Oyster River girls basketball team falls to No. 2 Milford in Division II championship game
DURHAM - It was a battle for all four quarters between Oyster River and Milford in Saturday's Division II girls basketball state championship game, with both teams eager to end long championship droughts.
But as Oyster River head coach Bryan Wall said, "(Milford) got us at the end."
Entering the fourth quarter down four points, the fourth-seeded Bobcats cut the lead to three on numerous times, but No. 2 Milford pulled away in the final minutes and claimed the title with a 43-36 win at Lundholm Gymnasium.
"It was a tough one, obviously both sides came to play which is what you want," Wall said. "We were up for the challenge. (Milford) just kept grinding it down and they got us at the end. Our shots just didn't fall liked they usually do. But the effort was outstanding on both sides, and our girls really worked hard. I feel for bad for them, they've had a great season and should be proud of what they accomplished for sure."
A Vivian O'Quinn 3-pointer from the top of the key cut Milford's lead to 38-35 with 3:30 left. The score stayed that way until Milford's Avery Fuller hit one of two free throws with 1:43 left, prompting an Oyster River timeout.
The Bobcats missed a 3-point attempt, and on Milford's next possession, O'Quinn came up with a steal with 42 seconds left. Teammate Olivia Andersen was fouled and split a pair of free throws, cutting the Milford lead to 39-36 with 26 seconds left.
On the other end, Fuller missed two free throws, but Milford's Ellianna Nassy grabbed the rebound on the second miss and was fouled. She hit both free throws for a 41-36 lead with 23 seconds left. Milford's Lulu Maguire came up with a steal and hit a layup for the final score.
"We just had an unfortunate outcome for us," Andersen said. "We could've played better, but it is what it is."
It was Milford's first state championship since going back-to-back in 1978 and 1979, while the Bobcats were looking for their first title since 2009.
O'Quinn scored a team-high 13 points, while Andersen had seven, and Caitlin Klein added six. Milford's Alexia Bausha led all scorers with 21 points.
Oyster River, which lost in the first round each of the last two years, led 20-17 lead at halftime, but Milford doubled up Oyster River in the third, 14-7, and led 31-27 entering the fourth.
"Milford just kept grinding and had more shots fall than we did," Wall said. "The game plan didn't change much, on both sides. I just feel like our shots didn't fall when they normally do. We're usually a great second-half shooting team. The looks were good, they just didn't fall."
Oyster River finished its season at 17-5.
"At the beginning of the season, we would've never imagined ourselves here (playing for a state championship)," Andersen said. "I's just really cool to be here. I'm just really proud of us, because we made it so far. I'm just really proud of this team."
Wall said Oyster River shifted its goals a little when Klein was injured early in the season, and missed most of the year.
"(Our goal then) was to get in the playoffs," Wall said. "And then we just got on a roll, and (these girls) worked hard. It's such a fun group. They loved being in the gym, working together and they're all great friends. It was a great season."
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Oyster River girls basketball team falls to Milford in championship
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