Rockford Lutheran 52, Rosary 42

ROCHELLE -- Rosary's girls basketball team found itself in an unfamiliar situation Monday night.

With less than 4 minutes gone in the opening quarter of their sectional showdown in Rochelle, the Royals were looking up at a 14-2 deficit after Rockford Lutheran (20-9) started the game by hitting it first 6 shots.

"We don't normally have to play from behind like that," Rosary coach Dave Beebe said. "After those first few minutes when we didn't play any defense, we started doing a great job against them."

The Royals (23-6) rallied to tie the game by halftime, but never led. Poor shooting from inside and out, and the Crusaders' ability to knock down free throws in the closing seconds, conspired to bring Rosary's season to an end.

"We just couldn't score," Beebe said. "It wasn't that the kids weren't trying, it just wasn't our night offensively."

The 52-42 final was not indicative of how close the game was throughout most of the second half, but it did provide a glimpse of just how frustrating a night it was for the Royals.

"Our strategy tonight was to get a hand in the passing lanes, and contest every shot," Rockford Lutheran coach Joni Carlson said.

Games like this one are always heartbreaking beyond the typical disappointment that goes with losing. They also mean the end of the line for seniors, and in Rosary's case, there will be some big shoes to fill.

"We've got a really good core coming back, but it's going to be hard," Beebe said.

With the loss, the Royals said goodbye to Victoria Alvarez, their point guard and floor leader for the past three years.

"Victoria's been the face of this team, and when she picks it up, everyone else does too," Beebe said.

Among the seniors, Colleen VanBogaert turned in a solid performance, hitting several key shots. Usually a dependable shooter and consistent scorer, Faith Jones struggled, but still managed to contribute 8 boards and 3 steals. Kylie Schalz also pulled down 8 rebounds, as Rosary out-rebounded the Crusaders, 36-25.

Trailing 22-10 midway through the opening quarter, the Royals finally started showing signs of life after Jordan Rettig, who led all scorers with 18 points, completed a 3-point play. A minute later, VanBogaert hit a pair of free throws, then knocked down a shot from beyond the arc.

With 10 seconds showing on the clock, Rettig scored on a put-back to complete a 12-0 run, and tie the game, 22-22, at the break.

"I asked the kids if they wanted to throw the towel in, they said they didn't and then went out there and played a great second quarter," Beebe said. "We wanted to take that momentum into the locker room and then right back out on the floor."

Instead, the Royals staggered. Though Rettig put up 6 points in the opening minutes of the third quarter, the powerhouse junior would not score again.

"They were doubling her, and took her away from us," Beebe said.

The fourth quarter was an aggravating mix of missed opportunities and tough calls, and that, coupled with Rockford Lutheran's 6 of 7 shooting from the line, ended any hopes of a second Rosary comeback.

"This was not the way we wanted to go out, but you can't be prouder of the season we had," Beebe said.