The will of Highland’s girls basketball team was never going to be questioned.

The Hornets, for that, can walk off the court this year with no regrets. They went down swinging.

They also went down missing too many times. Poor shooting from up and down the lineup, coupled with the inability to keep Strongsville off the boards, were Highland’s downfall in a 59-47 loss to the Mustangs in a Medina Division I Sectional final at Strongsville High School.

“I thought we played our hearts out,” Highland coach Andy Gopp said. “I’m sad, but I’ll get over it. Those kids will run through a well for me. I’m going to miss those four seniors.”

Strongsville (12-11) advanced to face Berea-Midpark in a district semifinal. Highland finished 13-11.

Senior Alaina Monroe led the Hornets with 19 points. Junior Emily Lyon added 9. Senior Veronica Peterlin had eight points and a pair of assists. Sophomore Hannah Zuro had 6 points and 10 rebounds.

Strongsville was led by junior Marnae Holland’s 19 points and 14 rebounds. Junior Lindsey Thall had a triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a school-record 14 blocked shots. Senior Brielle Zbydniewski added 14 points and four assists.

The Hornets took an incredible 69 shots – 21 more than the Mustangs – but made just 14 of them for 20 percent. They were 1-of-14 on 3-pointers.

Highland got to the foul line 32 times, converting a somewhat respectable 18, but left points all over the court

Then there was the rebounding. The Mustangs, taller and longer than Highland at every spot, outrebounded the Hornets 52-33.

Strongsville got seven of those rebounds on the offensive end in an early second-half stretch. Holland turned those into four of the points in a 10-0 Mustang run to start the second half. That turned a tight halftime score into a 36-22 cushion.

“That’s what hurt us,” Gopp said. “That third quarter, we didn’t box out and they made the run they needed. This was a game that was going to come down to one run, and they made the run.”

Lyon ended that run with a free throw but the Hornets were in the midst of a 10-minute, 25-second stretch without a field goal. They missed 19 consecutive tries beginning early in the second quarter.

Highland’s poor shooting allowed Strongsville to get away with a 25-turnover night. Playing without starting point guard Drew Robinson (concussion), the Mustangs had trouble controlling the ball.

When Strongsville did get shots, though, it made them. The Mustangs were 24-of-48 from the floor for 50 percent. They made 6-of-16 3-pointers, led by Zbydniewski’s 4-for-8 effort.

Thall’s block total was within range of the state record of 20, and she might have gotten there had she not spent a portion of the night in foul trouble in a heavily officiated game.

Based on his protests to the officials throughout, Gopp thought the Mustang standout should have had a lot more fouls called on her.

“Our whole game plan was go at 25 (Thall),” Gopp said. “By design.”

The Mustangs had two starters, including Thall, and one sub foul out and had another starter with four fouls when the game ended. Strongsville, which attacked the basket almost as much as the Hornets did, shot just nine foul shots, four in the late-going when Highland was fouling on purpose.