Spartans lose Regional Final in heartbreak

UNDERWOOD - With 1.2 seconds remaining in regulation trailing by one to the Treynor Cardinals, the Exira-EHK Spartans were hoping for a last second shot to punch their ticket to the state tournament. The Spartans came up empty when Sophomore Taryn Petersen missed a shot attempt, losing 45-44 ending their season.
“This one is tough to swallow,” said Spartan Head Coach Tom Petersen. “Credit to Treynor. They did a great job. I”m so proud of my kids. They found a way to battle tonight and we had a chance almost at the end.”
Taryn opened the game with the first basket on a mid-range floater to give the Spartans an early lead. Junior Cardinal Nora Konz put her team in front soon after with a 3-point shot.
Freshman Spartan Zoey Rasmussen was able to drain a 3-point shot on an open look to give the Spartans a 5-3 lead.
“For a freshman to step in there, she doesn’t hesitate,” Petersen said of Rasmussen. “One of the things I’ve told her all year is when you’re open you’re a shooter, shoot the ball, and she does. She could be 0-for-7 or 0-for-8, and she’ll shoot the next seven or eight in a row.”
The Cardinal offense got going closing out the quarter on a 7-3 run leading 14-8. Junior Ella Thornton opened the quarter with a layup forcing a timeout from Petersen. When play resumed, the Spartans were able to get back in the game on a layup from Junior Kadence Sporrer along with back-to-back layups from Taryn.
Towards the end of the quarter, Taryn made another shot from the 3-point line, along with another two 3’s from Rasmussen as the Spartans led 28-27 at halftime.
“The girls need to stay physical,” Petersen said. “I thought they were getting second chance opportunities, and I wasn’t very happy. Execution on the offensive side wasn’t very good.”
The third quarter began with another 3-pointer from Rasmussen, her fourth of the game, putting the Spartans up by four. Konz made another two layups, along with a layup from Freshman Addison Mauer as the Cardinals led 33-31 heading into the final quarter.
Mauer drained a 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter. Following Mauer’s 3-point shot, both teams continued to exchange shots. A big moment came for the Spartans when Sporrer made a clutch 3-point shot, putting her team down by one, immediately following a timeout from Petersen.
“I told them we were going to get a steal and have an opportunity, and we legit did,” Petersen added. “We got a steal and we cut it to one.”
The Spartans unfortunately couldn’t overcome the Cardinals, closing out their season with an 18-6 record. The Spartans won 16 regular season games against Boyer Valley, Earlham, IKM-Manning, Woodbine, Ar-We-Va, and others, along with two Regional victories against Underwood and MVAOCOU. Seniors Harlee Fahn and Alissa Testroet won’t return due to graduating.
“They might be 5’6 and 5’7, but they play like they’re 6’0,” Petersen said. “They wear their hearts on their sleeve. I wish I could’ve had Alissa all four years. Harlee is a battler. She’s a special person.”