FREDERICK, Md. – The Smithsburg girls basketball team could be considered “well-traveled.”
The Leopards have gone places and accomplished things that other teams could only dream of attaining.
But Tuesday, Smithsburg found itself in the one place it had never been in the 2025-26 season. … on the short end of the scoreboard.
Southern Garrett, the tournament’s fourth seed, took No. 1 Smithsburg to the limit – and then some – as the Rams scratched out a 63-59 overtime victory at Thomas Johnson High School.
Southern earns a trip to this weekend’s final against Pikesville at University of Maryland-Baltimore County.
For Smithsburg, it ends what had been an undefeated season. The season ended again in the second straight state semifinal matchup. And for the second straight year, it came at the hands of Southern.
“I think we just witness one of the best high school games in a lifetime,” said Smithsburg coach Todd Bono. “Both teams drained by the end. They gave everything 36 minutes. I don’t think you can ask for any more than that.
“It’s been a great year. I told them, when they come through this (locker room) door, they have nothing to put their heads down about. They should be super proud of this whole year. It’s one of the best high school seasons in history, really.”
Although it was an improvement over last season’s 23-point loss to Southern, these Leopards fell short of their main goal – to win the state title.
The Rams’ first-half three-point shooting and sticky defense in the second half wore down Smithsburg. After battling to get a lead for most of the game, the Leopards finally pushed to a 54-46 lead – their largest of the game – on a Jayda Tyler layup off a Claire Bono pass with 4:18 remaining in regulation.
Southern responded with a 9-1 run, capped by a 12-foot shot by Gabbi Berry to finish a fast break to give the Rams a 55-54 lead with :33.2 left in the fourth quarter. Tyler hit one of two free throws with :20.1 remaining to tie the game.
Southern’s Jayden Weaver missed a shot with :07 remaining and Smithsburg’s Skyla Mastronardi missed a 3 at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
In the four-minute extra period, the teams tied at 57 and 59 before Southern scored the last four points in the final 20 seconds to win the game.
Emelee Parks hit a short shot in the lane with :17 remaining and Weaver hit pair of free throws with :05 remaining to put it out of reach. But in between, Mastronardi had a short shot off a drive rim out with :06.5 remaining, leading to the foul that put Weaver at the line.
Smithsburg had won by an average of 33 points this season and had only two games decided by less than 10 points. But Tuesday, the Leopards trailed for the entire first half.
They went into the intermission down 34-33, before obtaining their first lead at 35-34 on a Kara Hoover basket. Smithsburg led 44-43 heading into the fourth quarter.
But from 4:18 in the fourth quarter, Southern outscored Smithsburg 17-4 in the final 8:14 of the game.
“Everybody on our team just gave it their all, I’m super proud of them, the whole team,” Bono said. “We just battled the whole night. That’s a great team. We went toe-to-toe with them, and I know we didn’t come out on top, but I’m super proud of them.
“There were a lot of runs there. We did struggle. I mean, we were drained. Shots just weren’t falling. We got good looks at the basket all night, to be honest. I was really happy with our execution, and the looks we had, but we didn’t knock some shots down this time.”
Smithsburg could have lost control of the game in the third quarter. Claire Bono picked up two quick fouls – her third and fourth – and went to the bench at the 6:45 mark. But the Bono came back for a pair of cameo appearances on offense, but Leopards were able to hold their own and actually led 44-43 by the end of the period.
“Credit to Macy (Peters) to come in and not let the momentum shift at all,” Todd Bono said. “We played great five minutes, probably without Claire, and we kept it within one. I couldn’t be prouder of that. And then Claire comes in, and then Claire does what Claire does, with her effort, extra possessions and play with her with four fouls for her team.”
Southern set the tone early by hitting 7 of 14 three-point shots in the first half while keeping Mastronardi in check. The Rams hit five in the first quarter to establish a 18-13 lead. Mastronardi was held to five points in the first half.
“We had a hand in the face and they threw the extra pass,” Todd Bono said. “If you have one momentary lapse, they make you pay. Offensively, they’re as good as anybody… so fundamentally sound. All of them shoot really well.
“I thought we did a great job on a couple other players, and some of their other players stepped up in the shots, which we knew they could do. It’s hard to guard all five. We’re a matchup nightmare. They’re a matchup nightmare. I know they’re leaving just as drained as we are.”
Smithsburg’s offense struggled, hitting just 22 of 65 shots, including only 6 of 23 from behind the arc. Mastronardi scored 14 points in her final game with the Leopards, while Claire Bono and Jenna Todd finished with 13 each. Hoover, who led with eight rebounds, added 10 points.
“Skyla just battled all night. She’s a four-year star in our program. She’s a great basketball player,” Todd Bono said. “She’s as done it for four years as well as anybody can.
“She’s so humble. She’s not throwing three fingers in the air. She’s not taunting ever. She could be as confident and cocky as anybody in the country. I’ve never seen it from her. She just does it the right way.”
For now, all that’s left of the Leopards’ season is the sting of coming close to the pinnacle again.
“These kids were just so connected,” Bono said. “I just felt bad for them. I felt bad for last year’s team, but this team is special … just the personalities, the way they stayed connected. I can’t say enough good about them.
“I went in the locker room and just said ‘Anything that I say is going to pale in comparison to how I feel.’ I’d do anything for these girls. And they were doing anything for each other.”
