Heartbreaking. That’s the word head coach Michael Robertson kept coming back to when talking about how the Lady Aces’ trip to the Sweet 16 was over before it ever really began.
Owensboro Catholic was set to play their first game in the girls’ basketball state tournament Thursday night. They never took the court.
“For the seniors, you work so hard for four years, and you think your season is going to end on the floor at Rupp Arena. But ours ended in the stands,” Robertson said. “We never even got that chance to get on the floor. It was pretty devastating. The biggest thing I can say for my girls or for any of the teams is they didn’t get to go out on their terms. I think that was the hardest part.”
The tournament was suspended indefinitely immediately after the first game of the day. Prior to that game, KHSAA had announced they would try to continue the rest of the tournament with a “severe limit” on who would be able to attend — those plans were discarded within the hour.
“I’m not disagreeing with the reason. It must be pretty serious with everything they are cancelling (nationwide),” Robertson said. “I think the right decision was made. I think the KHSAA tried everything they could. It’s just sad, it really is. It’s heartbreaking.”
In their announcement, KHSAA left open the possibility of finishing the girls’ tournament and playing the boys’ tournament — which was suspended in its entirety — in the spring.
However, schools across the state are shutting down for the next three weeks — meaning absolutely no athletic events or practices until at least April 6.
“I really don’t know how that’s going to happen,” Robertson said of a postponed tournament. “We won’t practice for three weeks. It would be nice, but at the same time is it really realistic? Is it going to be good basketball? Are we doing it just for the fact of doing it?”
So, it was a long trip home from Lexington.
“It’s hit me, but it hasn’t hit me,” Robertson said. “It’s hit the girls. They did a lot of crying on the bus ride home. Just upset because it’s not on their terms. If you get beat by a better team that’s one thing, but we didn’t get beat. We just didn’t get to play. Tough. Just real tough.”
Robertson said he thought the Lady Aces — who finished 25-10 and earned their 100th victory in four years with their region championship win — were starting to play their best basketball. After tinkering with things all year long, they were finally gelling and everybody was doing what it took to win.
“We left it all on the line in the regional championship to get the win,” he said. “Who knew that would be our last game? I’m happy with what the girls accomplished. It was a special year. It was a difficult schedule and we challenged ourselves. I think that’s what got us ready to make a run in the postseason. I’m just proud of them.”
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