TACOMA — It's a strange state-championship tradition. After an emotional basketball game — and Garfield's 63-58 overtime victory over Snohomish last night ranked near the top of the intensity scale — it's time for pictures.

The Snohomish girls posed at midcourt moments after their defeat. Mascara running. Tears flowing. Smiles waning. Hair wilting. Emotions draining.

Can't wait to see that shot.

"It was hard. I tried to smile, but it was hard to smile," said Snohomish senior Sydney Benson, who scored 20 points in a gritty performance. "We worked our butts off. That's how it goes. I'll remember the girls I played with. I love them a lot. We gave it all we had."

These weren't just any group of girls. They all grew up together, and some have played together since second grade. Seven are seniors, never to play together again.

"These girls have been awesome," said coach Ken Roberts, who had a long, emotional talk with his team after the game ended. "They've played together since they were sophomores here. They had a 79-10 record and haven't lost to a team that hasn't qualified for the state tournament."

"There's a song that I've always liked by Michael W. Smith, 'Friends are Friends Forever.' And one of the verses is, 'Now that a chapter in your life is through ... ' " added Roberts, so choked up that he couldn't finish. "This is a chapter for the seniors. I was fortunate to be part of it. They grew as people, they grew as basketball players, and they grew with each other."

Few picked Snohomish (25-2) to make it to the finals, but the Panthers upset University on Friday, 58-52. Then they led the heavily favored Bulldogs (26-1) for much of the game. Snohomish had a 54-52 lead with 47 seconds left, but Garfield came back to send it into overtime at 54-all. The Panthers were still in the game until the final 10 seconds.

"This is going to stay with me forever," said senior forward Emily Cassidy, who had 15 points. "I'll always think back at state tournament, every game. It's really sad we lost, but I'm more upset that it's over and done. Tears of happiness but tears of sadness that it's over, too."

Daesha Henderson, a junior guard who will have to fill the leadership void next season, had the assignment of defending Malia O'Neal, Garfield's All-State guard. O'Neal had 17 points, four assists and three turnovers but was prevented from completely taking over the game.

"I did the best I could. I left it all on the court," said Henderson. "We had another defense we could have used, but coach told me I was doing a good job and we stayed with it.

"I did the best I could."

It the end, however, all they could do was smile — sort of.

Bob Sherwin: 206-464-8286 or bsherwin@seattletimes.com