An emotional loss for senior Fisher

HANCEVILLE — Their hands found their faces quickly — something, anything, to absorb the tears. It only worked so well.

“It’s hard,” Makenna Fisher said after Belgreen’s 45-42 loss to Cold Springs in the Class 2A Northwest Regional final Monday. “It feels like …” “Like someone punched you in the gut,” coach Chad Green said.

“Yeah,” Fisher said. Perhaps no one took it harder than Fisher, whose cheeks were red- dened and streaked well after the final buzzer. Monday marked the point guard’s final game, the last time she’d wear a Belgreen jersey.

There had been hope of having some more time. A trip to the state tournament in Birmingham would have been the ideal spot to spend it. It would have been the Bulldogs’ first state semifinals appearance since they left as champions in 2003.

Instead, that honor went to Cold Springs.

There will be no more practices, no more games, and no more opportunities to impart some wisdom to the younger players.

“She’s the glue of our team,” junior forward Jemma Moore said of Fisher. “She kept us together.”

And Fisher did it while stepping into a new role. She was Belgreen’s leader on the floor, the one who made sure everyone was in the right spot and doing the right thing.

It helped the Bulldogs win a third straight Franklin County championship, a sixth consecutive area title, and a second regional championship game appearance in three years.

“She’s a really, really big part of us,” sophomore guard Randi Terry said. “She knew everything we were supposed to do, and she really picked us up when we needed it.”

It’s why postgame was Fisher’s turn to receive the support, especially with how the regional final ended.

Belgreen had its chances late.

A Lilliana Willingham layup cut the Bulldogs’ deficit to one with 2:45 remaining. But after Willingham came up with a steal on the ensuing inbound, Terry was unable to hit two free throws. Moore then missed a layup attempt at the 1:14 mark.

Cold Springs had trouble closing out the game, too, amid a series of turnovers and failed backto- back layups before Belgreen was forced to foul with 11 seconds left. Ella Dickerson, however, hit both of her free throws.

It left the Bulldogs with one more attempt to tie the game. Moore’s 3-point shot at the buzzer didn’t fall.

Fisher paced the Bulldogs (24-10) with 11 points. Terry and Willingham chipped in nine each.

Dickerson finished with 28 points for the Eagles (22-10).

“Seeing Cold Springs get to go, seeing them happy, I hope they go far,” Fisher said. “But it was nice playing with my teammates.”

It prompted Green to throw out a question of his own.

“Can I redshirt her?” Green asked with a smile.

Unfortunately, no, and that’s what made Monday that much more emotional.