The Smyrna High girls’ basketball team’s magical run through the state tournament ended one win short of the title.
In the state championship game, the No. 4 seeded Eagles fell to No. 2 seed Sanford, 51-36, on March 12 at the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center.
Sanford controlled the first half of the action, and the Smyrna girls trailed 28-12 heading into the locker room. The Eagles had overcome a similar deficit two nights earlier against Cape Henlopen in the semifinals, but they couldn’t duplicate that comeback in the second half against Sanford.
The Eagles closed to within 12 points twice in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get any closer, and it was the Warriors who cut down the net after the game.
Nonetheless, it was a remarkable and unprecedented season for the Smyrna girls, who finished with a 21-3 overall record and lifted their program to a whole new level.
“The shots weren’t falling, but we battled all the way to the end,” said Smyrna head coach James Kiger after the game.
Although the loss was disappointing for the girls, Kiger said he’s not at all disappointed with the Eagles’ achievements this season.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I think we’ve got something started in Smyrna. It’s better to experience this and be here than to be sitting in the stands.”
Speaking of the stands, they were full of Smyrna students and supporters who turned out in full force to cheer for the Eagles.
“Our fan support has been outstanding,” Kiger said. “Our town has been behind us 100 percent.”
Looking back, Kiger said the Eagles entered the season with a lot of off-the-court work to do, like building teamwork and team chemistry. In the end, the team was able to achieve all of its preseason goals, he said.
“It’s been a really neat journey,” Kiger said.
2009-10 SHS girls' basketball
Season in review
W 56-28 Milford
W 63-51 Cape Henlopen
W 52-24 at Sussex Tech
W 54-41 Sussex Central
L 39-34 at Caesar Rodney
Boardwalk Basketball Classic
W 32-26 vs Wildwood Catholic (N.J.)
L 38-33 vs Winslow Township (N.J.)
W 68-48 at Milford
W 60-24 at Padua
W 70-33 at Seaford
W 66-13 at Woodbridge
W 80-21 Lake Forest
W 65-27 Polytech
W 66-46 Dover
W 60-33 at Delmar
W 49-46 at Cape Henlopen
W 75-36 Sussex Tech
W 66-57 at Dover
W 52-39 at Sussex Central
W 74-72 Caesar Rodney
State tournament, round 2
W 60-42 vs No.13 Archmere
State tournament quarterfinals
W 54-39 vs No.5 Caesar Rodney
State tournament semifinals
W 59-55 vs No.9 Cape Henlopen
State championship game
L 51-36 vs No.2 Sanford
Final record: 21-3
