All teams are looking for their place in school history. The girls of the Derryfield School basketball team would most definitely trade theirs.

Despite 21 fourth-quarter points and several opportunities to tie 10th-seeded Gorham in the final minute, the No. 7 Cougars failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the Class S tournament for the first time under 23-year head coach Ed Lemire, falling, 44-42, to the Huskies on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

In Lemire’s tenure on the Derryfield bench, 15 times the Cougars made the playoffs and escaped the first round to play at Plymouth State University.

In its 16th attempt, however, DS struggled to break Gorham’s extended zone defense, falling behind, 27-21, entering the fourth quarter, only to see its comeback fall short in a thrilling ending.

Within the final 19.7 seconds, the Cougars turned the ball over, blocked a breakaway lay-up and nearly turned it over again before missing a shot at the buzzer.

“The middle part of the game they definitely outhustled us, which was unusual because we play high-intensity ball,” Lemire said. “But in the 23 years, I’ve never had a team quit, and the first time I do, it will be my last season. And they didn’t quit.”

Kelly Schwarz recorded 15 points, six rebounds and four assists to lead Derryfield, which finished the regular season with seven wins in eight games and an 11-7 record, while Bedford native Danielle Potter and Andrea Green added eight points apiece. Bedford’s Alicia Edwards also played quality minutes for DS.

The offense, however, was slow coming on both ends. Derryfield led 9-3 after the first quarter and 13-12 at the half, finally finding its stride early in the fourth after Gorham had staked itself to a seven-point lead.

“When (we) got the shot off and it didn’t go in, it was this horrible sinking feeling,” said senior Annie Jenney. “It was emotional in the locker room. But they’re going to do awesome next year.”