Priory girls fall short in state basketball final

Gabby Ruiz used to play against Tatiana Reese in middle school. She’s happier to have played with her.

“One day I wanted to be where she was at,” Ruiz said after Priory lost to Rolling Hills Prep, 57-53, in the girls state Division IV basketball championship game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on Friday morning. “I got the chance to play on the same AAU team and then in high school. I’m so proud of her. She started this. No matter where she goes, there are great things ahead of her.”

Reese scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and recorded a team-high five assists but didn’t play most of the fourth quarter because she fouled out in the first minute.

“I can get over the losses,” Priory coach Buck Matthews said. “Right now I’m hurting for her. I know what this team meant to her. I know how hard everyone worked. She’s everything, the heart and soul of the program.”

Reese knows she will be attending college. She’s been accepted to Oregon, though not as a recruited player. She’s going to use spring break to visit other schools where she might have the opportunity to play basketball too.

“Some of us have played with her for six years,” Priory’s Ana Barton said. “I remember in middle school she’d average, like, 60 points a game and would still want to do better. She was a good leader and we’ll miss her.”

Reese was the lone senior on a team that was in a tie game with 36 seconds remaining to play. The tie was courtesy of Ila Lane’s first attempted 3-pointer that made it 53-53.

Naya Stroud hit a 3-pointer six seconds later to put Rolling Hills ahead to stay. Priory still had a couple of opportunities in the closing seconds before RHP was sent to the line with two seconds remaining.

“They were more aggressive and it showed on the free throw line,” Matthews said. “They had been there before and No. 15 hit an amazing shot. She stepped up and was fearless and knocked it down.”

Lane contributed 20 points, 17 rebounds and six blocked shots. She was easily the best player on the floor in the fourth quarter.

“It was different,” Lane said of playing on an NBA court. “Brighter lights. Once the game got going it felt like any other game.”

Lane shot 12 of Priory’s 15 free throws while Rolling Hills Prep was 24 of 31 from the foul line. The Panthers were called for 23 fouls. They finished the game with three other players having four fouls.

Lane, who has been practicing shooting from long range, heard Matthews telling her to shoot it.

“I didn’t think twice,” Lane said.

Priory committed 18 turnovers and Rolling Hills turned it over seven times.

“It was a great run, a great season,” Matthews said. “We didn’t shoot the ball well and we came up short.”