Whips' final Purple Palace game sure wasn't supposed to be like this

This was not the way the curtain was supposed to come down on so much history.

The girls basketball program at Hampshire High School has had success in its own gym like only one other program in this area since girls started playing interscholastic basketball in the late 1970s.

Between Jan. 23, 1998 and Jan. 13, 2005, the Whip-Purs won 63 straight games on their home floor, equaling Elgin's record streak between 1991 and 1997.

But Chesbrough Field House at Elgin High will have varsity basketball for many years to come.

The Purple Palace at Hampshire will not.

Friday night's 33-26 Class 2A regional championship game loss to Oregon was the final scheduled varsity game in the quaint little Hampshire gym, which realistically doesn't hold 1,000 people.

Next season, the Whip-Purs will move into their new digs -- a spacious new field house at the new school with 2,500 seats.

So the script was ready for a storybook ending to the girls' portion of the Purple Palace which, by the way, was first coined as such by former Daily Herald staffer Mike Miazga when he worked for another publication.

And it looked like things were going to play out in Hampshire's favor. Poor shooting and good defense by both teams led to a 13-10 Oregon lead at halftime.

But then, just as they had three weeks ago when they beat Oregon at the Palace, the Whips came out refreshed. When they took a 22-19 lead into the fourth quarter it appeared that the old PPM -- Purple Palace Magic -- was going to prevail yet again.

But it didn't. Oregon made its shots in the fourth quarter, Hampshire didn't, and the Hawks get to play on next week in their own sectional while Hampshire's season ends at 19-8.

Also coming to an end is the Hampshire career of Mallory Koster, the only senior on a team that struggled early but came back to win 12 of its final 14 games.

"We played hard and it's unfortunate," said Koster. "We knew it wasn't going to be an easy game. It's hard. I don't want it to be over."

Koster was the leader of this team all season. As the only senior, she steadied things early on when another player who was the team's starting point guard decided to quit. Koster formed a bond with this group of players, maybe because she's one of the few that even has a driver's license.

"I love them and they've been such a big part of my life," she said of the kiddie corps that will undoubtedly be awfully good again next year.

"They're going to be great. They're talented and athletic and I know they're going to go far."

Through her tears, Koster looked around the Purple Palace for the last time while wearing a Hampshire uniform.

"It's been where I've lived for four years," she said. "It's going to be so difficult not coming into this gym for practice anymore. I just don't want it to be over."

For the rest of the Whip-Purs it might be over in the Purple Palace, but now it's time to make new memories.

For juniors Kendall Kurilla, Kristy Pfaffinger, Gianina Estocado, Jackie Jeffries, Christine Schumacher, Christie Wood, Kelsey Watson and Kelly Plichta (who did an amazing job at point guard this season after that other player quit); for sophomores Chrissy Heine and Cassie Dumoulin; for freshman Alex Dumoulin; for all the Whip-Purs of the future, a new home is on the horizon.

But the Purple Palace, which opened in 1978, will always be remembered as a shrine of sorts.

"This gym brings so many generations of people together," said Heine, whose dad Don played in the first Hampshire gym, which is at the current middle school. "It brings so many memories of the past. We wanted to win really bad tonight, but now we'll have to make memories in the new gym."

For Hampshire coach Sue Ellett, as much a part of that 63-game winning streak as anyone, it was tough to handle the finality of the night, especially with a loss. If you know the names Sisler and Ellett, you know how much losing costs them sleep.

"All the cards were stacked in our favor," Ellett said. "We just couldn't pull it off. I'd like to think the story of this gym isn't over yet. I'm going to leave that book open because we didn't do the job tonight. We've won a lot more games here than we've lost. This team is just a part of Hampshire athletics and we're proud of what we were able to accomplish this season."

As the Whip-Purs should be. They won a conference title and flirted with 20 wins. There was a time not so long ago when one wondered if this team would win 12 games.

Time marches on, we learn a little more each day. The Purple Palace isn't being torn down. Progress is moving Hampshire athletics to a new home.

But even for those of us sworn to objectivity, Friday night was difficult. There have been some great times in the Palace and some wonderful relationships formed.

Can't help it. I'm going to miss that place.