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DAYTON — It's an interesting and challenging dynamic.
After the vast majority of high school basketball games, coaches and players talk casually with reporters, perhaps just outside the locker room or in the middle of the gymnasium or some hallway.
After a state championship game, many coaches and players get to experience a news conference setting for the first time.
And so Rootstown girls basketball players sat, pained but proud after a 65-46 loss to Columbus Grove in the Division VI state title game.
For most if not all of the players, this was their first news conference, coming after the heartbreak of a magical run reaching its end.
The Rovers reflected on that podium about the game but also what it was like to play in Dayton, which they had been dreaming of since they ventured to Sherrodsville in the summer.
"The experience has been awesome," Rovers senior guard Addy Germann said. "The team bonding that we created throughout this whole trip, it's been amazing. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dayton was the dream but the trip there was far more complicated than simply typing UD Arena into the GPS. Rootstown faced serious adversity in the summer when star Nadia Lough tore her ACL.
"Ever since you're a kid, all you want to do is make it to the state championship, and I never thought, with how our summer league went and injuries along the way, that we would be here right now," Rovers junior Colbie Curall said. "It's just so incredible that we have the opportunity to, and that's just props to every single person who shows up early to practice and on the days we have off and all summer long and our coaches who put in so [many] hours."
Getting to Dayton was a monthslong, if not yearslong, process.
Rootstown established itself as a serious contender early in the 2024-2025 season with a win over Columbia, which ended up winning 21 games, a district title and coming one game shy of facing the Rovers in a potential rematch in the Region 21 title game. Rootstown added a 22-point victory at Field, which finished as a district runner-up in Division IV, before the calendar changed.
But there was also plenty the Rovers had to grapple with, including making the transition from more of a post-oriented attack the past couple of years to small ball in the wake of Brooklynn McIntyre's graduation and Lough's torn ACL. Losing senior Sasha Nichols for the season hurt as well. And then, on the other hand, Rootstown had to integrate Lough back into its system midway through the season.
Of course, that was a very good problem to have, but still the Rovers had work to do.
"Definitely Dayton was a goal for us, but we took it one game at a time," Lough said. "We knew that we had to step and take care of one opponent before we can do another one."
If Rootstown dominated throughout much of the regular season, the postseason was a different story. The Rovers had to rally from four points down to start the fourth quarter in the district championship game against LaBrae. They led by only four at the half in the regional semis against Canton Central Catholic. And they trailed with less than 10 seconds to play in the regional finals versus Smithville.
Rootstown survived one challenge after another as the crowds — seemingly always strong at Rovers girls basketball games — continued to grow.
"The community around us supporting us, seeing all the eyes looking up at us, just it's really important," Rootstown senior Kelsey Bittecuffer said. "And then, like, it's really motivating."
"Being here and getting the opportunity and just seeing our community and everybody around us supporting us, that's a win in its own
After the vast majority of high school basketball games, coaches and players talk casually with reporters, perhaps just outside the locker room or in the middle of the gymnasium or some hallway.
After a state championship game, many coaches and players get to experience a news conference setting for the first time.
And so Rootstown girls basketball players sat, pained but proud after a 65-46 loss to Columbus Grove in the Division VI state title game.
For most if not all of the players, this was their first news conference, coming after the heartbreak of a magical run reaching its end.
The Rovers reflected on that podium about the game but also what it was like to play in Dayton, which they had been dreaming of since they ventured to Sherrodsville in the summer.
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"The experience has been awesome," Rovers senior guard Addy Germann said. "The team bonding that we created throughout this whole trip, it's been amazing. I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dayton was the dream but the trip there was far more complicated than simply typing UD Arena into the GPS. Rootstown faced serious adversity in the summer when star Nadia Lough tore her ACL.
"Ever since you're a kid, all you want to do is make it to the state championship, and I never thought, with how our summer league went and injuries along the way, that we would be here right now," Rovers junior Colbie Curall said. "It's just so incredible that we have the opportunity to, and that's just props to every single person who shows up early to practice and on the days we have off and all summer long and our coaches who put in so [many] hours."
You must be registered for see images attach
Getting to Dayton was a monthslong, if not yearslong, process.
Rootstown established itself as a serious contender early in the 2024-2025 season with a win over Columbia, which ended up winning 21 games, a district title and coming one game shy of facing the Rovers in a potential rematch in the Region 21 title game. Rootstown added a 22-point victory at Field, which finished as a district runner-up in Division IV, before the calendar changed.
You must be registered for see images attach
But there was also plenty the Rovers had to grapple with, including making the transition from more of a post-oriented attack the past couple of years to small ball in the wake of Brooklynn McIntyre's graduation and Lough's torn ACL. Losing senior Sasha Nichols for the season hurt as well. And then, on the other hand, Rootstown had to integrate Lough back into its system midway through the season.
Of course, that was a very good problem to have, but still the Rovers had work to do.
"Definitely Dayton was a goal for us, but we took it one game at a time," Lough said. "We knew that we had to step and take care of one opponent before we can do another one."
You must be registered for see images attach
If Rootstown dominated throughout much of the regular season, the postseason was a different story. The Rovers had to rally from four points down to start the fourth quarter in the district championship game against LaBrae. They led by only four at the half in the regional semis against Canton Central Catholic. And they trailed with less than 10 seconds to play in the regional finals versus Smithville.
Rootstown survived one challenge after another as the crowds — seemingly always strong at Rovers girls basketball games — continued to grow.
"The community around us supporting us, seeing all the eyes looking up at us, just it's really important," Rootstown senior Kelsey Bittecuffer said. "And then, like, it's really motivating."
You must be registered for see images attach
"Being here and getting the opportunity and just seeing our community and everybody around us supporting us, that's a win in its own
," Lough added. "Obviously, it wasn't the way that we expected the game to go or wanted the game to go, but you have to give Columbus Grove props because they came out and they gave us a good game."
Although the game itself was a hard one, with the Bulldogs jumping out to a 20-2 lead in the first quarter, the experience was one the Rovers will never forget.
"At the end of the day, the outcome is what the outcome is, but it doesn't take away this experience and it doesn't take away the hard work of all these teammates," Curall said. "And the trip to Dayton within itself was so much fun, and I would never take back a single thing that happened."
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Rootstown girls basketball reflects on the Dayton experience
Continue reading...
Although the game itself was a hard one, with the Bulldogs jumping out to a 20-2 lead in the first quarter, the experience was one the Rovers will never forget.
"At the end of the day, the outcome is what the outcome is, but it doesn't take away this experience and it doesn't take away the hard work of all these teammates," Curall said. "And the trip to Dayton within itself was so much fun, and I would never take back a single thing that happened."
You must be registered for see images attach
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Rootstown girls basketball reflects on the Dayton experience
Continue reading...
