During the regular season, the Pusch Ridge Christian Academy girls’ basketball team looked ready to pursue a legacy begun four years earlier: five consecutive state championships, a feat accomplished by one other school in Arizona history.
Unfortunately for the Lions, Phoenix North Pointe Prep had other ideas.
On Thursday night, Pusch Ridge lost 32-28 at home to the Falcons in the 2A South regional tournament. Unlike similar tournaments in 4A or 5A, which have little bearing on state tournament seeding, the 2A version meant that the Lions’ season ended with a record of 27-3.
Relentless pressure from the Falcons resulted in Thursday’s 28 points, equalling the Lions’ lowest offensive output of the year, said Pusch Ridge head coach Lonnie Tvrdy.
“It was the worst shooting night we had all year,” said Tvrdy. “It’s not every night you’re going to have (senior guard/forward) Morgan Van Stelle not score any points, and (senior guard/forward) Hannah McLeod score 11.
“We couldn’t make shots,” Tvrdy added. “It was just a nightmare.”
Tvrdy blamed a solid North Pointe defense and game plan for his team’s lack of production.
“Their point guard handled the ball well, and they really tried to pressure things,” he said. “They were able to slow the game down and give us less possessions.”
McLeod, the 2A South’s #2 scorer in the regular season, saw few openings until the fourth period.
In that period, after scoring only two points in the third and trailing 27-19, the Lions, behind the intense play of senior guard Jessica Villerius, began a rally to move as close as 30-28 with seven seconds left. A late Pusch Ridge turnover gave the ball back to the Falcons.
The fourth period belonged to Villerius, as the senior turned steals into fast breaks and assists, on her way to scoring six points.
Tvrdy was happy to see his team’s determination down the stretch.
“The effort across the board was there,” he said. “I was pleased with that.”
Despite what Tvrdy calls a “painful week” since the game, the loss has not dimmed his affection for his club.
“I told the girls, ‘You know, if winning a fifth state title or playing in state this year meant I had to play with a different team, I’d never do it,’” said Tvrdy.
“My biggest concern was that I’d never get to be with them again in a game or at practice,” he added.
“It is more than just X’s and O’s,” said Tvrdy. “I wanted to impart things that are much more important.”
“I wish I would’ve been more patient, more godly,” said Tvrdy humbly. “I wish I would’ve been more in the word, so they might have thought ‘Here’s this godly man, I hope I can come and talk and ask for advice for years to come.”
While that future is yet to be seen, it won’t stop Tvrdy from caring about the religious learning his players took from their experience with him.
“You just sit back and hope that’s what’s in their hearts and minds,” he said. “I guess we’ll see.”
