The Ashe County High School varsity girls basketball season came to its conclusion on Wednesday, Feb. 24, with a 63-50 home loss to the Bandys Trojans in the second round of the 2-A state playoffs. The loss closes an otherwise stellar 24-2 season that featured regular season and tournament titles in the Mountain Valley Conference, along with a perfect 19-0 record in conference play. Four of the team's five starters were named All-Conference 

But on Feb. 24 the Ashe County Huskies trailed early and, despite a 28-point fourth quarter, were down by more than 10 for most of the game and trailed by more than 25 in the second half.

Ashe County took a brief 4-2 lead early in the game after baskets by juniors Mallary Clay and Lizzie Hanes, but Bandys responded with a 14-0 run over the next six minutes. By the end of the first quarter the Huskies trailed 16-6.

Ashe County trailed 19-7 early in the second quarter but went on an 8-3 run over three-and-a-half minutes to cut their deficit to seven. Bandys responded strong over the final two minutes, however, outscoring the Huskies 9-0 to take a 31-15 lead at halftime.

A 5-1 run to open the third quarter cut the Bandys lead to 33-20, but the Trojans created another 14-point run and led 47-22 entering the fourth quarter.

The Huskies scored frequently for the final eight minutes as they played at a quick pace, cutting the Trojans' lead to 57-47 in the final two minutes, but were unable to overcome the big deficit.

An awards ceremony for winter sports, including basketball, will be held at the high school at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 15.

Ashe County Head Coach Laura Foster said they "knew coming in Bandys had size and they were much quicker at the guard position than I thought they were. I was hoping our quickness and athletic ability would negate their size, but it worked the other way - their size negated any quickness we had over them. 

"They really just pounded us on the inside," she continued. "They came out strong and we took a minute to catch our breath, and by then we were down 16. You can't do that against a team as good and well-coached as Bandys."

Foster noted that she was proud of her team's effort in the final quarter.

"They could have just folded but they continued to work and try to make things happen," she said. "We were in a big hole so we had to do everything to get extra possessions. We did that and cut it to 10."

Despite the loss, Foster said she will remember 2009-10 as "another dream season.

"This group probably overachieved a little bit in terms of what I had thought for them," she said. "They did everything I asked them to." She noted the team "can't complain or hang our heads about anything we did this year. We're very proud of our girls."

Foster said the players will always have memories of a 19-0 season in the Mountain Valley Conference, a record that can only be tied. 

With the end of the season, Foster noted that they are going to miss graduating seniors Caitlin Elliott, Cara Church and Jessica Walker. Seven members of the squad will return next year, along with players from the current junior varsity team.

"The beat goes on, as they say," said Foster.

For more information about Ashe County High School athletics, call the school at (336) 846-2400 or click to ashehigh.ashe.k12.nc.us.