” Hall said. “We gave ourselves some opportunities to win. They just came out on top. But, in victory or defeat, to God be the Glory.”

Henson led the efforts Friday with 11 points, while Gamberi added 10 of her own.

With the loss, ACCS will play again at 1 p.m. today against Columbia Academy in a consolation game for the No. 3 South State seed.

Heading into next week’s state tournament, Hall said, anything helps.

“You just want to come out every night and give it everything you’ve got,” she said. “That one is over, and when it comes down to this time of year you have to play everyone at some point. They have to be ready to play.”

Riverfield Academy (boys) 48, ACCS 46

The Adams County Christian School boys basketball team fell in the semifinals of the Class AAA South State Tournament to Riverfield Academy Friday night, 48-46.

The Rebels will play in the consultation game at 4 p.m. today against Columbia Academy. At stake is the South’s No. 3 seed heading into next week’s state tournament.