DAYTON — Loudonville senior Corri Vermilya helped limping teammate Sophia Spangler to the stage of Thursday morning’s state semifinal press conference in Dayton.
Vermilya stopped just short of the last biggest step, picked up a tearful Spangler and physically carried her on to the stage. It was the final moment of their high school basketball careers. Both girls were crying, yet their bond remained as strong as the one that united an entire Ashland County community this winter.
“I’m just so proud of these girls,” coach Tyler Bates said. “I’ll love these girls long after they graduate. Corri said she’s the Godmother to my kids.”
The Redbirds struggled mightily on offense for three full quarters, put together a ferocious rally in the final period, but eventually fell to state powerhouse Waterford 41-32 in the Division IV state semifinal.
“It was a really fun trip being down here,” said Vermilya, noting a strong crowd of fans that donned gray shirts and waved white towels in support of the Redbirds. “I wish we could have played another game Saturday, but I’ll remember getting here.”
So will those who saw this team all season.
The seventh-ranked Redbirds finally ran into a Division IV team that could slow their offensive onslaught. Bates’ bunch came in averaging 71 points per game, but simply could not put the ball in the basket through the first three quarters.
“We knew coming in they were a very good offensive rebounding team,” Waterford coach Jerry Close said. “We had to keep them from getting second shots, and if they got them we had to contest them.”
Barely two minutes into the game, Spangler gave her squad a 2-0 lead after sinking a pair of free throws. That advantage lasted 17 seconds, and the Redbirds would never regain it.
Loudonville (26-3) missed its first five shots, and registered just two field goals in each of the first three quarters.
The Redbirds’ defense was doing its job, the sixth-ranked Wildcats were forced into 26 turnovers. But the sheer size of 6-foot-4 center Avery Wagner simply walled off Loudonville in the paint.
“It helps to know if I get beat that Avery is going to be there,” said Waterford guard Kendall Sury, who pumped in a game-high 17 points.
“It definitely helps that I’m 6-4,” Wagner said through a shy smile. “That’s my job. I protect the paint.”
It was a consistent issue for the Redbirds.
Close’s club opened a 10-6 first-quarter lead that became a 23-11 halftime bulge. The gap grew to 30-15 heading to the final eight minutes.
To that point Loudonville was an aenmic 6-of-35 from the field, including 0-of-11 from behind the arc.
“There was just a lid on the rim for us in the first three quarters,” Bates said. “(Wagner) impacted us greatly. We did not have a lot of good looks at the rim.
“I was so proud the state got to see what Redbird basketball looks like in the fourth quarter.”
Loudonville seemed dead in the water until senior Jena Guilliams hit a pair of 3-pointers and the ‘Birds got the chance to set up their press.
“I’m just glad they waited until the fourth quarter (to make their 3s),” Close said.
Loudonville got within 39-32 with 1:48 remaining, but the Wildcats (24-3) steadied after a timeout, hit a couple of late free throws, and time expired on the Redbirds’ rally.
“It was our first time here, and we took some deep shots,” Bates said. “We finally made some shots.
“It just took us a little too long to get going.”
Wagner finished with 12 points, 15 rebounds and four blocked shots. She was unquestionably the key factor in Waterford’s 37-29 rebounding edge.
Vermilya topped the Redbirds with 13 points, 13 rebounds and five steals, while Spangler had 11 points and Guilliams chipped in six.
Loudonville shot just 21 precent from the field (12-of-55 field goals) and made only 2-of-19 treys (10.5 percent).
Waterford, which is playing in its seventh Final Four in 10 years, will go for its third state title on Saturday, after winning it all in 2016 and 2022.
“We knew we would have to play well to have a chance,” Bates said. “We knew we would have our hands full.
“Coach Close is such a class act and they have a great program.”