Twinsburg goes for a state championship

Staff report

COLUMBUS

There will be a new state champion in Division I when the girls basketball championships begin at Value City Arena.

Defending champion and Associated Press poll champion Canton McKinley was defeated by Twinsburg in the regional final last weekend.

The Tigers (25-0) are led by junior Malina Howard, who is averaging a double-double (20 ppg, 10 rpg). Twinsburg, ranked No. 2 and in the state semifinals for the first time, will play Pickerington North (21-5).

The other semifinal on Friday will match No. 4 Kettering Fairmont (25-1) against No. 7 Toledo Start (23-2).

In Div. II three teams are making their first appearance and are joined by the two-time defending state champion.

Cambridge (21-4) will play Hathaway Brown (16-9), the 2009 and 2010 state champions, while No. 3 Clyde (25-0) will take on No. 4 Dayton Carroll (21-4) in the semifinals.

The four schools in the Div. III semifinals have a combined record of 95-5 and feature three ranked teams, including the poll champion.

Anna (25-1), ranked No. 3, is led by seniors Rebecca Burch, Megan Fogt and Carrie Watkins. The Rockets play unranked Fort Recovery (23-2), in the semifinals for the third time. Senior twins Holly and Kendra Brunswick lead the Indians, who won state titles in 1990 and 1991.

No. 1-ranked Oak Hill (24-0) is led by junior Breanna Butler (18.7 ppg), and will play No. 7 Elyria Catholic (23-2), which defeated Ursuline in the regional final. The Panthers are in the semifinals for the first time.

Fort Loramie (21-5) comes into the Div. IV semifinals unranked, but making its sixth appearance. The Redskins are led by seniors and 1,000-point scorers Janel Oldberding and Clair Ruhenkamp. Shadyside (26-0), which defeated Lowellville in the regional semifinals, will play Fort Loramie.

In the other semifinal, No. 8 Delphos Jefferson (23-2) takes on No. 1 Harvest Prep (24-1). The Warriors are defending state champions and have won two straight regional titles.