Hathaway Brown repeats
Associated Press
COLUMBUS
Vanessa Smith had 19 points for Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown as the Blazers defeated Millersburg West Holmes 53-41 on Saturday in the girls Division II final for a record-tying fourth-straight title.
Hathaway Brown (22-5) tied the mark for consecutive championships held by Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (2006-09) and South Euclid Regina (2000-03). The Blazers were runner-ups in 2007 and ’08 before starting their title run.
West Holmes (24-4) was after its first championship since winning three straight from 1984-86.
Hathaway Brown scored nine straight points to end the first half with a 28-19 lead.
West Holmes got to within four, but the Blazers went on a 12-0 run at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth for a 45-29 margin.
Emily Molnar and Justice Wright had nine points each for West Holmes.
Division I
Twinsburg defeated Kettering Fairmont, 57-51.
Division IV
Arlington’s first trip to the state tournament started four years ago when Seth Newlove became coach and culminated in a championship.
Newlove and the seniors that grew with him cut the nets in Value City Arena after beating Berlin Hiland, 52-37.
“That’s what we’ve been working for, for a long time,” senior Amelia Recker said.
Dani Heaster had 13 points to lead four teammates in double figures as Arlington (27-1) won its 25th in a row and ended Hiland’s hopes of winning a fifth state title since 2000.
The Red Devils’ 7-1 run in the final 80 seconds of the first half doomed the Hawks (19-9) as they fell behind 26-10.
“We defended the heck out of them,” Newlove said. “That was the key.”
Hiland got as close as 12 in the fourth quarter with 31/2 minutes to go but Arlington was able to seal the win at the foul line.
“We thought we were the team to apply pressure,” Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said. “They were the team that made us feel extremely uncomfortable.”
Joy Reamsnyder and Alivia Recker had 11 points, and Amelia Recker added 10.
McKenzie Miller had nine points for Hiland.
Division III
Kiyanna Black had 27 points, including the first four of overtime, to help Columbus Africentric defeat unbeaten Anna 70-66 to win the girls Division III title.
The Nubians (23-4) also won Division IV titles in 2007 and 2009.
Anna (27-1) saw its 50-game winning streak end. The Rockets had put up a fight; rallying from six behind in the final 35 seconds of regulation, then cutting an eight-point overtime deficit to 68-66.
Anna’s Natalie Billing had 22 points, and teammate Ashley Frohne had 21. Billing stole the ball with 30 seconds left in overtime and went for the tying basket but it was blocked by Jaren Francis.