Olmsted Falls wins first state championship

DAYTON — One year after finishing runner-up, Olmsted Falls returned the Division I state championship game and defeated Springboro, 52-45, to win its first girls basketball state title in school history on Saturday at University of Dayton Arena Danielle Cameron scored 19 points to lead an Olmsted Falls offense that made a Div. I championship game record 10 three-pointers. Springboro jumped to an early 9-2 lead, but Olmsted Falls (26-3) reeled off a 17-4 run over a span of six minutes that gave it a 19-13 lead with 3:41 left in the first half. The lead was three points, 20-17, at halftime. Springboro opened the second half on 7-1 run to take a a 24-21 lead less than two minutes into the frame, but Olmsted Falls immediately responded with its own 11-2 burst, capped by a corner 3 from freshman Grace Largent, to build a 32-26 lead with three minutes left in the third quarter. Springboro (24-6) drew within two points three times, but Olmsted Falls never relinquished the lead and made 8 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Ten of Olmsted Falls' 14 made field goals were three-pointers, and the Bulldogs were 14 of 24 at the foul line for the game. Six different players made a three-pointer for Olmsted Falls. Bryn Martin scored 22 points to lead Springboro. Aniya Trent was also in double figures with 12. Both schools were making their second appearance at the state tournament. Springboro also finished runner-up in its last appearance in 1978. DIVISION IICin. Purcell Marian 79, Shaker Hts. Laurel 52Cincinnati Purcell Marian claimed its third consecutive state championship, downing Shaker Heights Laurel, 79-52, in the Div. II state championship game. Purcell Marian has won the last two Div. II state titles after winning the DIv. III title in 2022 and is the first school to win three straight girls basketball state titles since Kettering Archbishop Alter won the 2015, 2016 and 2017 Div. II titles. Purcell Marian junior Dee Alexander became the state tournament's all-time leading scorer in the win. Alexander, winner of the last two Ohio Ms. Basketball awards, has scored 134 points in her three appearances at the state tournament. Beth Ostendorf (Urbana 1992-93, Pickerington 1994-95) was the previous record holder with 122 career state tournament points. Purcell Marian (29-1) never trailed, outscoring Laurel 12-2 over the final 4:48 of the first quarter to build a 20-10 lead that grew to 18 points at halftime. Alexander and Ky'Aira Miller both scored 18 points for Purcell Marian. Samaya Wilkins scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Jayda Mosley scored eight points and handed out nine assists. Purcell Marian made 30 of 65 shots from the floor and 12 of 18 at the foul line, and its 79 points were the most in Division II state championship game history. Saniyah Hall had 21 points and 14 rebounds for Laurel (19-11), giving her 47 points and 39 rebounds combined in Laurel's two state tournament games. Tristan Williams added 13 points and nine rebounds. Laurel, with a roster featuring 11 freshmen and sophomores and just one senior, was making its second appearance at the state tournament. DIVISION IIIColumbus Africentric 58, Ottawa-Glandorf 47The Nubians won their second consecutive Division III state title, defeating Ottawa-Glandorf, 58-47. The state championship was Africentric's ninth overall, most in OHSAA girls basketball history. All nine championships have come since 2007. Africentric's largest lead of the first half was 11 points, 21-10, after Ashtan Winfrey scored with 4:34 left in the second quarter. Ottawa-Glandorf chipped away at the lead and drew within two points twice, the final time when Karsyn Erford's bucket pulled O-G within 29-27 with 3:42 left in the third quarter. Africentric (28-2) immediately answered with a 13-3 run—in which four different players scored—and stretched its lead back to 12 points, 42-30, with 1:40 left in the third quarter. From there, Ottawa-Glandorf would get no closer than six points. Both teams made 21 shots from the floor, but Africentric was 3 of 6 from three while Ottawa-Glandorf was 0 for 4. Africentric shot 13 of 14 from the foul line, compared to 5 of 12 for O-G, and made 8 of 9 foul shots in the second half. Africentric also had a 34-25 edge in rebounds and score 11 second-chance points. Four different players scored at least 10 points for Africentric. Samairah Thompson had 12 points and six rebounds, while Natiah Nelson finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Kamryn Grant posted a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Bowers also hit double figures with 10 points. Ottawa-Glandorf (26-3) was led by Erford's 18 points. Carlie Brinkman was also in double figures with 10 points. DIVISION IVFort Loramie 42, Waterford 29Avery Brandewie scored 17 points to lead Fort Loramie to a 42-29 win over Waterford in the Div. IV state championship game. Fort Loramie won its fourth state title, all since 2013. Waterford, in its seventh state tournament since 2015, finished runner-up for the third time to go with state titles in 2016 and 2022. Fort Loramie becomes the 12th school with at least four OHSAA girls basketball state championships. Fort Loramie (28-2) never trailed in the contest, but the game was tied 11-11 before Fort Loramie scored the final nine points of the first half. Eight of those points came off Waterford turnovers; 16 of Fort Loramie's 20 first-half points came off 14 Waterford turnovers. Fort Loramie's lead grew to as many as 16 points in the third quarter, but Waterford (24-4) drew within nine before Brandewie banked in a long three-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer. Brandewie scored 10 of her team's first 13 points and shot 8 of 16 from the floor. She also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Summer Hoying added eight points and five assists, and six other players scored for Fort Loramie. Kendall Sury scored Waterford's first eight points and finished with a game-high 19. She made 6 of 8 shots from the floor and all seven of her free throw attempts. The schools were meeting in the state tournament for the second time. Fort Loramie defeated Waterford, 55-48, in the 2015 championship game.