TAYLORSVILLE—The Farmington High girls basketball team narrowly lost to Springville 39-38 in the 5A state championship game at Salt Lake Community College on March 6. Senior Abigail Ferrell hit a jump shot in the key with less than 10 seconds to put the Phoenix up by one point before the Red Devils rushed up the court and Ellie Esplin found Lauryn Deede cutting to the basket for a layup just as time expired.

“We were just nine seconds away from the championship,” Farmington head coach Van Price said. “Talk about the joy of victory one second and the agony of defeat the next. That’s hard, but I’m still so proud of these girls.”

Senior Valerie Kunzler said the energy and emotions were high before the contest, during the entire game and then following the final bucket. “It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced,” she said. “Things were intense and kind of stressful, but at the same time it was such a cool environment and experience to play in.”

Junior Delaney Baker said the team felt “calmer than expected” going into the championship game. “But once we saw their defense, we were a bit shocked and knew this was going to be a super tough defense to break down,” she said. “The entire game was a fight and neither team was getting tired or backing down. Once the last quarter came, we knew we had to keep our composure and focus simply on scoring on offense and keep them from scoring on defense.”

Ferrell said that it felt “unreal” to achieve their goal of making it to the title game. 

“We are all very grateful for our experience, an experience that a very limited number of people get to feel,” she said. “The last quarter was really exciting and stressful, but those are the funnest games when they challenge everyone the most. We knew we had to give everything we had and I know that we all left it all out there.”

“Coach Price told us at the beginning of state that in order to win it all that you not only needed to have the skill and effort but also the luck,” Baker said. “Winning a game on a last second buzzer beater proves that statement to be true and unfortunately the luck wasn’t in our hands.”

At the 5A state championships this past week, the number-one seeded Phoenix played three more games after their first-round bye and 16-point win over Orem in the second round. In the quarterfinals against No. 9 Skyline March 2, Farmington won 50-43 with Kunzler knocking down four 3-pointers and scoring 20 points while senior Amber Beddes added 13 points and five rebounds. 

Against No. 4 Olympus in the semifinals March 5, Farmington won 59-37 behind 13 points each from Kunzler and Baker and 11 by Beddes. Baker crashed the boards for 10 rebounds as well.

“I feel our team really came together and started to play our best once the state tournament started and especially once we made it to SLCC,” Baker said. “We didn’t get too far ahead of ourselves and took everything one game at a time and focused on what we needed to do to win each of those games. We played together and trusted each other to do our parts to win the games.”

“The state tournament played out just like we wanted,” Price said. “The games were tough and we met every challenge along the way to make it to the championship game.”

In the title matchup, Springville was ahead much of the game, taking a five-point lead into halftime before Farmington battled back to within one to start the final quarter – which was a barn-burner with the lead switching back and forth throughout the final eight minutes between the two teams.

“We knew they would be a challenge,” Price said. “We got down early and the offense didn’t come easy but we kept chipping away. It was a great year and a great state tournament for us.”

Baker had a 16-point, eight-rebound performance to lead the Phoenix.

“I couldn’t be prouder of a team than I am with this team, the way they handled everything.  We didn’t know if we would even have a season and we had some players get COVID and others had to be quarantined due to COVID,” Price said. “In spite of that to go undefeated in region play and to get the number one seed and RPI going into the tournament didn’t come without a lot of sacrifice and hard work.”

Kunzler said the team came together and “gave it their all.” “Our team ball was the best it’s ever been,” she said. “Our defense was awesome. I honestly couldn’t be prouder and more grateful to have been a part of this team. Although it was hard the way it ended, we have a lot to be proud about.”

“We have gone through a lot together and accomplished so many things this year that many people and teams doubted. Nothing was given to us. We worked for every little thing,” Ferrell said. “I know of a surety that we came out stronger people from state than when we started. Although we didn’t get the outcome we were hoping for, our experience will end up helping us for the better.”

Also on the squad that finished with a record of 20-2 were juniors Kaitlyn Clark, Abby Crane, Claire Crump, Carley Olsen, Jayden Shields and Talin Stimpson; and sophomores Whitney Avei, Courtney Christiansen, Kate Geddes and Madison Hauck.

“The girls did everything I asked of them and more,” Price said. “They had each other’s backs and really came together.  They are true champions in the game and in life.  I couldn’t ask of them anything more than that.”

“I love my teammates and coaches so very much,” Ferrell said. “We have a relationship beyond basketball. We are a family. I’m blessed to have played the sport I love with the people I love. We have helped each other become better teammates and better people. There’s no one else I would rather want to walk on the court with than them.” 

“Most of our varsity girls have been playing with each other for the last three years since the school opened,” Baker said. “We have had to learn 50-plus plays together from scratch, learn to trust not only each other but the coaches, and go through the toughest practices and games. But, we did this all together the whole time and it provided us with a team chemistry like none of us have ever experienced before. We learned more than just basketball this season and it is a season that none of us will ever forget.”