2010 OHSAA Girls State Basketball Championships

Canton McKinley Hangs On in Thriller to Win First State Championship

COLUMBUS, Ohio � No. 9 Canton McKinley held off a second-half Toledo Waite rally to top the Indians 49-47 and capture the Lady Pups� first state championship at the 2010 OHSAA Div. I girls state basketball tournament Saturday night at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

With the score knotted at 47 with 15 seconds left in the game, Canton McKinley junior Laneisha Lennon sank a free throw to give the Lady Pups a one point advantage. Sophomore Ameryst Alston extended the lead to two points with another free throw with eight seconds left.

Toledo Waite then drove the length of the court before the ball was knocked out of bounds with just under a second remaining. On the ensuing inbounds play, junior Shanice McNeal was fouled sending her to the line with no time on the clock. McNeal�s first free throw bounced off the back iron sending Canton McKinley home with the state title.

McKinley (26-2) jumped out to a 30-19 halftime thanks to a 10-2 run to close the half and Alston, who scored 15 of her team-high 22 points in the first half. Waite senior and Ohio Player of the Year Natasha Howard took over in the second half playing at the top of a full-court press that got Waite back into the game. Howard finished with a game-high 23 points, 14 rebounds, eight steals and four blocks.

Other top players in the game included McKinley senior Sydnee Penn who poured in 15 and Waite junior Shanice McNeal who scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Sixth-ranked Toledo Waite, making its first state tournament appearance finishes the season 25-2.

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Division II State Championship Recap
Saturday, March 20 - 2:00 p.m.
Box Score

Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown (23-4) 48, Kettering Archbishop Alter (24-3) 35
Hathaway Brown Makes It Back-to-Back State Titles

COLUMBUS, Ohio � No. 6 Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown successfully defended its 2009 state championship by downing No. 3 Kettering Archbishop Alter 48-35 in the 2010 OHSAA Div. II girls basketball state championship Saturday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Hathaway Brown (23-4) was making its fourth overall and fourth consecutive state tournament appearance. The Blazers had runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008 before winning their first state title a year ago. Archbishop Alter was attempting to claim its second state championship in its fourth state tournament appearance.

The two schools have become familiar with each other in the state tournament, having faced off the last three years in Columbus. Alter beat Hathaway Brown in the 2008 state title game before the Blazers knocked off Alter in the state semifinals a year ago.

The Blazers were led by two-time Ohio Player of the Year Mylan Woods� 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Junior Alanna Guy was also in double figures with 10 points. Hathaway Brown, who never trailed during the game, dominated the Knights on the glass, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds and scoring 10 second-chance points.

Archbishop Alter, which finishes the season at 24-3, could never get in a rhythm offensively, committing 18 turnovers and only shooting 33 percent from the field. The Knights were led by junior Whitney Dabbelt�s eight points and six rebounds.

### OHSAA ###

Division III State Championship Recap
Saturday, March 20 - 10:45 a.m.
Box Score

Findlay Liberty-Benton (27-0) 66, Middletown Madison (26-1) 44
Liberty-Benton Runs Past Middletown Madison in the Second Half for First State Title

COLUMBUS, Ohio � The 2010 OHSAA girls basketball Div. III state title game saw a battle between two undefeated teams, and top-ranked Findlay Liberty-Benton outlasted No. 4 Middletown Madison 66-44 Saturday morning at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Up 38-34 at halftime, Liberty-Benton dominated the second half, outscoring the Mohawks 28-10. The Eagles held Madison to 19 percent shooting from the floor after the break and sank all 16 of its free throw attempts in the second half to hold off the Mohawks. The 24 free throws made in the game for the Eagles set a new mark for Division III state championship game, breaking the 1995 record of 23 set by Sherwood Fairview.

The Eagles were led by a trio of double-figure scorers, including first team All-Ohioan and senior Amanda Hyde�s game-high 23 points. Sophomore Caite Craft scored 19 points and senior Amber Peterson poured in 13, including three three-pointers.

It was the first state championship for Liberty-Benton, which made its first state tournament appearance last year before falling in the state semifinals. Madison, which was making its first state tournament appearance, was led by sophomore Brittany Shield�s 13 points and first team All-Ohioan junior Ally Malott�s 10 points and nine rebounds.

### OHSAA ###

Division IV State Championship Recap
Saturday, March 20 - 5:15 p.m.
Box Score

Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (27-1) 45, Berlin Hiland (26-2) 41

Harvest Prep Takes Home First Girls State Basketball Championship

COLUMBUS, Ohio � The 2010 OHSAA Division IV state championship game was tied at 41 with 37 seconds left to play as freshman Cheyenne Rose stepped to the free throw line. Rose sank both free throws to give No. 3 Canal Winchester Harvest Prep a two-point lead on its way to a 45-41 victory over Berlin Hiland and its first girls basketball state title Saturday at Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Two more free throws by junior Shicole Watts with 16 seconds left sealed the victory for the Warriors as they finish the season 27-1. After erasing an 18 point deficit to win its semifinal game against Fort Loramie, Harvest Prep managed another comeback, wiping out a nine point Berlin Hiland advantage taking the lead with 1:46 left in the third quarter.

The No. 2 Hawks, making their 11th trip to the state tournament, finish the season 26-2 and take home their third state runner-up trophy. Hiland was led by Ohio Co-player of the year and senior captain Hilary Weaver, who picked up 19 points.

Sharing player of the year honors with Weaver was Watts, who collected a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and four steals. Sophomore Jaren Francis had nine points and six rebounds for the Warriors.

### OHSAA ###