Their final moment as Amherst teammates
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AMHERST - When tournament director Lou Conte called the Amherst Regional seniors to midcourt to accept the Western Massachusetts Division 1 Tournament runner-up trophy, it was only fitting that the duo already was wrapped in a tight hug, trying to overcome the realization that their nine years as teammates had ended.
Jenna Klaes and Alyssa Leonard walked teary-eyed to center court to accept the trophy after the Hurricanes' 45-39 loss to East Longmeadow at Curry Hicks Cage on Saturday. But they couldn't hide their disappointment, as much because they will no longer be teammates as the end to their undefeated season.
"One of the hardest things about losing this game is that we're done playing basketball together," said Leonard, who finished her career with 1,269 points. "This may sound cheesy, but we'll always be best friends and we'll always remember the four years (at Amherst) together."
Klaes and Leonard have always been teammates, ever since Leonard's family moved to town when she was in fourth grade.
They originally met as soccer teammates, but in fifth grade added basketball and have been a dynamic duo ever since.
"We have very similar families. We are both very into sports so we can relate to each other there," said Klaes, who scored 778 career points. "We have the same styles and the same interests. We click very well. We helped the team together, we help each other get through school. We are very close."
The backcourt mates joined the Hurricanes varsity as freshmen, entering the program at the same time as coach Christal Murphy. The program had been through rough times before their arrival, but made the postseason in their first year.
"Who gets to coach two girls like that for four years?" Murphy said. "Coming in as a new coach and seeing these two girls walk into the gym, I knew they were going to be something special. I just really wish that they got the final prize. But what they did for this basketball program is unbelievable, all the sacrifices they made, the commitment they had."
Since that time, they've dealt with plenty of ups and downs, injuries and milestones, wins and losses. Always together.
Entering their final season together, they set their goals as high as possible and nearly accomplished them.
"We told each other coming into the season that we wanted to go out with an undefeated season all the way to states," Klaes said. "It didn't work out that way, but we accomplished so much this season. We know that we made a difference. We worked really hard and we'll always be best friends."
When the game ended, Leonard collapsed to the floor in dismay. She was immediately comforted by younger sister and teammate Brianna Leonard and Klaes.
Alyssa Leonard and Klaes embraced, knowing that when the hug ended, so did their time together as teammates. It was Conte's announcement that finally broke them up.
"It's the worst feeling. It honestly feels like a death in the family right now. I could just cry all day thinking about it," Klaes said. "I expected to play all next week and now it's over."
Jim Pignatiello can be reached at jpignatiello@gazettenet.com.
