Ten local high school teams entered the 2023 OHSAA girls basketball playoffs a week ago, and only two remain going into the semifinals, as Mount Gilead and Danville have qualified into the next round of the Division IV, Region 15 competition, while two other local teams, Northmor and Utica, reached the quarterfinals but fell to lower-seeded schools.
No. 4 Mount Gilead 61, No. 5 Groveport Madison Christian 15
Madilyn Elson and the No. 5 Mount Gilead (18-6, 9-3) Indians dominated from the start with a 61-15 blowout victory over No. 5 Groveport Madison Christian (16-6, 10-2) in the second round of the OHSAA Division IV, Region 15 playoffs to set the school record for wins in a season.
“I am very proud of what the girls team has accomplished,” Mount Gilead Athletic Director Jack Beault said. “Coach (Nick) Vukovich has challenged the girls this year and they have responded well. When the girls are in the gym, you know it. The energy and engagement is high. Not only did they win the KMAC this season, but with their win over Madison Christian they have also set the school's single-season win record by reaching 18 wins. The team is full of girls who believe in themselves and each other. We can't wait to cheer them on Tuesday (in the next round against Berne Union).
Mount Gilead jumped out to a 21-3 lead after one quarter, setting the tone for the blowout win. The Indians had a 34-8 lead at halftime after a 13-5 advantage in the second quarter. The third quarter was just as lopsided, with the Indians outscoring the Eagles 19-1. Mount Gilead ended the game with an 8-6 advantage in the fourth, and the game was already well out of reach at that point.
Elson put up a game-high 20 points on 9-for-14 shooting and 2-for-5 from downtown. She also had seven boards, five assists and six steals in the win. Danielle Pohlkotte also hit double figures with 15 points to go with seven boards, a block and a steal. Aubrey Thomas had nine points, nine boards, two assists and a block. Grace Shipman had four points, four boards, two assists and four steals. Candace Millisor put up seven points, seven boards and a pair of steals. Lydia Stalnaker had six points and an assist.
Mount Gilead now has the tough task of playing undefeated No.1 seed Sugar Grove Berne Union (25-0, 14-0) in the semifinals. Mount Gilead beat No. 14 Ridgedale 44-24 before defeating Madison Christian. Berne Union demolished No. 17 Northside Christian 53-17, No. 12 Millersport 50-14 and No. 8 Lancaster Fairfield Christian Academy 47-6 to reach the semifinals.
No. 6 Danville 60, No. 2 Newark Catholic 55
Ella Proper led the offense in a game in which No. 6 Danville (11-11, 6-6) had four players hit double figures in points, on their way to a 60-55 upset win over No. 2 Newark Catholic (18-6, 11-3) in Division IV, Region 15 sectional final of the OHSAA playoffs.
Danville went up 20-17 in the first quarter, led by Broegan Staats, who scored seven points. Jaylyn Workman and Jaylyn Smith both had five points and Proper scored three points for the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils had a 12-11 advantage in the second quarter to take a 32-28 lead into halftime. Kylee Hess had five points and Workman put up four points.
In the third quarter, the Green Wave outscored Danville 11-10, with Proper scoring eight points and Workman adding a pair of foul shots. The Blue Devils closed out the game strong with an 18-16 fourth led by Hess with nine points.
Proper had a team-high 15 points, including three from deep. She also had six boards, four assists and two steals Hess scored 14 points and had two threes, to go with nine boards, two assists and a block. She also went 8-for-8 from the foul line. Workman scored 13 points and pulled down 11 boards for a double-double. She also had three assists, one steal and one block. Staats had 12 points, four boards and a steal. She had one make from downtown in the game.
“We worked really hard for 32 minutes on both ends of the court to fight off a talented NC team,” Danville coach Matt Proper said. "(I am) proud of our team.”
Danville’s upset moves them to the semifinals against No.3 Lancaster Fisher Catholic (19-5, 11-3). Danville had beaten No. 14 Shekinah Christian 69-27 before upsetting Newark Catholic, which blew out No. 13 Pataskala Liberty 70-17 in the first round. Fisher Catholic has beaten No. 16 Columbus Patriot Prep 72-6 and No.7 Delaware Christian 67-17.
No. 5 Mechanicsburg 64, No. 16 Northmor 15
No. 16 Northmor (11-13, 6-6) got down big early and never recovered against No. 5 Mechanicsburg (21-3, 15-1), with the Indians winning their 15th straight contest in a 64-15 blowout in the second round of the Division III, Region 10 OHSAA tournament on Feb. 17.
Northmor had defeated No. 8 Cardington-Lincoln 34-25 in a first-round game and Mechanicsburg overwhelmed No. 22 Marion Elgin 60-19 to get to round two.
Mechanicsburg had a 4-0 lead to start the game, but Emilee Jordan rejected a shot to help the Golden Knights regain possession. The Indians continued the romp by going up 14-2, but Maizy Brinkman stopped the bleeding with a Lady Knights steal. However, by four minutes left in the second quarter, Mechanicsburg had a 35-2 lead and the game was getting further out of reach. Shelby Cooper had a pair of steals in the quarter for the Golden Knights.
With about five minutes left in the third quarter, Mechanicsburg held a 48-3 lead, but Riley Johnson was able to land a three to make it 48-6.
In the fourth quarter, the Indians were up 58-10, but Lauren Johnson showed that the team was still going to fight to the end with a big blocked shot in which she swatted the ball deep out of bounds. Northmor found themselves trailing 64-13 and Madison Simpson put out a great defensive effort with a steal on a loose ball. Ryann Brinkman also had a steal with about 2:30 left.
Northmor had trouble landing shots, going 17% from the field and 10% from three. Mechanicsburg shot 56% as a team and 33% from three. They also shot 71% from the fre- throw line. Mechanicsburg had a 29-18 rebounding advantage, 17-2 in assists, 19-7 in steals and both teams had a block.
No. 6 Canal Winchester Harvest Prep 54, No. 17 Utica 18
No. 17 Utica (7-12, 3-7) couldn’t get things going offensively against No. 6 Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (19-5, 11-3), and their season ended in the sectional quarterfinal round of the Division III, Region 10 OHSAA playoffs by a score of 54-18.
Utica had a first-round bye and Harvest Prep beat No. 18 East Knox, 58-32, in their first-round matchup to get to this round.
The game was tied 6-6 in the first quarter, with Skylar Parker scoring on three buckets for the Redskins. Harvest Prep then went on a 6-0 run to give them a 12-6 first quarter lead, and they never looked back.
In the second quarter, the Warriors commanded every facet of the game, outscoring the Redskins 25-2 to take a 37-8 lead into halftime. Makena Wilson had the lone basket in the quarter for the Redskins.
Harvest Prep came out of the locker room in the second half on a mission, scoring the first six points of the quarter before Abbi Dickson hit a bucket for Utica. Emily Meyers hit a trio of free throws to make it a 45-13 game, but the Warriors took a 51-15 lead into the final frame. Wilson also had two points at the end of the quarter for the Redskins.
Both teams had trouble scoring in the final quarter, with Utica putting three on the board on a shot from downtown by Bella Coulter. Harvest Prep scored only two points, but the game was already in the hands of the Warriors.
Parker led the Redskins with six points, all coming in the first quarter.
Harvest Prep plays No. 5 Mechanicsburg in the Division III District semifinal.
