Howland, Harding fall in semifinals

By Tom Williams

SOLON — With Erika Nites and Taylor Williams contributing much to his 22-win team, Howland High girls basketball coach John Diehl knows a thing or two about quality freshmen.

Count Twinsburg’s Malina Howard among the best Diehl has coached against.

The 6-foot-4 freshman dominated Thursday’s Division I district semifinal game, scoring 25 points and making 13 rebounds to lead Twinsburg (19-3) to a convincing 65-43 victory over previously unbeaten Howland at Solon High.

“She impressed me tonight,” said Diehl after Howland (22-1) fell behind 18-6 after one quarter. “She was stronger than I thought she was.”

Saturday at 1 p.m., Twinsburg will play Shaker Heights (17-6) for the district title.

Shaker Heights survived a scare by Warren Harding in Thursday’s second game, escaping with a 53-48 victory.

Diehl said his players struggled to contain Howard.

“We knew had to keep her off the left side and we couldn’t do that,” Diehl said. “She was a lot better played than I had seen her play. She did a real nice job.”

Diehl said his players, the All-American Conference Red Tier champions who posted Howland’s first unbeaten regular-season, took the defeat hard.

“They are like the most upset team I’ve ever had at the end of the season,” Diehl said. “They really don’t want it to be over.”

Last season, Howland defeated Shaker Heights in the district final. They were eliminated by Boardman in the regional final at Canton Civic Center as the Spartans rallied from a five-point deficit in the final two minutes to win in overtime.

Diehl said seniors Abby Nicholas, Kelly Barzak and Megan Long go out playing on teams that were 44-5 the past two seasons.

“They made history,” Diehl said. “That’s the best we’ve ever done back-to-back. They have a lot to be proud of.”

Barzak led Howland with 14 points and five rebounds.

“We really wanted this [game] so it’s really hard,” said the 6-foot-1 senior, adding that Howard “was probably the best I’ve played against this season.”

Nicholas scored seven points while Long had six.

“We wanted this game because ever since tournament draw, we felt they looked down upon us,” said Nicholas, referring to how Twinsburg coach Mike Kelley picked Howland’s half of the bracket instead of Shaker Heights’.

“We wanted it really bad and it didn’t happen,” Nicholas said, holding back tears.

Against Shaker Heights, Harding missed 11 of the 25 free-throw attempts. Coach P.J. Notar felt that was “our Achilles Heel.

“We had a wonderful season,” Notar said. “The girls played with intensity and they showed it tonight that they deserved to be here.”

Illini recruit Karisma Penn played in deep foul trouble for most of the second half.

Penn led Shaker Heights with 17 points and eight rebounds. She took her fourth personal foul with 3:39 remaining in the third quarter.

With time running out, Jasmine Kirkland scored from underneath to tied the game, 45-45.

Kourtney Williams followed with a free throw for Harding’s final lead.

Penn countered with a basket and free throw followed by Shelby Stokes’ basket for a 50-46 edge.

“We left it all out on the floor,” Notar said.

Williams led Harding with 11 points while Aundrea Baldridge, Jahmarra Warfield and Anita Brown each scored nine.

williams@vindy.com