Fairmont girls clinch share of GWOC

Strong fourth quarter helps Firebirds keep Centerville at bay.

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By John Cummings, Contributing Writer Updated 12:49 AM Thursday, February 2, 2012

KETTERING — The reign of the Fairmont girls basketball team continues.

The Firebirds used a strong fourth quarter to dispatch Centerville 54-41 and clinch at least a share of their fourth straight Greater Western Ohio Conference Central Division title.

“It feels great,” junior Chelsea Welch said after scoring 12 second-half points en route to a 15-point, five-rebound, four-steal night. “We knew Centerville was our biggest competition, but if we worked together we would be in a great spot to win the GWOC.”

Fairmont, 15-3 and 8-0, can clinch the outright title Saturday at Wayne.

“I am proud of the kids,” Fairmont coach Tim Cogan said. “This is a big rival game ... both teams play so hard.”

Fairmont looked as if it might run away with the game, turning a 13-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter into a 20-10 lead on a basket by Shea Morgan with 3:40 left in the half. Centerville closed the half with a bang, going on a 6-2 run that culminated when Alexandra Henning tipped in an in-bound pass at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 24-16.

The Elks, behind eight points from Henning, opened the third quarter by cutting the deficit to 31-26, but the Firebirds came right back.

“That was our best stretch in the game,” Centerville coach Adam Priefer said after his squad fell to 13-4 and 6-2. “We were doing the stuff we needed to do to be successful and then we didn’t box out three straight possessions and that was huge.”

Morgan scored on three straight possessions, including a put-back at the buzzer, to push the lead to 37-26 heading into the final quarter. Fairmont led by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter and the Elks couldn’t get back under double digits.

After scoring five points through the first three quarters, Welch had 10 in the fourth quarter. “I just let the game come to me,” she said. “I try to not overdo it.”

Morgan was the only other Firebird in double digits with 11 points while Henning scored 14 of her game-high 18 in the second half to pace the Elks.

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