OTSEGO – Plenty has changed in the past year, for the world and the Kent City girls basketball team, but one thing remains the same:

Despite losing their two senior stars from a year ago, along with their head coach, the Eagles are headed back to Michigan State University for the state Final Four.

But they had a close call on their way to their latest victory, in the Division 3 state quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Kent City led 34-33 with 22 seconds left in regulation before Schoolcraft started the final possession of the game. With five seconds left, Schoolcraft’s Mackenzie Miller drove to the right before firing off a final shot near the baseline.

The ball hit the right side of the rim and bounced away, sending Kent City back to the Division 3 semifinals, where they’ll face Madison Heights Bishop Foley at 2 p.m. on Thursday at MSU’s Breslin Center.

Kent City advanced all the way to the state finals last year before losing.

“It’s amazing,” said Kent Cityt head coach Aleah Holcomb about getting her squad to the semifinals in her first season with a perfect 25-0 record. “We’re a talented team and I knew we were good enough to get there.”

Junior guard Lexie Bowers, Kent City’s leading scorer who was limited to just six points on the night, was happy that her team found a way to get the win.

“It’s great knowing we’re back in the final four,” she said. “We were there last year, and I think it’s our year. We have a lot to prove with a new coach and all the injuries we went through.”

The one-point victory was quite a different result from 2021, when Kent City won 52-19 over Schoolcraft in the quarterfinals.

The two teams were even in the first quarter at 7-7 until a last second steal and layup by Madelyn Geers gave Kent City a 9-7 lead after one quarter.

In the second quarter, Schoolcraft’s Miller was sent to the bench with her third foul and Kent City took advantage, outscoring Schoolcraft 9-6 to take an 18-13 halftime lead.

Miller showed her capabilities when she returned in the third quarter, scoring five points and picking up assists on several other Schoolcraft baskets.

Kent City led 25-24 after three quarters of play.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Kent City’s Emmalyn Geers hit a three-pointer to put the Eagles back on top 30-28 after Schoolcraft had grabbed the lead.

“I was wide open,” Geers said about the three-point shot. “I knew I had to hit the shot. I’m not used to taking that shot, but it was something I had to do at that point in the game.”

With the score tied 30-30, Bowers got loose in the middle of the paint and hit a floater to give Kent City a 32-30 lead with four minutes remaining.

“I just knew they’d overplay me,” Bowers said about working to get to the paint. “So I knew the drive was wide open. They had a tall girl in the middle so the floater was open.”

Madelyn Geers then scored to give Kent City a 34-30 lead before a deep Schoolcraft three-pointer made the score 34-33 with 2:53 left.

Each team had multiple possessions before the game ended, but neither was able to score, and Kent City escaped with the win.

Madelyn Geers led the Eagles with 16 points on the night.

“It’s crazy,” the sophomore said about stepping up into a big role. “I was running on adrenaline all night. It’s just exciting and I’m excited that we’re headed back to the Breslin.”

Madelyn Geers said while things have changed at Kent City, it’s a joy to be right back in the chase for a state title.

“It’s so exciting,” she said. :It’s kind of unreal. We knew we could get there. We have a new style of play and a new team this year, so it’s exciting to get back there.”