Building championship programs takes time. Doing so often means enduring a few bumps in the road as well. The Pinelands Regional girls flag football team gets it now.

“It may have taken us a few years to get here, but we got here,” said junior quarterback Heidi Cyphert following the Wildcats’ 18-12 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven in the Shore Conference championship May 27. “We’re at the point in our program that we have the talent and ability, and we were close to winning in this game.