SHELBYVILLE – Following Eastern Hancock’s 45-29 loss to Brownstown Central during Saturday's Class 2A semistate final, Mike White, father of forward Ruby White, gathered his crying daughter into his arms.  The 6-1 senior was visibly emotional as she walked out of the locker room.

“You could go back and change some things you did, but the outcome is what it is and you have to be proud of how far you came and what we’ve accomplished,” Ruby said.

IHSAA girls basketball: See who punched ticket to state finals

Her father spoke comforting words as they embraced.  Ruby knew it was her final game as a Royal.

“I’ve made so many friendships,” she said. “I’ve met so many people through the game of basketball. You can’t trade those for the world, so that’s really what’s been amazing.”

No. 3 Eastern Hancock (25-1) was stunned as Brownstown Central (19-9) gathered into the middle of the court at William L. Garrett Memorial Gymnasium at Shelbyville High School after the final buzzer and celebrated after punching their ticket to the state championship. The Braves out-dueled the Royals, especially in the second half, when Eastern Hancock coach Shari Doud believes fatigue from their overtime victory over Sheridan earlier in the morning played a critical factor.

“This is not a sour grapes thing, but the IHSAA does an injustice to any semistate tournament for any team by playing two games in a day,” Doud said. “It’s ridiculous.  That’s not an excuse.  Brownstown Central had to play two games as well.  Win or lose for either team, it’s too much in one day for these kids.”

The Royals were off to a nice start, holding a six-point lead with 1:20 left in the first quarter.  But two 3-pointers from Brownstown Central guard Jenna Klosterman and forward Addison Darlage in the final minute of the period erased the lead. Doud became concerned with stamina at that point.

“We came out in the first quarter looking like the team we always have,” she said. “I was concerned about us not having a lot of gas left in our tank from our overtime game in the morning. It started to show.”

The Royals were able to retake the lead after senior Sammie Bolding drained a 3-pointer to open the second quarter, but Darlage responded with a 3 of her own to tie the score again.  Freshman Kenzie Koch’s bucket with 4:59 remaining in the half was the last time Eastern Hancock led.

The Braves proceeded to go on a 6-0 run to close the quarter and take a lead they would not relinquish, and opened up the second half with an 8-0 run to seal the victory.

“You play a team as disciplined and patient and gritty as Brownstown Central, and you don’t have a full tank of gas, it’s going to affect you,” Doud said.

Eastern Hancock had no answers for Harley Toppe to open the second half. Toppe, who led the Braves in scoring, gave Brownstown Central an 8-0 run inside the first four minutes of the third period.  When asked about the game’s turning point, White pointed to the start of the second half.

“Those first three minutes are crucial,” White said.  “I think we just failed to get something going.”

Eastern Hancock was held to just 10 points in the second half. Koch, a freshman sensation who averages 19 points per game, was held to just eight.

“Just trying to contain her (is difficult),” Brownstown Central coach Brandon Allman said. “Our zone creates some issues, and we try to take away some of those driving lanes, so we were able to do that. Defensively, to hold them to 10 points in the second half, just a whale of an effort."

Doud said Eastern Hancock will lose five seniors to graduation, but is still very hopeful for the team’s future next season.

“We have a nice nucleus of kids that got a lot of experience this year,” Doud said. “We will still be a very competitive team.”

Brownstown Central, who pulled off a 48-41 victory over Linton-Stockton earlier in the day, will play Fort Wayne Bishop Luers for the 2A state championship next Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana girls basketball: Eastern Hancock leggy in semistate loss