By ALEX ABATE ~ Sports Writer

FARMINGTON -- Naylor's Hailee Deckard and Greenville's Sara Woodgeard have had some great battles over recent seasons.

However, both players' careers came to an end Saturday afternoon as their respective teams fell in the MSHSAA quarterfinals at the Farmington Civic Center.

The Greenville Lady Bears' season came to an end as they lost 43-34 to Metro in Class 3 while the Lady Eagles fell to Clopton in a Class 2 battle, 65-53.

Lady Bears seniors Sara Woodgeard and Lindsay Henson played their final games in the red and black.

"I couldn't ask for a better group or a better senior class," Greenville coach Diane Meyer said. "It's the way they stood behind each other."

The Lady Bears won their district and followed that with a win over Portageville in which they came from behind in the fourth quarter.

"We have come a long way to get here," Meyer said. "We beat a very good team to get to these state quarterfinals and then beat a lot of good teams on the way -- very physical teams."

The Lady Bears got to this point in 2002-03 before losing but they were a Class 2 team during that season.

"We won games that were big in our eyes and we fought through a lot of adversity to get here," Meyer said.

Woodgeard finished the game with 14 points, eight of those coming in the second half with her team trailing.

"Sara is one of those kids that there is not another kid on the earth like her," Meyer said. "Sara is just one of those kids that you do not get the chance to coach all the time."

With only two seniors on this years' team, the Lady Bears will have solid talent coming back this next season. Kaylin Becker and Miranda Stewart will be back for their senior seasons and Tara Porter will be in the post as a junior. Even with the talent, it will be hard to replace Woodgeard, Meyer said.

"To be honest, I don't think we (can) fill her shoes," Meyer said. "I don't think her shoes are fillable. There is going to be different types of shoes that are going to be coming in to fill a gap on the team -- it is going to be a totally different ballgame next year but we are going to have fun."

Woodgeard liked how her team came together through this postseason run, even down to her final game.

"Kaylin (Becker) came out and scored the first few points and that is what it takes is everybody as a team," Woodgeard said. "We played and gave it all and got further than we wanted. We got districts and everything else was just extra."

For Naylor, Hailee Deckard and Charissa Bridges played in their final high school game.

"Hailee has been a great player for us and I think she is going to do well at the next level," assistant coach Gene Deckard said. "This year, we weren't just about Hailee, we had some other girls step up. We are going to miss both her and Charissa, who hit some big 3s tonight."

Although the Lady Eagles are losing some major contributors, they have some key parts that will be back for next year's run. Cheyenne Hollowell and Courtney Sullivan will be key returnees.

"We had a talk in the locker room and all the juniors and sophomores and freshman, I think it made them a little bit more determined," Gene Deckard said. "We are going to make another run next year."

As Hailee was a major leader on the court this season, coach Deckard is hoping the underclassmen can make a seamless transition.

"We are going to work with four or five girls that can handle the ball and get them under control," coach Deckard said. "I think we will be all right next year."