State title caps Anna's dream season

Anna turns up defensive pressure, holds previously unbeaten Oak Hill to season low.

Photos: Anna vs. Oak Hill

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Wayne boys win team track title
5/25/12
Bellbrook tennis duo advances to semifinals
5/25/12
Jefferson grad takes lessons from Miami Heat cousin
5/25/12
T-Bolts excited for state debut
5/25/12
> More high school headlines

By Marc F. Pendleton, Staff Writer Updated 11:24 PM Saturday, March 19, 2011

COLUMBUS — Stuck in a playing funk, Natalie Billing picked the most high-profile moment of her career to have a break-out effort.

“I think it was just playing that first game at Ohio State,” said Billing, Anna’s super sophomore.

“I got more comfortable and just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

Billing unloaded a game-high 21 points in leading Anna to a 50-32 defeat of previously unbeaten Oak Hill that secured the girls high school basketball Division III state championship on Saturday at OSU’s Schottenstein Center.

The title ended an outstanding 27-1 season for the high-scoring Rockets and matched the 1981 team (Class A) as the school’s only other girls state hoops title team.

“It definitely is a relief because everyone wanted us to be here and expected us to be here,” said Billing.

Anna senior Megan Fogt was at her ultimate best, adding 16 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks to key a shutdown defensive effort.

Ahead by one, Anna used a 20-1 blitz in the third and fourth quarters to secure the win.

“I can’t really put into words what this means not only to our team, but our whole community,” said Fogt.

Oak Hill (25-1), undersized at every position, never found its offensive touch and was outrebounded 38-23. It marked the second time in three seasons that the Oaks dropped the state title game.

“Fogt just willed her way in there,” Oak Hill coach Doug Hale said. “We’re not playing against that kind of height the whole season.”

The Rockets average more than 71 points, but this time they turned to defense to make the difference, and no Anna defender was better than junior Ashley Frohne. It was the fewest points Oak Hill had scored all season.

“Defense won the game for us,” said Anna coach Jack Billing, Natalie’s father. “Defense wins championships.”

Share this article