RIMERSBURG — The Moniteau players tried to hold back the tears, but failed.

Even Warriors’ coach Matt Stebbins had difficulty holding back his emotions.

“It’s tough,” Stebbins repeated over and over. “It’s tough.”

It was a tough night because a promising Moniteau girls basketball season was cut short in the first round of the District 9 Class AA playoffs by a 47-42 loss to Redbank Valley at Union High School Thursday night.

It was tough because just a week ago, the Warriors had beaten the Bulldogs handily in a 54-42 win. Moniteau also won the first meeting between the two teams earlier in the season.

“It’s hard to beat a team three times in one season,” Stebbins said.

In a way, the loss a week ago helped Redbank Valley far more than it hurt.

When it became apparent the Bulldogs were not going to win at Moniteau, coach Jason Kerr took his foot off the gas, substituted and showed little of the offense he ran this third time around against the Warriors.

“We held a lot of things back,” Kerr said. “Everything we wanted to do new for them we kind of saved in that game.”

That helped Redbank Valley (15-8) stake itself to a 10-1 lead early.

That kind of start was of paramount importance for the Bulldogs.

“We wanted to get off to a good start, even if a good start meant winning or losing by a few,” Kerr said “We didn’t hang anything on what we wanted to do, but that was a nice bonus. It certainly was huge.”

Moniteau was able to slice away at the early Redbank Valley lead and eventually knotted the game at 24-24 by halftime.

The Warriors (14-9) then took their first lead since 1-0 eight seconds into the game, minutes into the third quarter.

It didn’t last.

The Bulldogs raced back out to a 42-33 lead early in the fourth quarter before Moniteau again charged back with a 9-0 run to tie the game with 2:20 remaining.

“They are a very good team,” Kerr said of Moniteau. “They kept fighting. They weren’t going to quit. We knew that.”

The fight is what pleased Stebbins the most in the loss.

“A lot of my younger kids stepped up huge,” Stebbins said. “We just didn’t shoot well. We didn’t shoot well.”

Moniteau was just 14-of-41 from the field.

Senior Fontaine Glenn led the Warriors with 13 points. Senior Emily Rider was held to three points.

“I’m going to miss those two seniors a lot,” Stebbins said. “They are great ballplayers, but they are better kids.”

Stephanie McCall came off the bench to add eight points and freshman Kristina DeMatteis also scored eight.

Defensive specialist Alazia Greaves did a good job for the most part guarding Redbank Valley star Brooke Hinderliter and also hit two big 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to spark the Warriors’ late rally.

Hinderliter, though, handled the double teams and the other junk defenses Moniteau threw at her and scored a game-high 18 points.

Her ability to dribble through and around pressure in the fourth quarter was the key in Redbank Valley holding on for the win and a date with Karns City in the semifinals next week.

“Trying to chase her down, it wears on you,” Kerr said. “They rotated more than one (guarding her). She’ll wear the first person down and then the second person and then the third person.”

Becca Dougherty also had a big game for Redbank Valley with 13 points as the Bulldogs funneled their offense through her instead of Hinderliter early.

Redbank will face Karns City at a site and time to be determined. The Bulldogs handed the Gremlins their only loss this season.

For Moniteau, it can only wonder what if.

“It’s difficult,” Stebbins said. “It’s tough. We shot better last week. That’s what it was.”

REDBANK VALLEY 47

Becca Dougherty 6-12 1-2 13, Madison McClaine 3-12 0-0 6, Kaelyn Gruver 1-4 0-0 2, Emma Kennemuth 2-7 0-0 4, Brooke Hinderliter 8-12 2-3 18, Megan Bain 1-1 0-0 2, Cassue Fink 1-7 0-0 2. Totals: 22-55 3-5 47.

MONITEAU 42

Fontaine Glenn 5-14 0-0 13, Alazia Greaves 2-3 1-2 7, Alycia Brehm 0-2 0-0 0, Emily Rider 1-9 1-2 3, Kristina DeMatteis 4-6 0-0 8, Stephanie McCall 1-6 6-7 8, Maura Kimmel 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 14-41 8-11 42.

Redbank Valley 14 10 14 9 — 47

Moniteau9 15 9 9 — 42

3-point goals: Redbank Valley 0; Moniteau 6 (Glenn 3, Greaves 2, Rider)