Girls state tourney gets going today

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

When the last second evaporated off the clock a year ago and Hathaway Brown had finally captured an elusive state championship, coach Paul Barlow allowed himself a sigh of relief.

The previous two years the Blazers had made it to Ohio’s final four only to leave with a loss.

The 52-46 victory over Wapakoneta gave them an end to the anxiety — at least for another year.

“I would certainly agree that there was a great deal of relief for me last year to finally win the state championship,” said Barlow, whose team is back again for its fourth straight trip to the state semifinals. “But this year, honestly, the pressure for us was more to get back there. Not to say our goal’s not to win the state championship and repeat. But the idea of falling short of Columbus would have been a very hard pill to swallow.”

The Blazers (21-4) are the only team trying to defend a title as the 35th girls tournament gets under way today at Value City Arena.

The tournament begins at 11 a.m. with the Div. III semifinals, followed by the Div. II schools.

The Div. IV semifinals are Friday afternoon, followed by the Div. I games.

The championships are Saturday.

It’s an odd mix of emotions for the coaches and players. On one hand, there’s a sense of accomplishment for just reaching the state semifinals. But on the other is the desire to win just two more games to complete a dream season.

Fairmont coach Tim Cogan voiced that confluence of feelings.

“We graduated three very good seniors last year, all of whom are playing Division II college basketball. They were all of our guards,” he said. “Coming into this year, we didn’t know quite where we would stand. I tell you, our kids have really defied all odds as to how people ranked us early on.”

Reynoldsburg, like Fairmont, Madison, Harvest Prep, Toledo Waite and Miami Trace, is making its first trip to the state tournament.

“We’ve kind of gotten hot at the right time,” coach Jack Purtell said. “It seems like we’re playing our best right now that we have all year. Seems like a good time to do it.”

MS. BASKETBALL

Toledo Waite’s Natasha Howard was named the Associated Press Ms. Basketball.

The 6-foot-3 senior, who has signed to play next season at Florida State, averaged 24.7 points, 11 rebounds and 2.6 assists during the regular season. Now she has guided the Indians (23-2) to the state tournament. They will play in the Div. I semifinals against Kettering Fairmont on Friday night.

“She’s unselfish. She does everything that’s required of a basketball player. Her game speaks for itself,” said her coach Manny May. “She reminds me of Magic Johnson.”