Girls state basketball | Saturday’s games at a glance

DIVISION I

Lakota West 44, Notre Dame Academy 38

COLUMBUS

Lexi Wasan had 15 points, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, to give West Chester Lakota West a 44-38 win against Toledo Notre Dame Academy for its first Division I state title Saturday at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.

Wasan hit the trey with 3:20 left to give the Firebirds (28-2) a 40-35 lead and Notre Dame (27-3) never got closer than two the rest of the way.

Lauren Cannatelli made two free throws with 16.2 seconds to ensure the win. She had 14 points and Danielle Wells had 10.

C.J. Jefferson led Notre Dame with 16 points and Kaayla McIntyre had 13 points and 10 rebounds. BC-BKH--D2 Final,2nd-LdWritethru/333

DIVISION II

Kettering Alter 57, Toledo Rogers 42

COLUMBUS

Kettering Archbishop Alter beat Toledo Rogers by one point earlier this season. So when the Knights defeated Rogers, it probably looked easier to outsiders.

“No. It felt close,” Alter co-coach Christina Hart said.

That’s because Rogers (24-6) battled all the way to the bitter end despite losing Akienreh Johnson, an Associated Press co-player of the year in Division II, to an injury before the state tournament began.

“We’ve got to play with who we have,” Rogers coach Lamar Smith said. “The other girls have a job to do.”

Emma Bockrath, one of four Alter seniors, had 21 points as the top-ranked Knights finished undefeated (30-0) and avenged a loss to Millersburg West Holmes in the 2014 season that ruined a perfect season.

Rogers was led by Sydney Petty with 11 points and eight rebounds.

DIVISION III

Versailles 49, Ottawa-Glandorf 46

COLUMBUS

Versailles forward Taylor Winner had simple objectives when she saw Ottawa-Glandorf race down the court after a turnover with a chance to tie the Division III title game in the waning moments.

“I had to try and catch her,” Winner said.

Winner was able to block a layup by Danielle Schroeder with eight seconds left.

“I knew I couldn’t touch her,” Winner said. “I tried to get all ball.”

After that block, Winner also blocked a shot by Elissa Ellerbrock with 4.4 seconds left on the next play. Teammate Lauren Bruns grabbed the ball and was fouled.

Bruns made the last of her 16 points on a free throw to seal a victory.

Ottawa-Glandorf (26-3) had one final shot after Bruns missed her second foul shot but a 3-pointer from 30 feet by Schroeder was off target.

Ellerbrock led Ottawa-Glandorf, in its first state appearance, with 12 points.

It meant redemption for Versailles (25-4), which lost the 2014 championship game to Africentric. The Tigers’ previous title was in 2008.

“Before the game we talked about taking care of the basketball and rebounding,” Versailles coach Jacki Stonebraker said. “We didn’t do either but we played as a team and made plays.”

DIVISION IV

Fort Loramie 55, Waterford 48

COLUMBUS

A big lead was slipping away for Fort Loramie, but guard Jessica Boerger looked around and offered advice to her teammates.

“I tried to calm everyone down,” she said.

Boerger did that and more. She and Kelly Turner combined for 40 points to lead Fort Loramie (26-4) to its second state title.

Boerger had 25 points and seven rebounds. Turner added 15 points and six rebounds.

Waterford (27-2) had a 15-game winning streak ended in its first state tournament. Taylor Hilverding and Ali Kern each had 13 points for the Wildcats.

Associated Press