COLUMBUS, Ohio — Four teams remaining, in each of four divisions, ultimately leaving only four schools standing as state champions at the end.
It’s a foregone conclusion the Ohio High School Athletic Association Girls Basketball State Tournament in Dayton will provide excitement this weekend.
Only Purcell Marian returns to the “Final Four” from a year ago, but the Cavaliers have moved up to Division II after cutting down the nets in Division III in 2022. There were only five state tournament schools last year that even reached the regional tournament this year.
That opens the door for seven schools who are making first-ever appearances; Bryan and Northwest in Division II, Toledo Christian and Springfield Local in Division IV, Wheelersburg in Division III, plus Midview and Olmsted Falls in Division I.
Four other schools are chasing a first-ever title (Fairland-Division II, Tri-Valley-Division IV, Chippewa & Margaretta-Division III).
Even schools such as Africentric, Hiland and Pickerington Central—which have combined for a ridiculous 45 final fours and 20 state titles—have a fresh perspective, as the three head coaches for those schools are in search of their first championships in those roles.
The semifinals are played on Thursday & Friday, with the championships Saturday on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App. The semifinals are available here by clicking on the banner at the top of the page, and for Spectrum video customers on channel 314 (where available).
Division II State Semifinal: Bryan (25-2) vs. Cincinnati Purcell Marian (25-2); Thursday at 11 a.m.
Purcell Marian returns nearly everyone from last year’s title team, including Dee Alexander, who was recently named “Ohio Ms. Basketball”. She becomes just the second sophomore to ever win the award, joining Canton McKinley’s Kierstan Bell in 2015.
It’s the fourth straight year the Cavaliers have won a regional title, and their third straight trip to Dayton. That success could easily continue, as Purcell Marian’s roster lists just one senior, remarkably for a second straight year.
Meanwhile, Bryan will attempt to become the first girls’ school from Williams County to capture a state basketball title (only Edgerton in 1959 has accomplished that on the boys’ side). This year marked the first district crown for the Golden Bears in 39 years.
Defense is the key with the club, which has held 21 of 27 opponents to under 40 points, including 11 to 30 or fewer.
One key to this game will be the start. The Cavaliers have outscored their opponents 575-227 in the first eight minutes of games this season. Bryan will want to avoid getting into a sizable hole early.
Division II State Semifinal: Proctorville Fairland (27-0) vs. Canal Fulton Northwest (26-2); Thursday at 1 p.m.
In the other Division II semifinal, we find one of only two teams to reach Dayton without a loss in the season. Fairland has rolled over its opponents this season, with only one game decided by single digits (54-51 win over Russell, Kentucky). In fact, the Dragon’s average margin of victory is a scorching 33.9 points per game, which includes a 39-point triumph over Margaretta (Division III state semifinalist).
Fairland has a 38-game regular season winning streak that goes back to Dec. 2021. The Dragons are young, too, with just two seniors on the roster.
Northwest figures to provide a stiff test. The Indians’ only two losses this season were to Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, and Northwest avenged that with a 30-27 win over the Royals in a regional semifinal.
Lily Bottomley is the school’s all-time leading scorer, with over 1,300 career points, while Ashley Cudnik has also topped the 1,100-point mark.
This year is the latest accomplishment for the Lower family, which is synonymous with Northwest basketball. In the late Nineties, head coach Kevin Lower played for his father, Jim, who later coached the Indians to the state championship game in 2004. Another son, Mike, was an assistant on that team, and is the current boys’ head coach at the school. His daughter, Gwen, plays for the Indians, along with her cousin (Kendall), the daughter of Kevin.
Division IV State Semifinal: New Middletown Springfield (24-3) vs. Toledo Christian (22-4); Thursday at 6 p.m.
Springfield Local knocked off Buckeye Central in the regional final, to prevent the Buckettes from making a return trip to Dayton. Instead, it’s the Tigers first-ever final four in girls’ basketball.
Jacey Mullen is the all-time leading scorer in school history (girls or boys) with 1,588 career points. She averages 16.6 points per game in the year.
Toledo Christian has focused on toughness all season and has been rewarded with its first state tournament. The Eagles played a challenging schedule, taking on four Division I schools (Holland Springfield, Dublin Coffman, Media & Anthony Wayne), as well as two other state semifinalists (beat Margaretta 57-44, lost to Tri-Village 50-35).
Junior Mackenzie Royal-Davis, is the younger sister of Madison Royal-Davis, who won two state titles with Toledo Rogers in 2018-19 before transferring to Toledo Christian. Madison now plays collegiately at Butler.
Division IV State Semifinal: Berlin Hiland (22-6) vs. New Madison Tri-Village (28-0); Thursday at 8 p.m.
Berlin Hiland’s 942 all-time wins are believed to be the most ever for any girls’ school in Ohio. The Hawks 19 state tournament appearances are unquestionably the most ever, and the six state titles trails only Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame (8), Africentric (7) and Pickerington Central (7).
The name Schlabach has been closely connected to this legendary program, as Dave Schlabach coached Hiland to 16 of those final fours, and all six state championships, stepping down after the most recent in 2021. He’s still on the Hawks’ bench, although he answers to son, Brady, who is in his first year as head coach.
The young team (two seniors) needed a little time to come together, starting out 8-6 before a current 14-game winning streak.
Only three programs—boys or girls—in Ohio history have recorded perfect, 30-0 records. Defiance Ayersville boys were the first in 1961. Then, in 2015, Kettering Alter’s girls and Tri-Village’s boys joined the group.
The head coach of that Patriots team was Josh Sagester, who also reached the state championship game a year ago. Senior Rylee Sagester is hoping to pull off the same feat as her father did, with two more wins in Dayton.
The Marshall recruit was runner-up to Dee Alexander for Ohio’s Ms. Basketball, and is averaging 21 points a game, and connecting on 43% of her three-point attempts.
Along with Morgan Hunt and Torie Richards, the Tri-Village seniors have played in the regional tournament all four years as starters, before finally breaking through to state.
Division III State Semifinal: Columbus Africentric (22-4) vs. Wheelersburg (25-2); Friday at 11 a.m.
Africentic is no stranger to the state tournament. However, 2023 marks the first time the Nubians will play in the final four since 2019. Africentric qualified in 2020, but that tournament was canceled with the pandemic. Senior Ariel Grace was a freshman on that team.
Janicia Anderson is the head coach, taking over for Will McKinney, who guided the school to all those state tournaments (12) and championships (7). McKinney is still around to help with the program, run by his former player.
The team is playing in the memory of another coach. David Rhodes, a long-time volunteer assistant at Africentric, passed away on February 26th. Both wins in the regional tournament were emotional for the Nubians.
One player to watch is leading scorer Jeniya Bowers (14.4 PPG), who is a freshman.
On the opposite bench is Wheelersburg, and while the Pirates are at this level for the first time in girls’ basketball, the biggest stage isn’t foreign to their players. The senior class has taken part in the state tournament in volleyball and softball, claiming a state softball championship in Division III last year.
Wheelersburg’s only two losses were to rival Portsmouth West, which was rectified in the regional final, when the Pirates came out on top, 50-41. After winning a district championship in four of the past five years, Wheelersburg finally earned a regional crown.
Division III State Semifinal: Doylestown Chippewa (24-4) vs. Castalia Margaretta (22-6); Friday at 1 p.m.
Chippewa’s Denny Schrock is one of the most accomplished girls’ basketball coaches in the state. He owns a 722-153 career record, and has coached the Chipps to a fourth final four appearance. The only thing missing? A state title.
He brings an experienced team to Dayton, with six of the top nine in the rotation seniors, led by Bel Rodriguez, and her team-best 12.7 scoring average.
Back on Dec. 28, Chippewa knocked off Margaretta 35-25, in the regular season. Now the two square off again, with much more on the line.
The Polar Bears are another team that finally cleared the regional hurdle, getting to cut down those nets after winning a district title four of the past five years.
Kylie Leibacher has scored over 1,000 points in her career, but missed most of the season with an injury. Back healthy, she leads Margaretta with a 13.6 points per game average.
Division I State Semifinal: Grafton Midview (23-4) vs. Cincinnati Princeton (26-2); Friday at 6 p.m.
It’s been a record-breaking year for Midview with new school marks established in wins (23), points scored (1,413), field goals made (552), three-point attempts (356) and rebounds (1,066). Best of all, it’s the first appearance in the final four for the Middies.
There have been individual records broken, too, as Mary Meng established new marks for single season rebounds (460), field goals made (181) and a single-game rebound mark (28). The 6’5” center, a Bowling Green signee, is in the top ten all-time in OHSAA career blocks (third with 437) and rebounds (ninth with 1,476).
It doesn’t stop there, though. Junior Olivia DiFranco (1,095) is only 20 points shy of breaking the school’s all-time scoring mark, which has stood for 43 years. She’s also set single-season records for points (500), field goals attempted (491) and made (181), as well as free throws (111 for 157).
The DiFranco family—not to be confused with the musical DeFranco Family from Canada—has left quite a legacy at Midview. Olivia’s sister, Mya, and cousin, Leah are all on the roster. Olivia & Mya’s father, Chad, is an assistant coach, while Leah’s father (Jason) is a seventh-grade coach.
The Middies lost twice in the regular season to fellow Southwestern Conference foe Olmsted Falls, another Division I state semifinalist. They also lost to Division IV entry Hiland.
Princeton’s only losses in the year were also in league play, dropping a pair to Ohio Associated Press Division I poll champion Mason in the Greater Miami Conference. However, the Vikings knocked the Comets off in a regional semifinal, to make it to states for the third time in school history. Both previous trips (1987 & 2014) resulted in OHSAA championships.
Leading the way is Texas A&M signee, and Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year, Solé Williams, who averages 20.5 points a contest.
The Vikings are coached by Dee Davis, who was a McDonald All-American at the school in 2003.
One key to the semifinal match-up will be defending Meng. Princeton has just two players on the team over 5’9”, including sophomore Kali Fortson, the daughter of former University of Cincinnati star Danny Fortson.
Division I State Semifinal: Olmsted Falls (23-3) vs. Pickerington Central (24-4); Friday at 8 p.m.
Olmsted Falls thought its first-ever state tournament appearance was in its grasp a year ago, before getting upset by Anthony Wayne in the regional tournament. The Bulldogs won the regional this year, dominating (Holland) Springfield, 63-21. Olmsted Falls allowed just four points in the second half and finished the game on a 32-2 run.
The Bulldogs get balanced scoring from Paige Kohler (15.9 PPG) and Danielle Cameron (15.4 PPG), to lead the attack.
Two out-of-state teams, and AP poll champion Mason, were the only schools to get the better of Olmsted Falls this season.
The Wallace family, and state championships, go hand-in-hand at Pickerington Central. Bexley Wallace was on the Tigers’ 2018 girls’ basketball team, while Garner won a state title in football and track. Now, sisters Berry & Blossom, along with dad (head coach Chris) are trying to bring trophies of their own to the dinner table.
Pick Central played a challenging schedule, beating defending state champions Reynoldsburg (Division I) and Alter (Division II), as well as top-teams Laurel and Africentric, beating them all.
Madison Greene, a Vanderbilt signee, was one of seven finalists for Ohio’s Ms. Basketball. She leads the team in scoring, with just over 15 points a game.
The Tigers are deep, and share the ball, as evidenced by averaging 17 assists a game on the year.
Pickerington Central’s boys’ team was the Division I state champions a year ago.
The schedule on Saturday begins with OHSAA Championship Gameday 15 minutes before each final, and returns with a post-game show immediately following, featuring MaryLee Melendez and Dave Cecutti.
10:45 a.m. – Division II Championship
2 p.m. – Division IV Championship
5:15 p.m. – Division III Championship
8:30 p.m. – Division I Championship
