2018 Girls Basketball State Tournament Recaps

Division I Final

Pickerington Central Defeats Solon to Win OHSAA-Record Seventh State Championship

No. 1 Pickerington Central beats No. 6 Solon 49-45 to win the 2018 Division I state championship

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 1 Pickerington Central Tigers (28-2) defeated the No. 6 Solon Comets (26-3) by a score of 49-45 to win the 2018 OHSAA Division I Girls Basketball State Title on Saturday night at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

It looked as though the Tigers were going to run away with this one after taking a 14-point lead with two minutes remaining in the third quarter, but the Comets would not go down without a fight.

Down five, with just under a minute left in the game, senior Mariah Modkins took two dribbles past half-court and hit her second three of the game to draw within two.

Following a media timeout after the Modkins three, Solon forced a turnover in the front court and looked to tie the game via a Valencia Myers layup. Just

as Myers brought the ball up, Pickerington Central's junior point guard Madison Greene made the play of the game for the Tiger's and ripped the ball loose.

Solon was forced to foul on the ensuing possession, and sent Adrian Crockwell to the free throw line for a one-and-one. Crockwell missed the front-end and Solon possessed the defensive rebound.

With 17 seconds remaining, down two, Solon once again got the ball inside to its First Team All-Ohio center, Valencia Myers. Catching the ball behind the hoop, Myers was forced to put the ball down. The Tigers collapsed on Myers and forced the final Solon turnover of the game. Senior Bexley Wallace came away with the last of Pickerington Central's 10 steals.

Greene led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points, including a perfect 3-for-3 from deep.

Myers finished with a double-double for the Comets, scoring 15 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.

Solon has now made four trips to the state tournament and is still looking to win its first state championship.

The Pickerington Central girls basketball program is now the winningest in OHSAA history with its seventh state title. The Tigers have made 12 appearances in the state tournament. Head coach Johnathan Hedgepeth noted the program's history of success in the post-game press conference. "The thing I will remember the most is seeing a storied program return to the top."

The game's attendance of 2974 brings the total attendance of the state tournament to 35,671.

Division II Final

Zia Cooke's 33-Point Performance Gives Toledo Rogers its First State Title

No. 6 Toledo Rogers defeats No. 3 Gilmour Academy 51-37 to win the 2018 Division II championship

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 6 Toledo Rogers (27-3) won the OHSAA Division II Girls Basketball State Championship on Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center by defeating No. 3 Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (25-4) 51-37.

Gilmour led Rogers 24-21 after a well-contested first half; but in the second, Rogers came out hot on offense and smothered the Gilmour offensive attack. Rogers outscored the Lancers 30-13 in the second half, and held them to 4-of-21 shooting.

Toledo Rogers' head coach Lamar Smith was proud of the way his players performed in the second half. "They (Gilmour Academy) are a really good

team, but we really executed in second half...especially taking away the three-point line."

Overall, the game was defined by the play of each team's star-player.

Toledo Rogers' First Team All-Ohio honoree, junior Zia Cooke, scored nine of the team's first 12 points and never slowed down. Nearly outscoring the Lancers on her own, Cooke finished with a game-high 33 points, just three shy of the record, while shooting 14-of-23 from the field. Cooke also grabbed a team-high 14 rebounds, and swiped three steals. Cooke scored 54 points and grabbed 21 rebounds in the Lady Rams' two state tournament games.

On the other side, Gilmour Academy's senior center and fellow First-Team All-Ohioan, Naz Hillmon, scored a team-high 16 points, and grabbed an OHSAA Division II girls basketball state championship game record 19 rebounds. In the two state tournament games, Hillmon scored a combined 27 points, and grabbed 38 rebounds.

Gilmour Academy was looking to win its second consecutive girls basketball state championship after winning the Division III title in 2017.

This was the first girls basketball state championship for the Lady Rams. Rogers only other state championship appearance came in 2015, where it fell to Kettering Archbishop Alter.

Attendance for the game was 2,737.

Division III Final

Columbus Africentric Outlasts Versailles to Claim State-Record Sixth Girls Basketball State Title

No. 6 Africentric defeats No. 1 Versailles 53-47, wins fourth title in last seven years

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Columbus, Ohio — No. 6 Columbus Africentric (27-3) withstood a furious comeback effort from No. 1 Versailles (28-2) to hold on to claim a 53-47 victory in the 2018 OHSAA Division III state championship Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

The Nubians are now tied with Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, Pickerington Central and South Euclid Regina for the most girls basketball state titles in OHSAA history.

Down nine points at the half, Versailles was able to fight its way back into the game thanks in part to a 16-point third quarter.

The Tigers took their first lead over Africentric since the first minute of the game at 43-42 with 4:53 remaining in the final quarter.

Africentric answered with four quick points to go back up 46-43 with four minutes remaining in the game. They would not relinquish the lead from there.

“The way these young ladies weathered the storm and the resilience they played with, I can’t say how proud I am of these girls,” said Africentric head coach William McKinney.

The Nubians dominated down low, outscoring Versailles 36-20 in the paint and finishing with 14 second-chance points, compared to just three for the Tigers.

Sophomore Alexia Smith finished with a game-high 22 points for Africentric. Division III Co-Player of the Year, junior Jordan Horston, scored 13 points and added eight rebounds, two assists and two blocks for the Nubians.

Senior Kami McEldowny, a Second Team All-Ohio selection, scored a team-high 16 points for Versailles. Sophomore forward Lindsey Winner finished with eight points and nine rebounds for the Tigers. Versailles returns home with its second-straight runner-up finish in the Division III state tournament.

Attendance for the game was 3,572.

Division IV Final

Minster's Third State Title Fueled by 43-Point Second-Half Outburst

Minster defeats Ottoville 63-48 to win first state title since 2004

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Minster Wildcats (26-3) defeated the Ottoville Lady Green (27-3) 63-48 to win the 2018 OHSAA Division IV Girls Basketball State Championship game on Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

It was a fast start for No. 2 Ottoville, as the Lady Green went up 12-2 in the first four minutes of the game. Yet, No. 4 Minster didn't get rattled

and responded with a 7-2 run of their own to end the quarter. Ottoville took a 24-20 lead into the halftime locker room thanks to senior CJ Kemper and junior Kasey Knippen shooting a combined 6-for-6 from the floor for 16 points.

In a second half that saw 11 lead changes and seven ties, Minster pulled away for good midway through the fourth quarter. After two free throws from Ottoville's Kasey Knippen to put the Lady Green up 48-47 with 4:45 remaining in the game, Minster forced seven turnovers and scored the final 16 points of the game.

Following the game, Minster head coach Mike Wiss touched on the final run that gave the Wildcats the win. "Basketball is such a momentum-switching game. Ottoville had a hard time finding their identity at the end of the game, where we had a strong sense of our individual identity."

After a slow first half for Minster's Second Team All-Ohioan Courtney Prenger, the junior forward finished with a game-high 17 points, and added six rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Ivy Wolf scored 15 points for the Wildcats, and senior Taylor Kogge added 12.

All 48 Ottoville points came from just four players. Bridget Landin, Amber Miller, and Kasey Knippen each finished with 13 points, while CJ Kemper scored 9. Landin led the Lady Green with 34 points in the two state tournament games.

Ottoville was looking to win its first state title in its seventh state tournament appearance.

Saturday's victory marks Minster's third girls basketball state championship in four state tournament appearances.

Attendance for the game was 4,968.

Division IV Semifinals

No. 2 Ottoville 44, New Washington Buckeye Central 25

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ottoville (27-2) earns its first trip to the OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship game since 2005 by defeating New Washington Buckeye Central (26-2) 44-25 on Thursday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

No. 2 Ottoville controlled the game throughout after taking a 12-7 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Green were stifling on defense as they forced 17 Buckeye Central turnovers and kept the Buckettes from scoring double-digits in any quarter. Division IV First Team All-Ohio honoree Bridget Landin led the way for Ottoville, and finished with a game-high 21 points, and 11 rebounds.

Buckeye Central senior, and fellow All-Ohioan, Jenna Karl was the lone Buckette to finish in double-figures, as she finished the game with 15 points on 6-11 shooting.

Ottoville will face the winner of the second Division IV semifinal matchup between No. 1 Waterford (26-1) and No. 4 Minster (24-3) on Saturday at 10:45 a.m.

No. 4 Minster 46, No. 1 Waterford 31

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the second Division IV semifinal game at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Thursday, No. 4 Minster defeated No. 1 Waterford (26-2) 46-31. The Wildcats (25-3) will play No. 2 Ottoville on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. in the 2018 OHSAA State Championship game.

Minster's Taylor Kogge scored the opening basket 1:29 into the first quarter, and the Wildcats would the keep the lead for the remainder of the game.

Going into the game, Minster knew it had to slow down Waterford's two First Team All-Ohio seniors Alli Kern (Kern was also named OHSAA Division IV Player of the Year) and Megan Ball, and they did just that. Kern and Ball combined to shoot 6 of 16 from the field. Overall, Minster held Waterford to 27% shooting and forced 18 turnovers.

Second Team All-Ohioan Courtney Prenger led Minster in scoring, finishing with 13 points and adding five rebounds.

In Saturday's matchup with Ottoville, Minster will be looking to win its third state title, and first since 2004.

Session One attendance was 5,774.

Division III Semifinals

No. 1 Versailles 63, Elyria Catholic 47

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Columbus, Ohio — No. 1 Versailles defeated Elyria Catholic 63-47 to advance to its second-straight Division III state final appearance Thursday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

The two-pronged attack of seniors Kami McEldowny and Danielle Winner propelled Versailles (28-1) to a fourth title game appearance in five years. McEldowny, a Division III Second Team All-Ohio selection, scored a team-high 17 points. Winner notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Junior guard Faith Williams scored a game-high 18 points for Elyria Catholic (22-6). Sophomore Ally Winnen had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Versailles will play the winner of No. 6 Columbus Africentric and No. 9 Ottawa-Glandorf in the 2018 OHSAA Division III girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 2 p.m.

No. 6 Columbus Africentric 50, No. 9 Ottawa-Glandorf 37

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Columbus, Ohio — No. 6 Columbus Africentric used a strong second half to race past No. 9 Ottawa-Glandorf 50-37 Thursday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

After holding just a two-point lead at halftime, the Nubians nearly doubled the Lady Titans’ scoring in the second half to advance to their eighth state title game in 12 years. Junior Jordan Horston, Division III Co-Player of the Year, led Africentric (26-3) with a game-high 18 points and added six rebounds and three assists.

Senior Kadie Hempfling stuffed the stat sheet for Ottawa-Glandorf (25-3). The First Team All-Ohioan finished with seven points, 11 rebounds and five assists.

Africentric will play No. 1 Versailles in the 2018 OHSAA Division III girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 2 p.m.

Session Two attendance 5,145.

Division II Semifinals

No. 3 Gates Mills Gilmour Academy 47, Bellbrook 40

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (25-3) will look to win back-to-back OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championships after defeating Bellbrook (20-9) by a score of 47-40 in the first Division II semifinal game on Friday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.

It was a gritty win for the third-ranked Lancers as there were eight lead changes and five ties throughout the course of the game. The seven-point victory was the largest lead for either team.

Gilmour was led by Division II Co-Player of the Year, Naz Hillmon, who finished with 11 points, 19 rebounds and four steals. Hillmon's 19 rebounds tied an OHSAA girls basketball state semifinal record for any division. Junior Annika Corcoran finished with a game-high 19 points for the Lancers, 15 of which came from beyond the three-point line. Corcoran's five three-point makes broke an OHSAA Division II semifinal record.

Bellbrook senior Bekah Vine led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 11 points. This was Bellbrook's third appearance at the state tournament, and first since 2012.

Gilmour will look to win its second overall girls basketball state title and first Division II title after winning the Division III championship in 2017.

No. 6 Toledo Rogers 62, New Philadelphia 57

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — In the second OHSAA girls basketball Division II semifinal on Friday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Toledo Rogers (26-3) defeated New Philadelphia (25-3) 62-57. No. 6 Rogers will face No. 3 Gates Mill Gilmour Academy in the Division II State Championship on Saturday at 5:15 p.m.

An opportunistic New Philadelphia defense forced 23 Rogers turnovers, yet the Rams were still able to put up 62 points thanks to a team shooting percentage of 50%.

The Rams were led by First Team All-Ohio honoree, junior Zia Cooke, and Second Team All-Ohioan, freshman Madison Royal-Davis. The two combined to score 44 on 15 of 26 shooting. Both Royal-Davis and Cooke added seven rebounds, while Cooke also dished out four assists.

New Philadelphia had a balanced scoring attack with three players finishing with double-digit outputs. Junior Rachel Anderson scored a team-high 16, sophomore Josie Pry added 13, and first-team All-Ohio recipient, Aaliyah Currence, finished with 12.

This was New Philadelphia's first trip to state tournament.

Toledo Rogers will be looking to win the school's first OHSAA girls basketball state championship on Saturday.

Session Three attendence was 5,316.

Division I Semifinals

No. 6 Solon 52, No. 9 Wadsworth 31

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Solon defeated Wadsworth 52-31 in the OHSAA Division I girls basketball state semifinals Friday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

The Comets used a stymying defensive effort to move on to their first state title game since 2006. They held Wadsworth’s Sophia Fortner, a Division I Second Team All-Ohio selection, to just two points on 1-of-9 shooting for the game. Wadsworth shot just 28 percent from the floor as a team and had 21 turnovers.

Division I First Team All-Ohioan Valencia Myers led all scorers with 19 points for Solon (26-2). The senior also added six rebounds, three blocks, three steals and one assist.

Lexi Lance was the lone scorer in double figures for Wadsworth (24-4). The senior finished with 12 points and five rebounds.

Solon will look to claim its first girls basketball state title when they take on the winner of No. 1 Pickerington Central and No. 7 Mason in the 2018 OHSAA Division I girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

No. 1 Pickerington Central 62, No. 7 Mason 48

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 1 Pickerington Central secured its first trip to the state championship game since 2000 with a 62-48 win over No. 7 Mason in the Division I state semifinals Friday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Juniors Madison Greene and Maliya Perry led the way for Pickerington Central (27-2). Greene, a Division I First Team All-Ohio selection, finished with a game-high 25 points and added six rebounds and one assist. Perry just missed out on a double-double, finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Division I First Team All-Ohioan, junior Sammie Puisis, finished with 14 points and eight rebounds for Mason (24-4). Senior Tihanna Fulton added 11 points and eight rebounds for the Comets.

Pickerington Central will play No. 6 Solon (26-2) in the 2018 OHSAA Division I girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Session Four attendance was 5,185.