McKendree denies Cougars’ comeback

Columbia College guard Laura Elliot blanketed McKendree’s Katie Hasheider as Hasheider moved the ball up the court. Suzi Gerler, another McKendree player came up from the paint, unbeknownst to Elliot. With arms crossed, elbows pointed outward near shoulder level, Gerler set a screen for Hasheider. When Hasheider drove left, Elliot’s face mashed into the elbows, whipping her neck back like a rag doll’s.

The pain in Elliot’s eyes for that split second was seen throughout the crowd during the heartbreaking 69-56 loss for the Cougars (18-13) on Wednesday in a semifinal of the American Midwest Conference Tournament.

While McKendree built an early lead, fans slouched back in their chairs. Some were stroking beards or chins, and others were massaging their temples, wondering how the Cougars had come out so flat against their rivals in such an important game.

Halftime could not come soon enough for the Cougars and their followers. The Cougars trudged to the locker room at the half down 35-20, heads hanging low.

Right before the second half began, coach Mike Davis attempted to inject some life into his players. While huddled up, Davis shouted and gestured wildly, with the vein near his temple throbbing madly.

The team apparently got his message. Down 17 around the 18 minute mark, the Cougars began their valiant comeback.

Cheers filled the Arena of Southwell Complex while the Cougars cut points off the lead. Shrill whistles and chants for the Cougars to play “DEEE-FENSE” erupted from the student section.

McKendree continued to let Columbia College into the game by missing free throws, and the student section, once reclining in the bleachers, became raucous and rose to its feet.

Cougars forward Rachel Davis hit a 3-pointer with 7:03 left to put the Cougars up 50-49, and everyone went berserk. The crowd had come to its feet. A silver-haired woman just beneath the press box even put away her banana-yellow crocheting to lend her voice.

McKendree went back up 51-50 less than a minute later, and never relinquished the lead. Cougars fans desperately clung to the hope of a comeback, but it was in vain.

The reality that this was how Columbia College’s season was going to end began to sink in. Jessica “Bunny” Wilkerson gripped a towel tightly around the back of her neck. Elliot tried to keep herself together on the court, brushing away the tears welling in her eyes.

The once thunderous crowd had gone silent with the exception of a purple pocket of McKendree supporters, rejoicing in the team’s imminent victory.

The game ended, and to Mike Davis, the story was nothing new.

“We can be very good and very mediocre, sometimes even in the same half,” he said. “We’ve gone through conference the last few years winning lots of games. When that happens, sometimes teams will take out past frustrations.”

The loss marks the end of the season for the team, and the end of three seniors’ careers. Forward Amanda Koetting had the emotion hit her in the locker room.

“When I was taking my shoes off after the game, I realized it was the last time I was going to be doing it,” she said before choking up and sobbing. “I’ve been playing since I could walk — it’s going to be really hard not having that.”