As Bryan Miller headed off the court on Monday night, his team and remaining fans shouted out ``No. 1`` -- which brought emotions to the surface for the Mooseheart girls basketball coach.
And while the Red Ramblers had just lost 60-47 to Aurora Central in the opening round of the IHSA Class A Aurora Central Regional, it was hard to argue with the assembled throng.
After all, the Ramblers finished the season 10-11 - as many wins as anyone can remember a Mooseheart girls basketball team garnering - and they engineered a comeback from 22 points down in the second half and closed to within nine points with three minutes left.
Yes, they lost, but the Ramblers showed something to the crowd watching the game.
``I was really hoping that it would happen tonight,`` Mooseheart senior Jasmine Barnes said. ``Someone had to fall short tonight. Unfortunately it had to be us.``
Barnes led the Ramblers with 16 points in what ended as her final game in a Ramblers uniform. She will attend Aurora University next year and play volleyball.
``I wasn't going to go out (for basketball) this year, but I'm really glad I did,`` Barnes said.
The Ramblers dug themselves a massive hole in the first half and never fully recovered. Aurora Central (1-24) led 16-9 after the first quarter and 33-14 at halftime.
Early in the fourth quarter, Aurora Central led 49-27 - and at that point Mooseheart rallied. When the comeback was over, the Ramblers were behind 52-43 and there just under 3:00 remained.
``We came back,`` Barnes said. ``Our goal was to come within 10 points and we got within nine.``
Mooseheart girls basketball coach Bryan Miller had twin goals entering the 2006-07 season - to finish above .500 and to win in the regional.
``Ten wins is a good season for our program,`` Miller said. ``It's a step in the right direction. Our theme has been success. We came up a little short on success tonight. But I didn't have to question our hustle or our determination all year.``
The Ramblers got a boost from Carmen Avila, who scored only two points but provided massive energy off the bench.
``I told her to be ready,`` Miller said. ``She didn't play much at the beginning of the season. But she can get those hustle plays - a definite spark.``
In addition to Barnes, Mooseheart got 10 points apiece from Adrianna Pinto and Basheeba Mays.
And the Mooseheart fans were out in force, cheering on their faithful throughout the contest.
``We had one girl on our team call all the homes on campus, asking them to come out and support us and to pray for us,`` Miller said. ``It was a good showing tonight. It was a fun atmosphere to play in.``
| GAME STATS |
Mooseheart: |
| Barnes |
5 |
5 |
5 |
16 |
|
| Avila |
1 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
| Mays |
4 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
|
| Pinto |
4 |
1 |
2 |
10 |
|
| Abdulahi |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Kollie |
4 |
1 |
3 |
9 |
|
| Ellsworth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Crow |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| TOTALS |
18 |
7 |
12 |
47 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Aurora Central |
| Schaefer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Steder |
2 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
| Connelly |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
| Chandler |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Pogwizd |
7 |
0 |
3 |
17 |
|
| Griffin |
6 |
2 |
3 |
17 |
|
| Hoffman |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Brauweiler |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
| Schuetz |
1 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
|
| Benjamin |
4 |
2 |
4 |
10 |
|
| Risatti |
2 |
0 |
5 |
4 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| TOTALS |
23 |
8 |
23 |
60 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Mooseheart |
9 |
5 |
13 |
20 |
47 |
| Aurora Central |
16 |
15 |
18 |
11 |
60 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
3-point goals: Miller 1, Mays 2, Pinto 1
Pogwizd 3, Griffin 3 |
| Fouled out:Abdulahi, Risatti |
|
