The 2022-23 OHSAA girls state basketball tournament is set to begin on Thursday, Mar. 9 at the University at the University of Dayton Arena.
Sixteen teams will compete across four division levels, with each division crowning a state champion by the end of the upcoming weekend.
BERLIN HILAND (22-6) vs. NEW MADISON TRI-VILLAGE (28-0) - Thursday, Mar. 9 at 8 p.m.
Hiland will compete in the upcoming Div. IV Final Four after starting the season 8-6. First-year head coach Brady Schlabach’s squad has won 14 consecutive games going into the state round, including a 53-43 Region 15 final win over Portsmouth Notre Dame on Saturday.
The Hawks have been led by IVC South Player of the Year Ashley Mullet. The reigning All-Ohioan averaged 16.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals. She has averaged 18 points over the last five postseason contests.
Among fellow top players for Hiland have been Mallory Stutzman and Evie Mast - the latter scoring a key 15 points via five 3-pointers in the Hawks’ Regional final win over Portsmouth.
Meanwhile, undefeated Tri-Village is making its second Final Four appearance in program history and first since 2012, after beating Fort Laramie 32-30 in the Region 16 championship.
Rylee Sagester has averaged 21 points/3.8 assists/3.7 rebounds/2.8 assists per game for the Patriots. In 28 games, the Marshall University commit has posted a 50% field goal percentage, 43% from the 3-point line, and 77.8% from the free throw line.
Thomas More University commit Morgan Hunt (14.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 3.6 BPG) and Torie Richards (13.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.5 SPG) stand among the Patriots’ top performers, along with Kynnedi Hager (8.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG), Bella Black (7.4 RPG), and Sydnee DeLong (3.4 PPG).
TOLEDO CHRISTIAN (22-4) vs. NEW MIDDLETOWN SPRINGFIELD (24-3) - Thursday, Mar. 9 at 6 p.m.
Thursday’s semifinal will see two first-time state semifinalists facing off to advance to Saturday’s Division IV championship final.
Toledo Christian made the Final Four via a 43-21 Region 14 final win over Columbus Grove. The Eagles’ leading scorer, Kendall Braden, has posted 18.7 points and 2.7 steals per game, along with averages of 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Mackenzie Royal-Davis (13.8 PPG, 10.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 2.5 BPG), Kalona Butler (11.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.4 SPG, 41% 3-pointers), and Jordan Rosales (9.5 PPG, 2.0 APG, 1.6 SPG), and Macey Wensink (4.8 PPG, 3.9 SPG, 2.4 RPG). rank among the top individuals for the Eagles.
Springfield is returning to play off of a 34-28 win over Buckeye Central in the Region 13 finals. Seniors Jacey Mullen and Madi Lesnak combined for 23 points in the finals, while the Tigers’ defense shut down Central in the second half, allowing zero double-digit scoring performances to the Bucks.
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