- Ohio
STATE CHAMPS! SCOUT TEAM: A dozen of the best performances from OHSAA girls basketball finals weekend
Looking back at the OHSAA semifinals and finals on Tom Blackburn Court at the University of Dayton Arena earlier this month, here are 12 of the best performances of the weekend (in alphabetical order):
Morgan Bentley, McArthur Vinton County — Had 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists in Vinton County’s 76-44 loss to Napoleon in the Division II title game, after recording a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the 53-51 win over Laurel School in the semifinals, five of those bards in the decisive fourth quarter.
KK Bransford, Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame — Had 21 points and 10 assists in Mount Notre Dame’s 57-55 win over Newark in the Division I title game, including the layup with nine seconds left to send it to a second overtime, tied at 49-49, and the jumper to win it with 22 seconds in the second overtime period. She scored nearly half of her points in the two overtime periods. Bransford had 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in Mt. Notre Dame’s 59-50 win over Notre Dame Academy in the D-I semifinals.
Chloee Glenn, Ottawa-Glandorf — Had 17 points and seven rebounds in Ottawa-Glandorf’s 46-36 win over Apple Creek Waynesdale in the D-III semifinals, but was held to eight points — leading her team — and eight rebounds in the 45-25 loss to Berlin Hiland.
Molly Howard, McDonald — Had 21 points, 12 rebounds in a 57-29 win over Waterford in the Division IV semifinals, then was the only player on her team to reach double figures in the 60-26 loss to Fort Loramie in the finals, scoring 10 points and grabbing four rebounds.
Zoe Miller, Berlin Hiland — Had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds in Hiland’s 45-25 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the Division III finals, going 8-for-9 from the free-throw line. In her team’s 47-40 win over Cincinnati Purcell Marian in the D-III semis, Miller had 16 points and five rebounds, going 7-for-9 from the line.
Laila Phelia, Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame — Had 20 points on 9-for-13 shooting in Mt. Notre Dame’s 59-50 win over Notre Dame Academy in the Division I semifinals, then added 11 points and three boards in the D-I title game, including nine points in the first half.
Lanae Riley, Akron Archbishop Hoban — Posted a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds in the 55-41 loss to Newark in the Division I semifinals.
Dana Rose, Fort Loramie — Had 22 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a 66-24 win over Convoy Crestview in the Division IV semifinals, then followed that up with a 13-point, five-rebound, three-steal night in the 60-26 win over McDonald in the D-IV title game.
Gwen Stare, Newark — Scored seven of Newark’s 12 points in the two overtime periods of Newark’s double-overtime, 57-55 loss to Mt. Notre Dame in the Division I title game, finishing with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds, along with four assists. She had 16 points and six assists in the 55-41 win over Archbishop Hoban in the D-I semifinals.
Taylor Strock, Napoleon — Had 23 points and seven rebounds in Napoleon’s 76-44 win over Vinton County in the Division II finals, after tying Emma Pedroza for the team scoring lead with 13 in the 46-43 win over Carroll in the semifinals, adding five assists. Strock had six of Napoleon’s 13 points in the fourth quarter of the semifinal, going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
Grace VanSlooten, Toledo Notre Dame Academy — The junior scored 20 points on 8-for-12 shooting, with eight rebounds in the 59-50 loss to Mt. Notre Dame in the Division I semifinals.
Maddy Vejicky, Newark — Had 18 points and six rebounds in the 57-55 double-overtime loss to Mt. Notre Dame in the Division I title game, her layup with 11 seconds left in regulation tying the game up at 43-43, and sending it to overtime. She had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists in the 55-41 win over Archbishop Hoban in the D-I semifinals.
