The Barrington High School girls basketball team came within two points of reaching the state tournament Final Four.

The Eagles, who entered the tournament as fifth seed, trailed by nine points with time running out, but staged a late-game comeback against Ponaganset and closed within two points of the Chieftains. 

In fact, the Eagles had a chance to tie or take the lead with about 15 seconds remaining, said Barrington Coach Stephen Lenz. 

“It just didn’t go in,” said Coach Lenz.

Barrington’s bid for the semifinals came up just short, as the Eagles lost 47-45.

Coach Lenz said his team had a slow start against Ponaganset, but cut the deficit to two points, 22-20, by halftime. The Chieftains opened their lead again in the third quarter, but again, Barrington battled back. Coach Lenz said senior Mady Calhoun played a key role in pacing the Eagles’ offense.

“Mady Calhoun played lights out,” Coach Lenz said, adding that she knocked down five three-pointers in the second half. 

Coach Lenz said Maddie Gill also played well throughout the game. 

Barrington managed to keep Ponaganset’s high-powered offense in-check for most of the game. The Chieftains finished with one of their lowest point totals for the season.

“We held them to five three’s,” said Coach Lenz. “That was their lowest (total) all year.”

The Eagles struggled a bit from the free throw line, hitting four of 12 from the charity stripe, while Ponaganset went eight for 13 from the line.

Despite the loss, Coach Lenz said he was very proud of his team’s effort in the state quarterfinal game.

“We are a very young team,” he said. “There were times when I had four freshmen on the court at the same time.

“I’m proud of them.”

The Eagles, who finished the season with a 15-5 record, will graduate four seniors — Calhoun, Hailey Walter, Sophie Richardson and Anna Kovolyan. Coach Lenz said the Eagles have a number of talented, hard-working underclassmen expected to return next year, as well as a promising group of incoming freshmen.