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2017 Girls Basketball State Tournament Recaps

Division II Semifinals

Kettering Archbishop Alter 50, Ottawa-Glandorf 43 
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — In a rematch of the 2016 Division II State Championship, Kettering Archbishop Alter defeated No. 1 Ottawa-Glandorf 50-43, to advance to the 2017 OHSAA Girls Basketball Division II State Final on Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
Alter (28-2) trailed No. 1 Ottawa-Glandorf 19-17 at halftime before outscoring the Lady Titans 20-8 in the third quarter. Down 37-27 to start the fourth quarter, Ottawa-Glandorf (27-2) fought back and forced overtime by outscoring the Lady Knights 14-4 in the fourth quarter. In overtime, Alter shut down the Titan offense and earned its third-straight appearance in the Division II State Championship by way of a 50-43 win. Alter was led by two senior guards, Libby Bezelak and Braxtin Miller. Libby scored 20 points, adding five assists and five rebounds. Braxtin scored 15 points and pulled in eight rebounds.
 
Alter will face the winner of the second Division II semifinal matchup between Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown (17-10) and Washington C.H. Miami Trace (24-4) on Saturday at 10:45 a.m.
 
Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown 48, Washington C.H. Miami Trace 40
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Despite being down for nearly the entire game, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown (18-10) will be facing Kettering Archbishop Alter in the 2017 OHSAA Girls Basketball Division II State Championship. Hathaway Brown defeated Washington Court House Miami Trace (24-5) 48-40 in the second Division II Semifinal game on Thursday afternoon at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
After a very slow start, shooting one for ten from the field and trailing 9-3 at the end of the first quarter, Hathaway Brown Lady Blazers outscored Miami Trace 45-31 in the final 24 minutes, and 20-8 in the fourth quarter. The Blazers were led by senior center Dani Lawson, who finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds, seven coming on the offensive glass. Miami Trace junior forward Tanner Bryant also posted a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Hathaway Brown will be looking to win its sixth OHSAA Girls Basketball Division II State Championship on Saturday when they face off against No. 2 Alter at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday in the first of four OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship games.
 
Session One attendance was 5,476.

Division IV Semifinals

Waterford 37, Jackson Center 35
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Waterford junior Hayley Duff scored the game-winning layup as time expired (CLICK FOR VIDEO) to propel the Wildcats to a 37-35 win over Jackson Center and into the Division IV state championship game, keeping their state title repeat dreams alive Thursday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
Jackson Center (23-5) was down 32-18 at the half but fought back and used a 12-0 run to start the fourth quarter to bring the Waterford lead to just one with a minute remaining in the contest. After two made free throws by Waterford’s Alli Kern, Jackson Center senior guard Cassie Meyer hit a 3-point field goal with 18 seconds remaining the tie the game at 35.
 
It was then that Duff’s heroics won the game for Waterford.
 
Kern led the Wildcats with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds. She also tied a Division IV state semifinal game record with four made 3-point field goals.
 
No. 4 Waterford (25-3) will play the winner of No. 7 Ottoville and No. 1 Berlin Hiland in the Division IV state championship game Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
 
Berlin Hiland 44, Ottoville 41
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Berlin Hiland Junior guard Kennedy Schlabach drilled a buzzer-beating three-point field goal (CLICK FOR VIDEO) to give the Hawks a 44-41 win over Ottoville Thursday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. The win sends the Hawks to their first state championship game appearance since 2013.
 
No. 1 Berlin Hiland took its first lead of the game at 37-36 with 3:38 remaining in the game. Senior guard Angela Troyer, 2017 Associated Press Division IV Player of the Year, scored half of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter.
 
Junior Bridget Landin paced No. 7 Ottoville (24-4) with a team-high 15 points, including several clutch fourth-quarter free throws that keep the Lady Green in the game.
 
Berlin Hiland (28-1) will play No. 4 Waterford (25-3) in the 2017 OHSAA Division IV girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
 
Session Two attendance was 5,454.

Division III Semifinals

Gates Mills Gilmour Academy 65, Columbus Africentric 54
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gates Mills Gilmour Academy defeated Columbus Africentric 65-54 in a Division III girls basketball state semifinal game Friday afternoon at the Jerome Schottenstein Center to earn its first state championship game appearance in school history.
 
Gilmour Academy used a potent shooting attack from beyond the arc, breaking a Division III state semifinal game record with 11 made three-point field goals. Senior guard Emily Kelley led the Lancers’ shooting barrage, tying a Division III state semifinal state game record with six made threes. Both teams combined to make a state-record 16 three-pointers in the game. Junior forward Naz Hillmon posted a double-double for the Lancers, scoring 16 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
 
Africentric (25-4) had a balanced scoring attack, finishing with three players in double figures, led by sophomore Jordan Horston with 17 points.
 
Gilmour Academy (23-5) will play the winner of Winchester Eastern and No. 6 Versailles in the 2017 OHSAA Division III girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
 
 
Versailles 58, Winchester Eastern 34
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — Versailles defeated Winchester Eastern 58-34 in a Division III girls basketball state semifinal game Friday afternoon at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
The Tigers used a balanced offensive output to propel them to their fourth state championship game appearance and first since 2015. Versailles had four players score in double figures, led by junior Danielle Winner and senior Camille Watren who both finished with a game-high 14 points.
 
Junior forward Allison Day led Winchester Eastern (26-2) with a team-high 11 points.
 
No. 6 Versailles (26-3) will play No. 10 Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (23-5) in the 2017 OHSAA Division III girls basketball state championship game Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
 
Session Three attendance was 4,721.

Division I Semifinals

Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame 51, Canton McKinley 33
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame will look to win its sixth OHSAA girls basketball state championship on Saturday after defeating Canton McKinley (23-6) 51-33 in the first Division I semifinal game on Friday evening at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
Following a tightly contested first quarter, in which McKinley held a 13-12 lead, Mount Notre Dame (25-4) used its defense to fuel themselves to a decisive win. In the final three quarters, McKinley's offense was only able to generate 20 points and shot 7-of-33 from the field, including two field goal droughts that lasted more than seven minutes.
 
Mount Notre Dame was led by senior guard Madison Marcum and junior forward Abby Voss. Marcum led the Cougars in scoring with 19 points on 7-12 shooting, and 5-9 on threes, while Voss posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Coach Dr. Scott Rogers earned his 200th win as the Mount Notre Dame head coach with the victory. 
 
Mount Notre Dame will play the winner of the No. 1 Newark (28-0) and No. 10 Toledo Notre Dame Academy (25-3) on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Jerome Schottenstein Center for the 2017 OHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championship.
 
Toledo Notre Dame Academy 75, Newark 59
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Toledo Notre Dame Academy (27-3) advances to the OHSAA Girls Basketball Division I State Championship by defeating No. 1 Newark 75-59 in the second semifinal game on Friday night at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
Rebounding was the name of the game as No. 10 Notre Dame Academy outrebounded Newark (28-1) 46-29. Especially impressive were the 18 offensive rebounds Notre Dame hauled in through the first three quarters. Leading the way for the Eagles was Ariel Cummings. The junior center finished the game with 28 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks. Associated Press Northwest District Division I Player of the Year Bre Hampton-Bey also contributed a double-double, finishing the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Toledo Notre Dame Academy will be looking for the first OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship when the face off against Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (25-4) at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Saturday at 8:30 p.m.

Division II Final

Kettering Archbishop Alter Completes the Three-Peat
Alter defeats Hathaway Brown 58-41 to win third straight Division II State Championship
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- For the third consecutive season, the Kettering Archbishop Alter Knights are the 2017 OHSAA Division II Girls Basketball State Champions. Alter (29-2) defeated Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown 58-41 on Saturday morning at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
 
Alter led for all but the first 57 seconds of the game, converting on 44-percent of its shots, including 5-for-12 from three-point range. The Knights defense also impressed as it held Hathaway Brown (18-11) to its sixth lowest offensive output on the season.
 
Division II Southwest District Co-Players of the Year Libby Bazelak and Braxtin Miller were too much for the Blazers as the two combined for 44 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals.
 
Alter started the game strong, shooting 7-for-15 from the field in the first quarter, holding onto a 16-7 after the first eight minutes. In the second quarter, Hathaway Brown outscored second-ranked Alter 13-9 to go into halftime down 25-20. But the five-point deficit was the closest the Blazers would get, as Alter's offense flourished in the second half scoring 33 points on 13-for-27 shooting.
 
Hathaway Brown senior center Dani Lawson finished with a double-double for the Blazers. Lawson followed her 16-point, 14-rebound performance in the semifinals with 10 points and 12 rebounds in the state championship.
 
This win marked the 116th for Alter's six seniors, accompanied by only five losses, which is an OHSAA state record. Following the game, Coach Christina Hart commented on the class' career success. "I think what they did on the court today sums it all up. They played together, they worked together, and that's what they've done for four years. What they have done is unprecedented. You've had some great teams that have come before us, and making it up here four straight years is something they should cherish for the rest of their lives."
 
Saturday's victory is Archbishop Alter's fourth girls basketball state championship and sixth appearance in the state final.

Division IV Final

Berlin Hiland Defeats Defending State Champion Waterford 61-41, Hawks Claim Fifth OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship
Hawks now tied for second-most state titles in OHSAA girls basketball history
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COLUMBUS, Ohio — No. 1 Berlin Hiland knocked off defending state champion No. 4 Waterford 61-41 in the 2017 OHSAA Division IV state final Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center to claim its fifth girls basketball state title and first since 2008.
 
Hiland (29-1) used suffocating full-court pressure to control the pace of the game from the opening tip. Waterford ended the first quarter with the same amount of turnovers as points scored, trailing Hiland 9-6. In total, Hiland forced 12 Wildcat turnovers in the first half alone and 19 by game’s end. The Hawks scored a total of 21 points off turnovers in the game.
 
“These kids do what they do every single night—make big plays and hit big shots,” said Hiland head coach, and Division IV Coach of the Year, Dave Schlabach. “They were committed to trying to bring one back to Holmes County for us.”
 
After taking a 31-21 lead into the halftime break, Hiland started the second half on an 11-0 run. Waterford was able to stop the bleeding with an Alli Kern layup halfway through the period, but the damage had been done. Hiland outscored Waterford 18-9 in the third quarter and took a 49-30 lead into the final period of play.
 
Hiland worked its lead all the way up to 23 points with 5:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. With the game in hand, both teams started to pull their starters so their respective crowds could give appreciation to their seniors and star players.
 
Hiland tied a state record for made three-point field goals in a Division IV championship game with eight. Associated Press 2017 Division IV Player of the Year Angela Troyer shot 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and finished with 20 points. Junior Morgan McMillen added 17 points on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point land for the Hawks. Hiland is the first Division IV Associated Press Poll Champion to go on and win the state tournament since Reedsville Eastern in 2014.
 
“It's been quite a year for us,” said Schlabach. “This group especially, a devastating loss a year ago, they were a very committed group to work their way back to here.”
 
Waterford’s Kern, a First Team All-Ohio selection, posted a double-double for the Wildcats (25-4) finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Teammate and fellow First Team All-Ohioan Megan Ball added nine points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. It was Waterford’s third-straight state championship game appearance, taking home one title (2016) and two runner-up finishes (2015, ’17) in that time span.
 
Attendance for the game was 4,759.

Division III Final

Gates Mills Gilmour Academy Wins First Girls Basketball State Title
Naz Hillmon leads Lancers to first OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- No. 10 Gates Mills Gilmour Academy defeated No. 6 Versailles 58-56  to win the 2017 OHSAA Division III Girls Basketball State Championship on Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center. Saturday's victory marked the first OHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship for Gates Mills Gilmour Academy.
 
The back-and-forth game that featured ten lead changes came down to the final possession. With 2.5 seconds remaining, Gilmour (24-5) was inbounding underneath their own basket and attempted a deep pass that was intercepted by the Tigers. After intercepting the pass, Versailles was unable to get a good look at a game-winning shot attempt and the Lancers triumphed.
 
Postgame, coach Bob Buetel didn't seem surprised that his team was able to pull out the victory amid the late-game chaos. "I had a lot of confidence in these kids and what they would do in any moment presented to them on the court," said Buetel. "We prepared extremely hard all year for this moment, [the team] made the most of every lesson to be learned throughout the season, and I can't be proud of these girls."
 
Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year Naz Hillmon was the center of the Gilmour offensive attack, and proved to be too much inside for Versailles to handle. Hillmon finished the game with 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting and 17 rebounds including seven on the offensive end. This impressive performance followed a semifinal game where Hillmon posted another double-double, 16 points and 16 rebounds. Guards Sarah Bohn and Emily Kelley finished with double-digit scoring outputs for the Lancers, as well.
 
Versailles (26-4) had a balanced attack on offense, as all five starters finished with at least seven points. Junior forward Danielle Winner led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding. Winner finished the game with 13 points and eight rebounds, six of the eight being offensive rebounds. Guards Kami McEldowney and Camille Watren both joined Winner scoring in double-figures.

Division I Final

Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame Wins Sixth Girls Basketball State Championship
Mount Notre Dame overcomes slow start to take home the OHSAA Girls Basketball State Title
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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (26-4) defeated No. 10 Toledo Notre Dame Academy 54-44 Saturday night at the Jerome Schottenstein Center to win the 2017 OHSAA Division I Girls Basketball State Championship.
 
Mount Notre Dame overcame a very slow start, down 11-4 after the first quarter, to score 50 points in the final 24 minutes. The Cougars were led by juniors Julia Hoefling and Abby Voss. Hoefling shot 8-for-14 from the field and scored 18 points, while Voss scored 15 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. On defense, the Cougars' size in the middle of their 2-3 zone frustrated Notre Dame Academy's Ariel Cummings, who posted 28 points in the Eagles' semifinal victory, but only scored two points in the championship game.
 
Associated Press Northwest District Division I Player of the Year Bre Hampton-Bey continued her impressive senior campaign, finishing with a game-high 22 points and ten rebounds. On defense, she harassed Mount Notre Dame point guard Gabbie Marshall, compiling four steals and allowing Marshall only two made field goals.
 
This state title for the Cougars is the sixth in the school history and the first since 2009, which was also the last time Mount Notre Dame made it to the final weekend of the state tournament. They are now tied for the most girls basketball state championships in Ohio history.