AMBLER- Losing is never a good feeling. But when a loss comes unexpectedly, resulting in an unprepared last game of the season game, the pain is ten times worse.

Last Friday, the North Penn Lady Knights were forced to endure that pain as they took an early exit in the state playoffs, dropping the state playoff opener to Governor Mifflin by a score of 50-44.

“It is so disappointing,” said junior Lauren Crisler. “We are all so devastated. We could have gone so much further and we all know that we had so much more potential than this.”

Early on in the game, it seemed as though the Lady Knights had everything under control. They were moving the ball around and hitting many of their shots. Senior Steph Knauer and Crisler dominated down low on offense. The opposition had no one to match the size of either of the girls. North Penn took a 31-26 lead into the half.

Then came the 2^nd half…

 In the 2^nd half Governor Mifflin hit nearly every shot they took, especially from beyond the arc. North Penn, on the other hand, went ice cold. They struggle to hit any type of shot, and as the half rolle don, thr momentum went to Governor Mifflin. The Lady Knights were unable to feed the ball down low to Knauer and Crisler, despite Mifflin’s inability to stop them in the first half. Knauer had 15 first half points and only 2 in the second half.

“They double teamed [her],” said head coach Maggie DeMartelerie. “But there were times when she had one person on her back, and we were not getting her the ball. We just did not see anything at all in the 2^nd half.”

At the end of the 4^th it seemed like North Penn had life again after a 3-pointer by Sophomore Vicky Tumasz, cutting Mifflin’s lead to 2. But following two made free throws on the other end of the court, the Lady Knights were unable to get any closer than four points the rest of the game.

DeMartelerie cited several reasons for the defeat.

“We started turning the ball over, taking quick shots, and not working the ball around in the zone,” said DeMartelerie.

Despite the loss, the Lady Knights surprised many critics this season by coming within a game of a district title and coming up big against strong programs, particularly Cheltenham twice.

 “It was such a fun season,” said Crisler. “The team was great and I loved all the girls. We came together and bonded more than any other year. Everyone was so comfortable with each other. If I had to describe the season in one word, it would be fun.”

And that is a big reason why the Lady Knight’s basketball team’s season can be considered a success.