Hiland repeats Div. IV crown

The Hawks defeated East Canton 59-54 for its third title in eight tries.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
COLUMBUS -- Jena Stutzman scored 24 points, Lindsay Stuckey added 17 and Berlin Hiland repeated as Division IV state champion, rallying to defeat East Canton 59-54 Saturday.
Hiland, down 12 in the second quarter, capitalized on East Canton's cold-shooting second half and foul problems to pull away from a 43-all tie after three quarters.
With East Canton's Katy Arick hindered by four fouls and no one able to challenge shots inside, the Hawks (26-2) scored 10 of their 16 fourth-quarter points in the lane.
Rachel Thomas opened the fourth with a basket underneath, putting Hiland ahead to stay 45-43. Stuckey scored down low, Layla Miller split two free throws and Stutzman made a 3-pointer to make it 51-46, Hiland's largest lead since 8-2.
After Caitlin Sharp made a 3-pointer for East Canton, Stuckey scored on two drives, Stutzman had another basket in the lane and Lydia Miller made two free throws to make it 59-51 with 1:45 left.
After a strong first half that saw East Canton (24-3) shoot 16-for-26, the Wizards went 6-of-25 from the field in the second half.
Sharp, who scored 23, hit 7-of-10 shots in the first half but went 2-for-10 after halftime. She missed 3-pointers on three straight possessions in the fourth quarter, with East Canton trailing by either four or six points.
Arick, a first-team All-Ohioan, had 16 points, but it was her fourth foul that mattered most in this game. Trying to deflect a pass out of bounds, she knocked over Ashton Guggisberg in front of Hiland's bench with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.
East Canton coach Tom Davis sent Arick out to start the fourth quarter, but only one foul away from disqualification, she couldn't challenge shots or pressure defenders.
Hiland, playing in the tournament for the eighth time, won its third championship under coach David Schlabach.
Davis was trying to win his first state championship in his 31st season at East Canton. He guided the Wizards to the state tournament one other time, losing the small-school title game in 1995.
Warsaw River View 48, Mentor Lake Cath. 29
COLUMBUS -- Kari Daugherty scored 21 points and older sister Kristin added 14 to help Warsaw River View rout Mentor Lake Catholic for the Div. II state championship.
The Black Bears (26-1) were never threatened while putting together a masterful performance at both ends of the floor, snapping Lake Catholic's nine-game winning streak.
River View made 21 of 38 shots from the field while holding the Cougars (17-11) to 13-of-33 shooting. The Black Bears built a 26-10 halftime lead by outscoring Lake Catholic 13-3 in the second quarter.
A .500 team during the regular season, Lake Catholic couldn't match River View's strength in the low post or quickness on the perimeter.
The Cougars tied the record for fewest points in a Div. II title game. Upper Sandusky lost the 1996 final to Cincinnati Wyoming, 35-29.
It was the 12th time this season River View held an opponent below 30 points.
Alexis Karel scored 12 points for Lake Catholic, which upset previously unbeaten and top-ranked Morrow Little Miami 51-44 in the semifinals.
Kari Daugherty had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the semis, while Kristin Daugherty had 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals.