For Aqua Fria, it's wait 'til next year.

“You’re going to lose some games you know, you just got to hold your head up and see what you have to improve on and work on that next year,'' Zari Watkins said after Agua Fria's record-breaking season ended with a 53-26 state tournament quarterfinal loss to Chaparral.

Agua Fria finished 23-7 and won the Region Championship for the first time.

Agua Fria will only lose one player this season, giving them the advantage of a team that already knows how to work together.

Rodgers, who will be a junior next season, said she will continue to lead her team with encouragement.

“It takes everyone to get everyone to do their job,” said Rodgers.

With a positive outlook and the majority of the team returning, coach Samuel Polvino is confident the girls will bounce back.

“I’ve been here four years and we’ve had a couple sets of kids coming through who have played and it’s that second year they start to get stuff,” said Polvino.

Polvino’s advice after the loss: “Keep your heads up. It’s a sad day no doubt about it. Next year is next year.”

Chaparral’s defense held Agua Fria to only 16 points at the half and 10 points in the second. Foul trouble played a key role.

At the end of half, Rodgers had four fouls and Watkins had three. Both are key players for Agua Fria.

Polvino was forced to sit out Rodgers in the third quarter.

“It was kind of a hindrance, but we had people on the bench that went in,” said Polvino. “When we look at our stats later, we got the shots that we wanted, we had a lot of open looks that just didn’t go in.”