Versailles falls in state title game.
“I wouldn’t trade my team for any team in the state. These seniors are special.”
By George Starks

COLUMBUS- It was with a very heavy heart when Versailles coach Jackie Stonebreaker was forced to say goodbye to a host of seniors Saturday after the state final loss to Columbus Africentric.

After falling behind early in the first quarter (6-0) the Tigers were never able to recover, losing to the Nubians, 49-37.

There are many keys to winning in basketball and one is to protect the ball.

Something the Tigers were not able to do, committing 24 turnovers.

Nearly twice as many as the Nubians (14).

Bottom line; there is no substitute for speed and quickness.

"We knew going into the game we had to protect the ball," said Stonebreaker in the post game interview. "They were a bad matchup for us. We rely on our athletic ability. They were too quick for us."

Versailles trailed at all the stops, 16-6, 29-20 and 41-26 before falling 49-37.

Afrincentric was led by Sierra Harley with 14 points while Alexis Parks added 12.

With the loss, Versailles brought home the silver as the state runners-up.

It was the second time in the history the girls program brought home state trophies. Versailles won state in 2008 with Justine Raterman at the helm. It was the sixth time the Versailles girls had made it to the state final four.

The loss brought the curtain down on the storied careers of nine seniors as Stonebreaker saluted Emily Harman. Krista Putoff, Brooke Pothast, Chole Warvel, Katie Heckman, Rachel Kremer, Amanda Winner, Olivia Schlater and Courtney Prenger.

Harman and Putoff scored nine points each to lead Versailles while Pothast added seven.

Versailles finished with a 24-4 record.