Despite the terrific run Greenon has had this season, the eyeball test told you before the game even started that they were in big trouble. Their opponents, the Kenton Ridge Cougars (16-3) simply looked bigger and more athletic, boasting a starting line-up with an average height of 5’11 compared to Greenon’s 5’8.

The Knights played a gritty game, but the old adage, “you can’t teach size” came heavily into play, and in the end, Greenon was simply overwhelmed with Kenton Ridge’s athleticism, size and depth on the way to a 75-57 loss that ended their season and the careers of Kyra Dorney & Allie Turner.

The Knights, who never led in the contest, dug themselves a hole they never truly climbed out of by turning the ball over on their first three possessions as Kenton Ridge broke out to an early 10-0 lead. Turner scratched and clawed for every point she got helping her team close the gap to 12-10 near the end of the quarter, but the first quarter and the game entire belonged to Kenton Ridge sophomore Mariah Harris, who scored 7 in the period and finished it off emphatically with a block on the defensive end and leading the resultant fast break ending in a beautiful wrap around pass to running mate Lonnie Lassiter for a bucket at the buzzer and a 24-15 Cougar lead.

Kenton Ridge Head Coach Ed Foulk in explaining his strategy simply stated:  “We were stronger inside than Greenon. We had a little size on them so we tried to work into the post.”

The gigantic mismatch that Greenon faced was never more obvious than when 5’8 Knight guard Whitney Robinson was found guarding 6’5 Cougar Alicia Ware, but in truth the Knights were nearly a head shorter with a shorter wingspan and (forgive me ladies) many pounds lighter across the board which caused many defensive and rebounding issues.

In an attempt to slow down the Goliaths, Knights Head Coach did the only sensible thing: “We wanted to pressure their bigs and we didn’t rebound well so we tried to pack the d(efense) down low and make them shoot to beat us.”

Unfortunately, this strategy that had worked to perfection just days ago against a Northwestern team, did not fare as well against a very well balanced Kenton Ridge squad. With Scott pounding it down low, Cougar guards Lindsey Fenwick and Saira House were shooting daggers from the outside with deadly results.

“I thought we were prepared,” Falkenbach mused, “but (Kenton Ridge) played hard tonight. They have weapons everywhere, and they made some big shots against us. They have Division 1A players who will be going to the next level and you can’t guard them all.”

Indeed not. Mariah Scott finished with 23 with House adding 15 and Fenwick 14 as Kenton Ridge with the win advanced in the CBC tournament to play Indian Lake at Xenia High School this Saturday.

Greenon displayed tremendous heart in an attempt to hang in with a clearly superior team, but they simply could not close the gap as they were down 47-32 at the half and 59-41 at the end of 3.

As the clock wound down and the Knight’s comeback hopes faded, the night became less about the game and all about the farewells. The crowd became deathly silent and the enormity of the moment could be felt when, pulled from the game with 30 seconds remaining, the notoriously hard nosed and fiery Dorney was moved to tears in a long embrace with her head coach. Displaying her trademark heart and tremendous effort against bigger and stronger players, Dorney had a double-double in her swan song scoring 11 and pulling down 13 rebounds (unofficial).

Seconds later Greenon pulled Turner, their all time leading scorer (2,065) out of the game for the last time to a standing ovation by fans and teammates alike.

An obviously moved Falkenbach said of Turner: “Every one of her teammates has learned so much by being on the same team as Allie. They have been inspired by her and seen what you can do with hard work. She has been a dream come true for a coach.”

Turner, despite constant double teams, scored a game high 25, her last points on a deep three swish.

“We tried to hold down Turner,” K.R. Coach Ed Foulk explained. “but she is a bear. What did she score 25? Any slip ups and she will bury a three. We tried to double Allie off of picks and slide the defense to her, and she still got 25…but she can score 40!”

And what of Turner’s  future:

“I’m excited to go (to Morehead State), but is sad to leave high school. It’s been a great four years. We’ve become like a family. That closeness made a difference this year and made it special. I’m holding my emotions in right now,” a completely composed Turner stated after the game.

Others couldn’t quite keep their feelings hidden.

“Why is everybody crying?” she could be overheard saying.

Perhaps she cannot see, the answer is so simple. But her teammates and fans see it all too clearly, and their grief is overwhelming. Her greatness has moved on. And though everyone wishes her the best, and will cherish and remember her greatness as a player, leader, student and person, “the heart yearns not for fond memories”, and Allie Turner will be immeasurably missed and impossible to replace at Greenon.