PREVIEW Canfield girls basketball

Who: Cincinnati McNicholas (21-6) vs. Canfield (21-6).
What: Division II state championship.
When: Today, 2 p.m.
Where: Value City Arena, Jerome Schottenstein Center, Ohio State University.
At stake: The winner is state champion in Division II.
Canfield coach: Pat Pavlansky (103-41 in his sixth season).
So far: Canfield has blazed a trail to the state title game by shocking everyone in its path. Though playing against taller teams on most occasions -- Canfield doesn't have anyone in its starting lineup taller than 5-foot-9 -- the Cardinals have relied on their stingy defense to halt opponents. In the state semifinal, Canfield survived a cold shooting spell (the Cardinals didn't score for about 4 minutes, 30 seconds in the third quarter) by holding Pemberville Eastwood to just six points over that stretch. The Cardinals are on a 12-game winning streak in making their first trip to state in nine years.
Probable starters: Julie Playforth, senior forward, 5-9, 8.6 points per game; Nicole Vlajkovich, junior forward, 5-9, 11.4; Erin Martin, junior guard, 5-8, 18.9; Jenny Miller, senior guard, 5-5, 6; Kelly Williams, sophomore guard, 5-4, 5.
Off the bench: Jill Vertanen, sophomore forward, 5-10; Megan Turocy, sophomore forward, 5-9; Corey Hoffman, freshman forward, 5-10; Mara Boak, sophomore guard, 5-7, Harmony Ramunno, sophomore guard, 5-3; Tee Lisotto, sophomore guard, 5-3; Erin Fening, sophomore forward, 5-6; Jessica Gifford, junior forward, 5-9, Kera Yelkin, junior forward, 5-10.
Averages: The Cardinals average 57 points per game on offense, and give up 45.3 on defense.
Cincinnati Archbishop McNicholas: Comes to the state final on a 10-game winning streak, having beaten Dayton Dunbar (66-53); Trotwood-Madison (63-59); St. Bernard Roger Bacon (54-39); Cincinnati Indian Hill (83-35); Cincinnati Taft (79-21) and Wilmington (60-39) along the way to the state final four. In the state semifinal, the Rockets knocked off defending state champion Columbus Hartley (48-44).
McNicholas Coach: Rob Heise (47-24 in his third season).
Roster: Liz Flammer, senior guard, 5-4; Katie Williams, senior guard, 5-6; Brittany Thomas, freshman guard, 5-4, Kendra Hornschemeier senior guard, 5-7; Betsey Clark, sophomore guard, 5-8; Sarah Bauer, junior center, 6-0; Ashley Clark, senior center, 6-0; Lauren Branson, freshman guard, 5-6; Jessica Breving, senior forward, 5-9; Lynn Oberschmidt, junior forward, 5-10; Brooke Sheehy, sophomore forward, 5-8; Kim Breving, sophomore forward, 5-11.
Scouting report: Senior guard Kendra Hornschemeier makes McNicholas run. She dictates tempo both offensively and defensively, calling the shots for the Rockets. Hornschemeier will pass the ball inside to Ashley Clark, or is capable of hitting a jump shot from just about any range. Clark led the Rockets in the semifinal with 20 points while Hornschemeier chipped in 6 points and four assists.
Radio: WKBN-AM 570
-- George Welker