That neatly summed up how the Redskins couldn’t maintain an 18-point second-half lead, and Harvest Prep unloaded a game-ending 22-1 run over the last 10:23 to win a girls high school Division IV state basketball semifinal Friday, March 19, at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
It was a numbing meltdown by the Redskins, who led 45-27 when Janel Olberding hit a 3 with 2:47 left in the third quarter.
But Loramie attempted just two fourth-quarter shots and unraveled with 11 turnovers in the final eight minutes. Olberding’s free throw with 2:11 left was the only point Loramie could muster during Prep’s winning run.
“As ESPN says, that’s one of those ESPN Classics,” beamed Dennis.
Olberding tallied 18 points to lead the Redskins and Ruhenkamp and Brooke Turner each added 12.
Burly junior center Shicole Watts was an inside force for the Warriors, scoring 16 points to go with nine rebounds.
“Everything was going our way, and then the wheels just kind of fell off the bus in the fourth quarter,” said Loramie coach Carla Siegel.
It was a bitter loss for Loramie, which was 4-3 early in the season and finished 22-5. Harvest Prep (26-1) advanced to today’s final vs. defending state champ Berlin Hiland.
Berlin Hiland 49, Minster 48: Katelyn Stuckey hit a layup with 18.4 seconds left to lead the Hawks in the opening D-IV semifinal.
Minster’s Maria Dahlinghaus and Erica Fullenkamp each tallied 12 points, and Delania Wolf added 11 in the defensive struggle.
Hilary Weaver, headed to Lehigh to play, led Hiland with 12 points. Bowling Green signee Noelle Yoder added 11 points.
“They knew what we were running and we knew what they were running,” said Minster coach Nann Stechschulte.
“It didn’t matter what set we called, we couldn’t run it.”
Canton McKinley 42, Reynoldsburg 39: Ameryst Alston scored 16 points, and Sydnee Penn hit four free throws for the Bulldogs’ final points in the D-I semi nightcap.
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