Matt McCarthy/The Daily News NIAGARA’S ALYSSA CRETTON eyes her options while guarded by Oneida Nation’s M’Kenzey Ackley during Thursday’s sectional semifinal at Elcho, Wis.

ELCHO, Wis. — Losing is never easy. But when a season ends in the midst of a postseason run, the disappointment stings even more.

In a closely-contested game, Niagara went down in defeat 58-54 at the hands of undefeated Oneida Nation, in a WIAA Division 5 girls basketball sectional semifinal Thursday night at the Elcho High School Gymnasium.

With 27 seconds remaining in the contest, Niagara senior Cassie Gill drained a 3-pointer, to get the Badgers within two at 56-54. But on the ensuing possession, the Thunderhawks sealed the win with free throws.

“I knew tonight was going to be a dog fight, as I told Coach (Karl) Lamoreaux that as I was talking to him earlier,” said O-N head coach Lee Laster. “I figured it would come down to the last possession or two of the game, and it did.”

“Niagara had been playing some excellent ball at the end of the regular season, going in to the tournament,” Lamoreaux said. “We game planned to put a double on No. 5 (Jessica) Oratch, but she was still able to get the ball in the paint and score.”

Oratch led Niagara with 16 points. Gill posted a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, and senior Jasmine Racine scored 10 points in the trio’s final game in a Niagara uniform.

Oneida’s Sadie Schuman led all scorers with 20 points, while M’Kenzey Ackley netted 16 points in the win, to improve to 25-0 on the season.

The game began with the Lady Thunderhawks jumping out to an early 6-0 lead, draining two 3-point field goals, while swarming the ball on defense, making it difficult for the Badgers to get into an offensive rhythm. But only at first.

The Badgers kept pace with Oneida early on by applying pressure on the basketball three-quarter to full court at times in the first half, but also throughout the game. The Thunderhawks perimeter sharp shooting continued Throughout the first half, though late in the half Niagara took the lead 20-14.

Oneida Nation battled back to tie the game at 20-20, and couple of minutes later they regained the lead at 23-20 and did not relinquish it for the rest of the game. As the buzzer sounded for the end of the first half, Abby House drained a deep 3-pointer for the Thunderhawks, to give them a six-point edge to take into the half.

In the second half, both teams slowed the tempo of their offenses for the most part, running plays out of half court sets. The Badgers, who had been pressing and trapping the ball off and on in the first half, returned to using the same concept at times in the second half.

Late in the second half, Racine’s quickness off of the dribble showed, as she beat defenders for a couple of scoring opportunities. Oneida seemed to be a tad more patient than the Badgers in half court sets in the second half, which generated a few good looks at the basket, scoring on a couple of those opportunities.

Lamoreaux was disappointed to see his team’s season end.

“It was a great game, the girls played well, played hard and played with heart,” he said. “There was no quit in them tonight and I am very proud of them. They (Oneida Nation) don’t make mistakes. They are well coached and keep the mistakes to a minimum.”

The Thunderhawks are accustomed to great free throw shooting, however they were barely 50% from the charity strip on the night, but the Badgers failed to take advantage of some of those misses Lamoreaux noted.

Lamoreaux also said that Oneida’s sharp shooting in the first half, 8-for-11 from behind the arc, led the Badgers to switch up their defense in the second half.

“Our switch took away the 3-point shot, but then Schuman got loose in the lane a few times and scored,” said Lamoreaux.

“I wouldn’t have had this game to any other way,” Laster said. “Yes we won, but it was a great game between us and a conference opponent, which is great. The Marinette-Oconto Conference has been strong since we joined it and prior to that. It’s amazing playing a conference opponent in a sectional game.”

Niagara had many ups and downs in their season, mainly due to injuries from the senior leadership. Gill missed several games due to a foot injury, while Racine missed games from a reoccurring knee injury and being in concussion protocol.

“At one point in the season, I told the girls that I wasn’t sure if we’ll win the rest of our games, or lose the rest of them,” said Lamoreaux. “But we had some other girls step in and play hard and play well, in the absence of our injured seniors. I have no complaints from the season, they all gave everything they had every game.”

The Badgers say goodbye to eight seniors, who played their last game in the sectional semifinal: Gill, Racine, Oratch, Jaida Maki, Olivia Brasure, Sydney Dunkes, Destany Bourassa and Jayden Payette.

“We’ve seen a lot of gymnasiums together, I am going to miss them all,” Lamoreaux said.

The Badgers finished the season 16-9.

Oneida Nation 31 27 — 58

Niagara 25 29 — 54

ONEIDA NATION: M. Ackley 16, House 3, R. Ackley, Danforth 4, Jacobs 7, Schuman 20, King 2.

FT: 12-23. F: 15. Fouled Out: None. 3-point FG: Schuman (2), Jacobs, M. Ackley (4), R. Ackley. Rebounds: 22. FG Shooting: 19-46.

NIAGARA: Oratch 16, Racine 10, Cretton 6, Gill 15, Maki 7. FT: 9-13. F: 18. Fouled Out: None. 3-point FG: Maki, Gill (2). Rebounds: 29 (Gill 12, Oratch 7). FG shooting: 21-43.

Matt McCarthy can be reached at 906-774-2772 ext: 222 or mmccarthy@ironmountaindailynews.com