Basketball Recap: North Star Takes a Tough Playoff Loss

It's hard to turn regular season success into postseason wins, a fact North Star can now relate to. They fell 55-44 to the Shady Side Academy Bulldogs on Saturday. The Cougars have been going strong on the season, but this is now their second defeat in a row.

Ethan Smith

Steals

03/08/25 vs Shady Side Academy	2
03/03/25 vs McConnellsburg	2
02/27/25 vs Chestnut Ridge	2
02/21/25 vs Everett	2
02/14/25 vs West Branch	3
+ 17 more games

Loss or not, North Star got some senior leadership from Ethan Smith and Andy Retassie. Smith shot 58% from the field on his way to 18 points and eight rebounds, while Retassie posted nine points in addition to seven boards and three steals. Smith is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in each of the last 22 games he's played.

North Star's defeat dropped their record down to 20-7. As for Shady Side Academy, they are on a roll lately: they've won nine of their last ten contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 13-13 record this season.

North Star does not have any more games scheduled as of now. As for Shady Side Academy, they will square off against Trinity on Wednesday. Each of these teams will be battling to keep a three-game winning streak alive.