First Posted: 3/21/2015
COLUMBUS — Despite losing much of a 14-point lead in the third quarter, West Chester Lakota West held off Toledo Notre Dame Academy 44-38 to win its first Division I title Saturday at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.
“Our girls took their best and showed our best was a little better,” Lakota West coach Andy Fishman said.
Lexi Wasan had 15 points, including a key three-pointer late in the fourth quarter. She hit a 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.
Notre Dame reached the championship game for the first time after losing in the semifinals the past three seasons.
“I’m disappointed we didn’t win but proud that we got this far,” Notre Dame guard C.J. Jefferson said.
She led the Eagles with 16 points and teammate Kaayla McIntyre added 13.
For Lakota West, Lauren Cannatelli made two free throws with 16.2 seconds to ensure the win. She had 14 points and Danielle Wells had 10.
A see-saw third quarter put Lakota West ahead 32-29. The Firebirds held Notre Dame scoreless for 4:51 and had 10 unanswered points for a 32-18 lead but Jefferson sparked an 11-0 Notre Dame run to end the quarter with eight points. Mariah Copeland had the other points on a three-pointer from the right corner.
“That was one time I wish the quarter was four minutes longer,” Notre Dame coach Travis Galloway said. “We had all the momentum then they got the ball to start the fourth and scored.”
Lakota West ended the first quarter with a three-point buzzer-beater by Cannatelli to cap a 9-0 run for 13-8 lead. Six of those during the streak were by Wasan, who had eight points in the quarter to set the tone for the game.
”We really deserved this state championship,” Fishman said. “This is what happens when players don’t care who gets the credit.”
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 a win over Waterford to win its second Division IV girls state title.
Boerger, who was named the outstanding player on the Associated Press Division IV all-tournament team, had 25 points and seven rebounds. Turner, who also made the all-tourney team, added 15 points and six rebounds.
Alter 57, Toledo Rogers 42
COLUMBUS — Emma Bockrath had 21 points as top-ranked Kettering Archbishop Alter (30-0) won its second Division II title with a win against Toledo Rogers (24-6).
Rogers, in its first title game appearance, was led by Sydney Petty with 11 points and eight rebounds.
