CANTON -- After missing its final two season-extending desperation shots, the LaBrae High basketball

CANTON -- After missing its final two season-extending desperation shots, the LaBrae High basketball team walked out of the Canton Fieldhouse with respect.
Despite a "big man's triple-double" (20 points, 12 rebounds, 10 blocks) by Loudonville's Kyle Gillette, the Vikings (19-5) had two chances in the final minute to produce three points for a tie.
But 3-point shot attempts by senior Todd Rowan and junior Danny Hartman missed the marks, allowing Loudonville (21-3) to win Thursday's regional semifinal, 48-47.
"I thought we did well in the last two minutes," LaBrae coach Gregg Isler said. "We worked the ball well and got it into the hands of the guys we wanted to get it. It just didn't go."
Loudonville coach Mark Schlabach said, "We feel very fortunate. LaBrae had a tremendous game plan -- they defended us as well as anyone has this year. They took Trevor Scott right out of the game."
In the final three minutes, Vikings senior Jason Frederick made two free throws to cut the Redbirds' lead to 46-45.
After the Vikings gobbled up 75 seconds and then lost the ball, the Redbirds' Logan Scott sank two free throws for a 3-point edge.
Rowan's final shot of his varsity career bounced off the rim to a Redbird.
Rowan had 'a good look'
"They did a really good job of defending the perimeter," Isler said. "Todd got a good look -- it wasn't meant to be."
Two missed free throw attempts with 10 seconds to go gave the Vikings one last possession.
After Hartman's attempt fell short, Eric Hart scored from underneath at the buzzer. Loudonville wisely left him alone, leaving LaBrae one point short.
"It was a good run and the community is all excited," Rowan said. "It feels a little disappointing now but I'm proud of our team."
Isler said there is no need to "make any excuses for finishing 19-5 and losing by one point in the regional. Our goals all year were to play with class, work hard and have some fun. I know we did that tonight."
That the Vikings were even in the game in the second half is a testament to their ability to play from behind, as they had all season long.
Trailing 25-14 in the second quarter, two baskets by Hartman and one each by Rowan and brother Kyle cut the gap to 27-22 at halftime.
"We've gotten [behind] all year so we didn't think they were going to run away with it," Todd Rowan said.
Halfway through the third quarter, Hartman's basket and free throw tied the game, 29-29.
In the fourth quarter, the game seesawed until Gillette made two free throws and then a putback basket to put the Redbirds ahead for keeps.
Gillette a huge factor
Isler and Rowan agreed the 6-foot-8-inch Gillette's superb play was hard to overcome.
"[He provided] a tough matchup for us," Isler said. "They took their time and got him the ball."
As for trying to score from underneath, Rowan said, "It was almost impossible to get a shot off. It seemed as if he hit it every time."
Rowan and Hartman each scored 13 points while Frederick had eight.
Gillette scored 12 points in the first half, prompting a change.
"We were able to move our defense up in the second half," Isler said of the strategy of stopping Gillette. "I wasn't sure we could do that the full game. We had to be able to pace ourselves."
Scott finished with 11 points and Matt Rooks scored 10 for the Redbirds, who will play Cleveland VASJ on Saturday for a state berth. In the other semifinal, VASJ defeated Salem district winner Rootstown, 61-45.