Staff photo / Brian Yauger Kennedy junior Gianna Pompelia (2) drives to the basket during Thursday’s regional semifinal against Danbury in Massillon. Pompelia scored eight points for the Eagles.

MASSILLON — Kennedy’s historic season came to a close on Thursday, falling in the regional semifinal round, 62-36, to the Danbury Lakers.

While they battled hard in the first half, playing Danbury tight, the Eagles just couldn’t hold on.

“It was what I was worried about,” Kennedy coach Marc Morgan said. “They had been here before and gotten into some foul trouble. Our bench isn’t very deep. It was at the start of the year, but this was just not a healthy basketball team coming into this environment against a very seasoned, smart basketball team. I knew that if we could hang around with them a little bit and keep it close, we’d be okay, but as soon as they made a run, we just couldn’t find our way.

“Obviously it’s a different game (at this time of year, and Danbury) is more seasoned and knows how to break a press a lot better than most teams. We couldn’t get into that up-tempo offense while we’re getting trade-offs for makes and misses.”

The Lakers went on a tear to end the first half, turning a 23-22 deficit into an eight-point lead at the break.

That lead extended into the third quarter as Danbury pushed its lead further.

Sophomore Laney Condoleon led the Eagles with nine points. Gianna Pompelia scored eight.

Kennedy’s season ends with a 17-7 mark and a roller coaster effort. Without the help of star point guard Didi Ryan, the Eagles still won the program’s first district crown.

With just two seniors on the roster in Addy Odille and Aniyah Johnson, the Eagles return much of their core, including Pompelia and Ryan.

The return of those key pieces as well as this regional experience sets Kennedy up nicely for next season.

Now begins the work to make a trip back next year.

“Realistically, this team’s catalysts are sophomores and juniors,” Morgan said. “We had some freshmen who had gotten some minutes in this last month, so really developing the depth and getting some kids that you really don’t play as much some minutes, I think in the long run, in addition to these kids now being in this environment (will benefit).

“I don’t care what summer league you play in. I don’t care what regular season game you play in. You can’t duplicate the feeling of playing in this game. This team (Danbury) last year lost and then they came and won. Now it’s your job to work at it and get up for that.”