Jim Dabbelt is the author of The Dabbelt Report, considered the premier girls’ basketball online source in Ohio. He is completing his 35th year covering girls’ basketball in Ohio and is also the senior writer for Prep Girls Hoops Ohio along with the sports editor for the Tippecanoe Gazette. During the day, Jim also works in a Cancer Center at Premier Health in the Dayton area. He is also a fellow member of the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. You can follow Jim on Twitter @JDabbs86 or Facebook, and contact him at [email protected].
Girls Basketball State Tournament Preview
By Jim Dabbelt
The main goal on the mind of everyone this season was just to survival of the unexpected. After last year’s state tournament was cancelled on the first day of the semi-finals due to the ongoing pandemic, the thought this year was to get through and complete this season.
As the girls’ basketball state tournament moves to the University of Dayton Arena for the first time ever, the teams have battled through these uncertain times to participate in the 46th annual OHSAA girls’ basketball state tournament held the next three days in a renovated and historic venue, the home of the Dayton Flyers and many NCAA tournament games.
This will only be the second time in the history of the state tournament that the location has been outside of Columbus, with the other being in 1986 when they played in Akron. The boys were at UD Arena in 1986 and 1987.
It should be another great weekend for championship basketball in Ohio as four teams look to close their memorable season as state champions.
Division 1
Newark makes their fourth appearance at the state tournament, with their last one being in 2020. Leading the way will be 6’1” senior Emma Shumate, averaging 13 points per game and headed to West Virginia, but she has plenty of talent around her. Junior Maddie Vejsicky is a 6’ guard who scored 12.4 points per game while Gwen Stare, a 5’9” junior is also productive in double figures at just over 11 points per game. Newark won their seventh consecutive district championship a couple of weeks ago and are outscoring their opponents by nearly 30 points per game.
Back again for another shot at a state championship will be Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, coached by Scott Rogers and winners of the last contested state championship in 2019. Going for their eighth state championship the Cougars, like Newark are enjoying big wins this season at a margin of over 30 points per game. They are led by the Southwest District Player of the Year KK Bransford, as the 5’11” junior considered by everyone among the top players in the country in her class, is averaging 21.3 points per game. Laila Phelia, a 5’10” senior headed to the University of Michigan, contributes 16.5 points per game, while her and Bransford have both surpassed the 1,000-point mark for their career. Senior Brianna Counts (6’) and junior Abby Wolterman (6’1”) are both very key contributors as is their 5’6” sophomore rising point guard Taylor Stanley.
No stranger to the Final Four is Toledo Notre Dame Academy, who will ne making trip number eight to the big stage in the last nine years, with two state runner-up finishes. Coach Travis Galloway brings in one of the top uncommitted juniors in America, 6’2” forward Grace VanSlooten. She enters UD Arena at 20.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per game and will get help from 5’9” senior Olivia Sims, who contributes 13.3 points per game. Notre Dame Academy is one of the most successful programs in Northwest Ohio, with 10 straight Three Rivers Athletic Conference championships and 11 district titles.
Akron Hoban makes their fourth trip to the state Final Four, but their first since 1996. They had a solid stretch of success in the mid-to-late 80s with a final four loss to Tipp City Tippecanoe in the state semis in 1986 and two years later, captured the 1988 state championship by defeating Byesville Meadowbrook. The current group of players under coach Pam Davis has enjoyed a lot of success the past couple of years with district championships in both 2020 and 2021, and with a tough win over Canton GlenOak, the Knights advance to the Final Four. They are led by Lanae Riley, a 5’11” junior at 22 points per game, along with Karli Anker at 12 points per game and Abby Stephens scoring 10.5 points per game.
Division 2
Carroll will always be remembered as the team warming up in 2020 when they stopped the proceedings and cancelled the state tournament due to Covid. They have a mentality of unfinished business this season and have advanced to the Final Four for the third consecutive season. The Patriots, who have played in the district finals eight of the last 11 years, bring in a trio of talented guards led by seniors Ava Lickliter (headed to Wheeling) at 9.1 points and now holds the school career assist/turnover record. Joined by senior Megan Leraas, a three-point record-holding sharpshooter at 11 points per game along with leading scorer in junior Sarah Ochs (14.6 points), they will be very formidable in their hometown.
Napoleon is another very talented team making the trip to Dayton with a 24-1 record. The Wildcats from the Northern Lakes League are very balanced offensively and brings in a lot of experience and competes against larger school all season, being the smallest school in their conference. Cedarville University signee Taylor Strock leads the Wildcats offensively with 16.5 points per game, but gets plenty of help from 6’ senior Caely Ressler at 12.4 points and 5’8 junior Emma Pedroza at 8.6 points. Napoleon also saw their season cut short last season at the Final Four.
Nestled away southeast of Chillicothe is the small town of McArthur, Ohio, population less than 1,500, but a group of those are members of the girls’ basketball team who have advanced to their first Final Four. After claiming their fourth consecutive league and sectional title, the Vikings have made it to Dayton and brings with them a very balanced attack. Morgan Bentley is a 5’10 senior averaging a double-double at 16.5 points/10 rebounds. Cameron Zinn is a 5’11” junior with the same production at 12 points, 10 rebounds per game. Senior Myriah Davis along with juniors Tegan Bartoe and Lacie Williams all contribute for Vinton County.
Northeast Ohio will be sending down a team with three of the better players fans will see while they are at the UD Arena. Laurel will be making their first appearance on the big stage led by Ohio State commit Taylor Thierry, a 5’11” senior averaging 14.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Mari Bickley is a 5’10” sophomore who continues to improve averaging 14 points per game with sophomore Kendall Braaten contributing ten. Laurel has won three district championships and will bring a pressuring defense and good transition game to the floor.
Division 3
Here they are again. Hiland is as much of a staple in the Final Four as any program in the history of the tournament. They have put together 26 consecutive conference titles, and this is their 18th trip to the Final Four. This weekend they are going for their sixth state championship and they have plenty of weapons to choose from. Zoe Miller is a 6’1” senior headed to Bowling Green and leads the Hawks at 17.3 points per game, but gets plenty of help from a pair of Malone commits; 5’6” senior Kyli Horn at 11.7 points and 6’ senior Kelsey Swihart at 11.1 points. Ohio Dominican recruit Brynn Mullett, a 5’9” wing scores at 10.6 points.
As a member of the defensive-minded Greater Catholic League Co-Ed, Purcell Marian is used to low scoring games, thus their team scoring average is under 50 points per game. But their defense is only giving up 35 per night, and their balanced attack led by Kara King as the Mount St. Joseph recruit is averaging 11 points per game. Both McKenna Huagabook (5’10” junior) and 6’2” senior Janay Rose are both averaging close to double figures.
Waynedale will make their debut at the state Final Four this weekend after claiming not only their first regional title, but their initial district championship in school history. The Golden Bears are a perimeter-oriented team and will throw many different looks at their opponent defensively. This group has rewritten the record books at Waynedale and are led offensively by 5’8” senior Brooklyn Troyer at 16.8 points per game. Also scoring 12.4 points per game is 5’8” senior Kelsey Wolfe with 5’8” senior Laney Murphy adding 11.6 per game. Coach Rick Geiser saw his team capture the Wayne County Athletic League title this season, their first since 2007.
Another familiar face who will compete for a championship is five-time Final Four finalist Ottawa Glandorf who finished as runner-up in both 2015 and 2016. This year’s squad includes 5’8” senior Kelsey Erford as an experienced leader from the guard position, while 6’0” junior Erin Kaufman and 5’9” sophomore Chloee Glenn.
Division 4
Only one team from last year’s Division Four Final Four makes a return trip in 2021, but they are no strangers to success. Fort Loramie is back and focused after rolling to their 27th district and conference championship this season and put together a school record 46 consecutive victories broken by Lima Bath earlier this season. Coach Carla Siegel survived a rough regional including a big win over rival and winners of the last two state championships, the Minster Wildcats. As for the Redskins, they are as deep as any team in Ohio. Kenzie Hoelscher (volleyball recruit to Findlay) and Dana Rose (Tiffin University) highlight their very balanced offensive attack. Hoelscher averages 14.2 points with Rose at 11.4. Senior guards Caitlyn Gasson and Corynn Heitkamp run the defense out top with Jadyn Puthoff coming up big in the regionals. Also back from her ACL injury is junior Ava Sholtis, a key offensive player.
Convoy Crestview makes a return trip to the state Final Four, as the Knights land on the big stage for the fifth time and the first time since 2009. Freshman Cali Gregory has put together quite a rookie season, leading the Knights in scoring at 14 points per game. A pair of seniors are also huge leaders for this squad, as 5’6 guard Olivia Cunningham sits at 13.8 points and 5’5” senior Bailey Gregory is scoring at a pace of 8.7 per game.
Waterford is no stranger to the Final Four, as they make another return trip to the stage where champions are crowned. This is their fifth trip since 2015, with a state title in 2016 and runner-up finishes in 2015 and 2017. This program looks to compete this weekend led by 5’6” junior MacKenzie Suprand who scores 15.9 points per game, along with 5’3” junior Cara Taylor who averages 14.2 points and 5’9” senior Riley Schwaikart who contributes nearly eight per contest.
Not since Jackie Hannon led McDonald to the state championship game back in 1991 have the Blue Devils to the Final Four. Now, they are back. Led by three players in double figures, McDonald looks to challenge for the Division Four state title. 6’ senior Molly Howard leads the way for the Blue Devils at 20 points per game and gets plenty of help from the likes of 5’8” senior Sophia Costantino at 15.5 points and 5’5 junior Lucia Wolford at 12 points per game. Senior Taylor Tuchek leads a solid defensive team, allowing 40 points per game.
The state championship will be in a new venue this season, but the excitement and enthusiasm will be as strong as ever.