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For the Loyola girls basketball team, hearing "Taps" in the pre-game ceremony before Thursday's Class 3A quarterfinal playoff game might have been a bit of an ominous sign.
The Flyers knew they were already in for a battle on the road against the No. 1-ranked team in Class 3A. But despite all subliminal signs and high rankings, Loyola battled the Bulldogs down to the end before falling 58-45 in Monroe.
"Our girls," said Loyola coach Kyle Tanner, "did not back down from the challenge."
There were several occasions in which it looked like the Flyers might get run out of the gym by the Bulldogs, who were state semifinalsts last year in Class 4A. But the Flyers kept battling back to stay in the game.
Down by nine at halftime, the Flyers rallied to close it to a four-point game to start the fourth quarter. Every time Carroll would try to pull away, the Flyers wouldn't let them. Even when the game seemed out of reach with less than two minutes to play, the Flyers scored six straight points to stay in it
"I was proud of the team, the way they fought back, time after time," Tanner said. "Carroll was able to jump out early but we never gave up. It was a great atmosphere and a great learning experience for us. Carroll is a very experienced team and they deserve their #1 ranking."
Morgan Rogers led Loyola with 11 points before fouling out. Jasmin Anderson added nine and Cinderella Linnear had eight.
It was the final game in the careers of seniors Sarah Abrams and Ginney Pullen, who both finish in the top 11 in scoring in school record book and in the top 10 in rebounding.
"I can't say enough of how proud I am of our two seniors," Tanner said. "For the last three years since I took over as coach, they have moved the program forward. They had to go through a rebuilding process as sophomores and step up as leaders during the last two years. They have set a great foundation for Lady Flyer basketball and deserve all of the credit for how we have been able to improve each season."
The Flyers finish 27-11 overall. It's the first time to reach the quarterfinals since the 2005-06 season.
2009-10 GAME SUMMARIES
