Ohio is a banged up basketball team. On Monday, forward Gabby Burris was in a boot, Dominique Doseck was reeling from the effects of a sinus infection and multiple players were unable to practice.
But by Wednesday night, the Bobcats were ready to play.
Ohio put all its bumps, bruises and boils behind itself to welcome conference rival Miami to The Convo. Miami was the bigger, stronger squad, and Ohio knew it would have to showcase toughness and grit to win.
The Bobcats competed hard throughout the game. Unfortunately for them, they would have to show toughness after it to deal with a 67-61 heartbreaking loss.
“We have a bad taste in our mouth,” senior forward Olivia Bower said. “The next however many days at practice, we know we really have to focus in and get ourselves back on track.”
That’s exactly what the Bobcats need, mental focus. And to be honest, a physical break.
Ohio (17-2, 6-2 Mid American Conference) can play but is never at 100 percent. That problem showcased itself again when the Bobcats were forced to play sophomore forward Gabby Burris on limited minutes.
Burris finished with five points and two rebounds in 14 minutes. Burris was out with a lower leg injury that kept her from playing in Ohio’s previous game. Coach Bob Boldon was just happy that she was able to go, limited or not.
“We were hoping to get to 15 (minutes) we got to 14,” Boldon said. “But those were 14 good minutes. It was good to see her back out there.”
The Bobcats are a different team without Burris. She has the team’s high plus/minus ratio and is the Bobcats best rebounder. Her absence could explain why Ohio’s only scored three points in the fourth quarter.
But Burris wasn’t the only one playing hurt. Junior guard Amani Burke had a busted lip the entire fourth quarter, and point guard Cece Hooks looked as is if every time she had to pick herself up off The Convo floor was harder than the last.
After having to battle with Miami throughout the entire game, it was just too much at the end.
Miami’s Leah Purvis went 1-of-8 from 3-point range the entire game. But her one make came with 12.7 seconds left to give Miami a four-point lead. Ohio showcased its toughness the entire game just to have its heart broken.
“It was pretty deflating,” Boldon said. “You’ve got to give that kid a lot of credit... you’re happy for those kids but it sucks that it wasn’t for our team.”
Ohio entered Wednesday night’s game physically hurting and left with mental pain. It is Ohio’s fourth consecutive loss to the RedHawks and its second loss on the season. Product to a grinding MAC schedule that’s relentless.
But this is what Ohio has to go through in order to stay in the hunt for the MAC championship. The Bobcats understand why they go through the pain, and because of that, they don’t gripe about it.
“These kids are a lot tougher than they appear because they don’t let you know that they’re hurt,” Boldon said. “To me, that’s the sign of toughness.”
