The Monument/Dayville girls basketball team had an episode of deja vu last week.

The Tigers defeated Portland Waldorf 35-33 at home in the first round of the playoffs, but were unable to pass Lowell on the road, falling 63-31 to the Red Devils last Friday, Feb. 22.

Monument/Dayville’s season ended the same way last year, when the Tigers beat Days Creek 50-39 in the first round and then lost 50-25 to Lowell.

Although Monument/Day-ville was still unable to get past the second round, the team improved from last season. The Tigers finished with seven losses last season, and they managed to cut that down to four this year. Two of their losses came in their final three games.

Despite the loss, Monument/Dayville coach Skip Inscore said he is proud of his team.

“For most teams if you lose four games people would say that’s a highly successful season,” Inscore said. “We wanted to make it to Baker City, but we didn’t. We worked hard, and I believe all the girls are better ball players than they were three and a half months ago, and that’s all you can ask.”

Monument/Dayville was handicapped by illness following the District 8 1A tournament. Three of the Tigers’ five starters got sick in the days leading up to their first playoff game. Tiffany Hunt, Amanda King and Elizabeth Inscore were not at 100 percent for either of their playoff games. Inscore had a temperature of 103 degrees just prior to the Tigers’ Feb. 19 game against Portland Waldorf. None of the them fully recovered in time for the Lowell game.

The Tigers also had a busy schedule last week. They finished the District 8 1A tournament Feb. 16, and they had to play Portland Waldorf three days later. The team only had one day off following that game due to the time it took to travel to Lowell.

“Sickness affected us more than anything,” Inscore said. “We had three starters sick all week long. That really hindered practice. We didn’t even practice except Wednesday. However, that’s no excuse. Lowell was a good team, and we didn’t play our best basketball. You can’t afford to not play your best in the playoffs.”

The Tigers played a tight game against Portland Waldorf. The teams were never separated by more than six points, and they spent most of the game within two points. The game was tied 21-21 at halftime. Monument/Dayville was ahead 33-27 with less than four minutes to play in the game, but the Tigers let Portland Waldorf back into the game.

The Tigers made their final defensive stand leading 35-33 with 2.4 seconds in the game. Portland Waldorf’s Brinna Conlon’s last-second shot was off the mark, and Monument/ Dayville held on for the win.

It was a different story against Lowell. The Red Devils came out quick and took a 21-4 lead after the first quarter. They led 39-14 at halftime.

The Tigers played aggressive defense in the second half, but it was too late for a come back.

“It was kind of like a snowball effect for us,” Inscore said. “We’d miss a shot, and they’d make one. We’d miss a shot, and they’d make a three pointer. It just started to cascade. We regrouped and played tough in the second half. We just couldn’t close the gap.”