It ’ s a dream that began in the fall for the Dragons , who returned all five starters from the team that went 21-4 and lost — on a last-second shot — to eventual state runner-up Salem in the 2019-20 sectional final , plus added senior transfer Marissa Gasaway from Louisville Eastern .
What followed was a season full of firsts for the Dragons .
The first Mid-Southern Conference title in program history . The first sectional championship in 10 years . The first-ever regional crown . The first semistate title . And , most importantly , Silver Creek ’ s first state championship .
“ We were just all saying how we were so proud of each other and how we knew that we could do it from the beginning ( of the season ),” junior point guard Kynidi Striverson , Alana ’ s sister , said . “ Just sticking with each other and trusting each other through all of our accomplishments , through all of our ups and downs and just being there for each other . It was just that moment of relief that everything we ’ d done up until that moment had paid off .”
“ The ride ’ s been unbelievable ,” Silver Creek head coach Scott Schoen added . “ To watch a group of kids set
a goal and then to watch them accomplish those things has been unreal . ... This group of kids , I ’ ve never been around a group of kids that sacrificed so much of themselves for something bigger than themselves . This wasn ’ t about the ring . This was all about playing for ( former assistant coach ) Charlie Popp ( who passed away last season ). This was all about playing because of a hurt that we had last year in the sectional . It ’ s about putting something bigger above you and then just striving for that . I love this team and I love these girls , they ’ re going to be on that ( gym ) wall forever .” It ’ s a team that prided itself on its togetherness . “ We were walking to the hotel ( in Indianapolis before
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