Springfield stopped by stingy Redbirds in regional
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MASSILLON -- The Springfield Tigers met their match. Loudonville proved to be too much for the Tigers, as Springfield's quest for another trip to Dayton fell short in a 40-14 defeat in the Division IV, Massillon regional final on Saturday.
The relentless defense that Springfield smothered teams with throughout the tournament, was met by an equally, if not more relentless defense on the other end.
Held to just nine points in the first half, getting into an offensive rhythm never came. Pair that with a potent Redbird deep ball, and you have a lethal combination.
"If you would have told me they had 40, I would have hoped we would have been in a game, but they just suffocate you," Springfield coach John Matisi said. "They’re a different level of physicality than we’re used to. You can play up, you can play these teams, but you get into a regional final like this (and it’s still tough). We had some chances at the rim, we had some open threes, but they just have a way of speeding you up a little bit, making you think maybe the contact is going to be there, and it’s not, and you just rush yourself. We just obviously didn’t get enough shots to fall tonight."
As the game went on, it was more of the same. Springfield never could quite find its offense, and Loudonville had an answer for everything the Tigers threw at them on defense.
Jameka Brungard and Sami Shafer were the team’s leading scorers, each with four points.
The Tigers' season ends with a 20-8 record and while sad the season’s over, Matisi and his team walked off the court knowing they did everything they could.
"We always just seemed to find a way when we needed to," Matisi said. "Backs against the wall, we’ve got to win a league game like at Mineral Ridge or a tournament game against some good teams, we could do it. Not as consistent all year, but overall we accomplished everything I think we set out to do this year.
"I tell them all the time to not take this for granted. This isn’t something that happens. Teams don’t win three districts in a row. While you’re into it, just enjoy it. Enjoy the ride. Come to work every day because when you’re practicing in the summer, and it’s hot, you don’t want to be there and you’d rather be doing something else, this is the payoff."
The Tigers graduate just one senior, but it’s one with a large impact. Ava Vecchione has been an on and off-court leader for Springfield during this run, finishing just behind junior Jameka Brungard in nearly every statistical category.
She’ll be a massive loss, but great programs find a way to reload, and that’s what Springfield is aiming to be year in and year out.
"(Ava) has been such a beast this year," Matisi said. "She is a big reason that we’ve been able to make our run, been able to do the things we’ve done this year, so it’s not going to be easy to replace her at all. She was it for us this year.
"We were talking the other day at practice. We get in these tournament games, we get to these close games, and we feel like we’re going to find a way to pull them out. (The goal is to) just to keep building that culture, keep playing into the second week of March and have that be the standard."
Loudonville will face Waterford in the state semifinal on Thursday at UD Arena in Dayton. Start time is set for 11 a.m.
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