The Notre Dame Fighting Irish had nothing to hang their heads about after battling Goodpasture down to the wire in the first round of the TSSAA Division II-A boys’ basketball state tournament. So they didn’t.
The host Irish went out with gusto and nearly pulled off an upset of the top-ranked Cougars, who rallied to a 42-36 victory Wednesday night at Phifer Gym.
Despite the tough loss, the home locker room was not quiet afterward. Instead, it showcased a bunch proud of its accomplishments after facing bleak odds early in the season.
The Irish (17-17) were primed for the postseason thanks to a grueling early schedule that helped them build a seven-game winning streak that lasted until their district final.
“I love this team,” Notre Dame coach Jonathan Adams said. “They sacrificed so much and were tough. We were 2-9 at one point and battled to get all the way to the state tournament. I kept telling people we would be tough in February.”