BERLIN- Stephen Decatur’s girls’ varsity basketball team fell to host Westlake, 67-49, in the 3A-South region championship last Saturday, ending a remarkable season for the Seahawks on the doorstep of the state’s Final Four.
The Decatur girls earned the top-seed in their sectional in the state 3A-South region tournament, but back-to-back snow days forced game postponements early last week forcing the Seahawks to play on back-to-back days. Last Wednesday, the Seahawks cruised past visiting Northern in front of a packed house at Decatur to advance. On Thursday, the Decatur girls routed visiting Northeast, 64-43, in the 3A-South region semifinal to advance to the region championship game.
Decatur did have Friday off and traveled to Westlake on Saturday for the region championship game with a trip to the 3A Final Four on the line. The Seahawks led 29-28 after a fast-paced first half, but Westlake went on a big third-quarter run to take a 46-36 lead. The Seahawks continued to attempt to claw their way back into the contest, but Westlake held on down the stretch to win, 67-49, to win and advance. Marina Jones and Dayona Godwin led Decatur with 13 points each, while Payton VanKirk added nine and Jillian Petito pitched in six.
Despite the outcome, the Seahawks’ season was remarkable by any standard for Coach Amy Fenzel-Mergott’s team. With Erin Florek the only senior on this season’s roster, Decatur’s nucleus remains largely intact for next season.