Preview of girls basketball state semifinals

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 2:27 AM Thursday, March 18, 2010

Girls basketball state semifinals

At the Schottenstein Center in Columbus:

D-I: Fairmont (22-2) vs. Toledo Waite (23-2), 6 p.m. Friday: The biggest matchup will come inside, as Fairmont’s 6-foot-2 Cassie Sant, a University of Dayton recruit, goes up against 6-3 McDonald’s All-American and Florida State recruit Natasha Howard, who averages 24.5 points per game. The Firebirds have lost only to Vandalia Butler (whom they later beat in the regional final) and Alter (a D-II state semifinalist), but Waite is ranked No. 6 in the state and averages 72.5 points per game.

D-II: Alter (23-2) vs. Miami Trace (24-1), 6 p.m. today: The Knights have recovered from a late January loss of Megan Courtney, a 6-foot-1 sophomore and one of the team’s most versatile players, to a season-ending knee injury. With a balanced attack — leading scorer Ashley Christie is best at 10.9 points per game — Alter is trying for its second state title in three seasons after finishing in the state semifinals last year. Miami Trace is a first-time state qualifier and boasts senior guard Jenna Cobb (17.9 ppg).

D-III: Madison (26-0) vs. Ironton (17-7), 1 p.m. today: Madison, ranked No. 4 in the state, is trying to finish an undefeated season. Junior Ally Mallot, at 6-3, leads the team with 18 points per game, and fellow star Lindsay Hoskins averages 14.2 points. Ironton has three double-digit scorers in the starting lineup, led by guard Brea Tackett (12 ppg). If Madison advances, top-ranked and undefeated Findlay Liberty-Benton (25-0) potentially waits in the Saturday final.

D-IV: Minster (18-7) vs. Berlin Hiland (24-2): Coach Nann Stechschulte has 330 wins in 21 seasons at Minster, and this year she has a feisty roster led by forward Delanie Wolf (10.4 ppg). Hiland is making its ninth state appearance in the past 16 seasons.

D-IV: Fort Loramie (22-4) vs. Harvest Prep (25-1): Fort Loramie is led by junior guard Janel Olberding, who averages 13 points per game, and faces a Harvest Prep team averaging an eye-popping 76.6 points per game.