DURHAM – While it certainly wasn’t the way the third-seeded Etna Lady Lions wanted to end their season – a 67-42 loss to the second-seeded Durham Trojans – the team still accomplished a lot this year.

The Lady Lions had their first 20-win season since 04-05 (22-7 in 04-05 and this season), and made it as far as the semi-finals for the first time since 04-05. For the second straight year, Etna also captured at least a share of the Shasta Cascade League championship.

As for the final game, let’s just say the Durham Lady Trojans must have thought Thanksgiving came early, as they carved up Etna’s zone defense and dished out a healthy serving of points in the paint. At the other end, Durham played in-your-face defense that seemed to frustrate Etna.

The game was competitive through most of the first three quarters, and Etna showed signs that it might be able to rally. But, Durham was just too well coached, too disciplined, and too fundamentally sound for the Lady Lions to handle.

After Durham went out to a 4-0 lead, Tandy Thackeray took a pass from Paige Finley and converted a breakaway bucket, to get Etna on the board. A freebie from Annaleisa Nadig made it 4-3. Durham went up 8-5, before a put back by Abby Journey closed the gap to a single point, 8-7. Etna would not be that close again.

Back-to-back old fashion 3-point plays by the Lady Trojans upped their advantage to 14-7. A steal by Finley led to a transition hoop by Emily Loogman, 14-9. Journey then connected with Loogman on a nice back door cut to make the score 14-11. Durham led 18-11 after one quarter.

Durham extended its lead to nine points early in the second quarter, 21-12. Nadig grabbed a loose ball in the paint and turned it into a basket, 21-14. Nadig put up two more points off a dish from Finley, 21-16. Durham grew its advantage back to nine points, 25-16. Nadig took a sweet pass from Trina Appler and wound up with three points the hard way, closing the deficit to six points, 25-19, with 2:43 left in the first half. When the teams went to the locker room, Durham led 31-20.

The Lady Lions made one final push to open the second half. Nadig scored off a feed from Loogman, 31-22. Durham added two from the charity stripe, 33-22. Nadig got hammered in the paint and converted a 3-point play, 33-25. A steal-n-score by Finley made it 33-27. After a Durham free throw, Loogman drove for a deuce, to bring the Lady Lions to within five points, 34-29, with 5:38 on the clock.

That, however, was the last time the Lady Lions appeared to have a chance for a come back. By the end of the third quarter, Durham led 48-36. A 19-6 scoring advantage by Durham in the final frame put away the Lady Lions, as the Lady Trojans (26-3) went on to win, 67-42.

Annaleisa Nadig led the Lady Lions, going 6/7 from the field and putting up 15 points. Nadig also hauled in 5 rebounds, had 4 rejections, and came up with 3 swipes. Paige Finley had 10 points, 5 steals, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds. Emily Loogman put up 7 points. Trina Appler had 6 boards.

Durham was led by Ellen Carstensen with 23 points. She also had 5 steals, 4 boards, and 4 assists. Casey McHargue and Rebecca Dennis each scored 11 points, and Caitlin Benson had 10 points for the Lady Trojans.

Durham will face top-seeded Hamilton (27-2) for the NSCIF D-V championship on Saturday at Chico State at 2:30 pm.