GAME PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/18bvI5D
Chardon girls finished their historic basketball season with a loss to the one of the state’s top programs, the Solon Comets, 61-44.
Chardon won 20 games this year, behind the strong play of six seniors.
Solon, ranked No. 2 in Northeast Ohio by cleveland.com, was the number one seed in the Perry district. The Comets had reached four consecutive district finals.
And yet despite all that, Chardon led the 32-minute basketball game at the end of the first quarter, 10-7, and at halftime, 26-24, at one point leading in the second quarter by nine points.
“It’s awesome, awesome,” coach Cullen Harris said of the experience. It was the first time a girls basketball program had advanced to a district final.
“Awesome. It’s wonderful for these kids who have been around for four years. It’s a great way to cap it off.”
Seniors Dana Meyeroff, Steph Hunter, Morgan Tropf, Rachel Tusick, Jordan Malone and Kahrin Spear all played in the first half.
In the third quarter, Chardon stopped making shots, and the physical Solon play — particularly the strength and physical play of the guards — wore Chardon down.
“Solon hangs its hat on forcing turnovers, but we hung onto it as well as we could,” Harris said. “They are bigger than us. They are deeper than us. That wears on you.”
Sophomore Tessa Ludwick, a sophomore, was unphased by the pressure, leading the team with 16 points.
The Comets went on a 17-0 run to start the third quarter, winning the period 17-3. Chardon’s Cinderella run ended in those disastrous eight minutes.
Afterward, Chardon’s seniors were interviewed on G-TV, the local cable channel that re-broadcast the game on Time Warner Cable.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Tropf. “To come to the district finals was just amazing.”
“I don’t really know what to say,” said Spear. “It’s been a Cinderella season. I’m not even crying because it’s over, I’m crying because I’m so thankful. It’s been the best we’ve ever had.”
Spear also said her teammates and coaches were the best anyone could ask for.
“We’ve been playing together since second or third grade,” said Meyeroff, standing next to Spear.
And Steph Hunter said it was unbelievable.
“When he (the coach) took us all out, we weren’t sad that we lost, we were sad that we wouldn’t be with each other anymore,” Steph said. “This has been an amazing season.”
Jordan Malone said the team was very close. “This is my second family,” Malone said.
Chardon’s middle school, freshmen and junior varsity teams all had great success this season, so this could become a regular appearance for Harris and his staff.
GAME PHOTOS: http://smu.gs/18bvI5D