VANDALIA — Russia steadily progressed throughout the season. Just how much the squad improved was evident in a Division IV regional semifinal on Thursday.

While the Raiders couldn’t hold on and upset Shelby County Athletic League rival Fort Loramie, coach Michael Bashore said the group should be proud of the effort.

Fort Loramie scored the last four points to break a tie and beat the Raiders 33-29 at Vandalia-Butler’s Student Activity Center. The Redskins (25-2), which were the top-ranked Div. IV team in the last Associated Press state poll of the season, advance to face Marion Local (20-7) in a regional final on Saturday afternoon in Vandalia.

Russia lost 69-31 to Fort Loramie in an SCAL game on the road on Jan. 4 and 60-37 on Feb. 8 at Clair C. Naveau Gymnasium.

Thursday’s tournament matchup was markedly different.

The Raiders limited their turnovers in the first half and used a strong rebounding effort to help in taking an 18-9 lead early in the second quarter. Fort Loramie took the lead midway through the third, but Russia responded with a quick basket and stayed in it to the final seconds.

“It shows you their integrity, what kind of people they are,” Bashore said. “They don’t ever give up. You ask them to do something, they do it until they get good at it. You ask them to do something else, and they’ll do that until they get good at it.

“I’m blessed to coach the 15 best girls in America, I don’t care what anybody says. I love them to death. I’m so proud of them. They have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Russia finishes 15-11 overall. The Raiders won 11 of their last 15 games after a 4-7 start to the season.

It was a strong finish for Russia, which had only one returnee from last year’s 22-5 campaign. The Raiders relied on several underclassmen, including two freshman who started on Thursday.

“Every one of them did something well when they were in there, and that’s what we preach every day,” Bashore said. “You might get five seconds, you might get 30 seconds, just give it your all whenever you’re in there.

“I think people should be very proud of these young ladies. They can keep their heads high for a really long time with that effort. We really wanted to win, but I’m so proud of them.”

Senior forward Roni Poling is one of four players the squad will lose to graduation. She was named first team all-Southwest district in Div. IV earlier this week and in February was named SCAL co-player of the year.

Poling, who was the team’s lone returnee, averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game in regular season. She was a force in the post on Thursday, especially defensively.

Poling finished with a game-high 10 points and had about half of the squad’s 31 rebounds.

Bashore said the Raiders changed from zone to man defenses frequently throughout the game, which he thought was effective slowing the Redskins down.

“We usually just play man,” Bashore said. “We rebounded well early, limited them to one shot.”

Russia will also lose Carley Scott, Jaela Shappie and Laci Phlipot to graduation. Scott was a returnee, but a knee injury caused her to miss the season. She scored a basket on a senior night against Fort Loramie on Feb. 8.

“To come in and not know any of them, and for them to buy in and be leaders and lead the younger ones, it speaks to their integrity,” Bashore said of the seniors.

“It’s a great community. We have great support from the parents, and the girls reflect that. They take that to the basketball court. They’re even better kids off the floor than they are on. I love them to death.”

Russia junior guard Addison Shappie made a free throw with a little under four minutes left to tie it 29-29. Neither team scored in the next several minutes.

Fort Loramie senior forward Summer Hoying took a pass from Avery Brandewie on the left wing, dribbled in and made a shot off the glass with pressure from Poling and Claudia Hoehne with 1:39 left to give the Redskins a 31-29 lead.

Russia turned it over, but Fort Loramie then turned it over with a little over 30 seconds left. The Raiders drained off some of the clock and used their last timeout, and after taking it back in, worked it to Addison Shappie in the left corner.

Shappie, who hit the game-winner in a district final against Botkins, started her 3-point attempt without pressure, but Brandewie raced over and appeared to skim the shot, which hit off the side of the rim.

Hoying grabbed the rebound and was fouled. She split a pair of foul shots to push the lead to three points, but the Redskins grabbed the rebound off her miss, and Jalen Rose split a pair to push the lead to four.

It was the second consecutive year Russia faced the Redskins in a regional semifinal.

RELATED: Video: Fort Loramie vs. Russia regional semifinal highlights

RELATED: Girls basketball: Fort Loramie one win away from state berth after rallying against Russia

Reach Bryant Billing at 937-538-4818, or follow @SidneyOHSports on Twitter and @BryantBillingSDN on Facebook.