ALTER 45, COLUMBUS MIFFLIN 31
Alter girls shoot for state title
Knights (24-3) will face Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown (22-4) — '07 state runner-up — in Division II final.
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Friday, March 07, 2008
COLUMBUS — Alter tries to play smothering defense no matter what.
But when the Knights girls basketball team hits a few shots, they get even hungrier.
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"When you start to get (ahead) and start to play your game, it helps your defense so much," Alter senior Courtney Chihil said. "It gets you excited. It makes you want to play defense even more."
The Knights broke open a tight Division II state semifinal game Thursday, March 6, with a 10-0 third-quarter run.
The 45-31 victory over Columbus Mifflin at the Schottenstein Center puts Alter (24-3) into the state title game against Shaker Heights
Hathaway Brown (22-4) at
10:45 a.m., Saturday, March 8.
Alter's girls are in the first state championship basketball finale in school history.
"It's a great opportunity for our program, a wonderful opportunity for our program," Alter coach Christina Hart said. "I'm happy for the kids."
After Mifflin tied the game at 26-26 early in the third quarter, Alter's 10-0 run changed the contest's complexion. Chihil, who led Alter with 18 points, hit a 3-pointer. Mary Bruner scored from the right wing, Chihil cashed in from the block and Nicole Christie drained a 3 for a 36-26 lead.
"We knocked in some shots, and we started making the game more of a fullcourt game again, which is what we really wanted to do," Hart said. "I think that settled us down in general."
Behind early hoops by Meghan Waterman (11 points),
Alter had 7-0 and 10-2 leads.
But those evaporated when Mifflin adjusted to Alter's first defensive flurry. Led by Amber Arter (eight points), the Punchers (20-5) took a 22-21 lead before Alter's Ashley Christie hit three late free throws for a 24-22 halftime advantage.
After three quarters, Alter led 38-28. The Knights' defense ultimately forced 26 Mifflin turnovers and held the Punchers to just nine second-half points — three in the fourth quarter.
"We normally run against teams with great defense," said Mifflin coach Troy Taylor, whose team had averaged 72 points. "I thought this team was a little bit more composed. They stayed with their game plan, and they executed."
Alter had 19 steals, led by Ashley Christie's five. Arter and Mifflin's Jalyssa Campbell each had six turnovers.
Alter faces a Hathaway Brown team that was the 2007 state runner-up. The Knights hope the Blazers repeat that spot, with Alter winning its first title.
"I'm sure tomorrow it will be a different feeling," Chihil said. "But right now it's just excitement."
