Africentric was on pace to match Hiland's undefeated season and Div. IV state championship of a season ago, but the top-ranked Nubians and their dreams of a perfect season came to a grinding halt Saturday night.

In front of over 2,000 fans at Pickerington North High School, Hiland held high-scoring Africentric to 10 first-half points and 17 through three quarters, building a double-digit lead that eventually materialized into a dramatic 40-36 Div. IV regional final win.

Hiland, the defending Div. IV state champions, overcame 26 turnovers, 11-of-37 shooting from the floor and 3-of-10 shooting from the free throw line in the final 1:46.  The Hawks will now join the State Final Four for a third-straight season, playing Fort Loramie at 1 pm Thursday.

"If we play them 10 times we might beat them once.  Tonight just happened to be that night," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said.  "We were outmanned athletically at every position, but we had the attitude and toughness to battle through it all and that was the biggest upset I've ever enjoyed watching."

All-Ohioan Lindsay Stuckey scored the game's first six points from the free throw line and ended with a game-high 13 for Hiland.  Junior do-it-all Lydia Miler added 10 points and nine rebounds -- including eight straight Hiland (24-2) points in a key fourth-quarter stretch when things got tight.

It wasn't the points that made the difference for the Hawks, though.

Africentric finished 13-of-56 from the floor and Hiland dominated the rebounding to a tune of 45-32.

"I think the biggest thing is we didn't get anything out of our offensive sets, and you have to give credit to Hiland for some great defense,"  McKinney said, his team finishing at 25-1.  "Our girls learned from last year and were amped to go, but Hiland just laid down some great half-court defense."

Despite just three made field goals and 14 turnovers, the Hawks led 15-10 at the halftime break.  They had made 8-of-8 free throws -- all from Stuckey in the first quarter -- and Africentric was 4-of-26 shooting, including 1-of-10 on 3-pointers.

Jena Stutzman's 3-pointer at the 2:18 mark of the third quarter followed by a Krista Beechy putback and a Stutzman backdoor layup, gave Hiland a 28-17 lead after three as Africentric remained ice cold (7-of-39 shooting).

But it was far from over, as the Nubians scored seven points in the first minute of the fourth quarter and started the frame on a 9-0 run altogether.  Africentric would be down just two (30-28 at the 4:41 mark after Shadia Morrison-Fountain's steal and hoop, but Miller took over.

She drove to the hoop and finished with the left hand with 4:30 left.  She rebounded and was fouled with 3:42 remaining, connecting on both free throws.  And then, with 2:40 on the clock, Miller buried a right-wing 3-pointer for a 37-32 lead.

Africentric went 0-of-7 from the floor from there on out, sealing its fate.

Morrison-Fountain, a freshman, scored 12 points and Tyesha Moss, a sophomore, had 11 points and six rebounds for the Nubians.

"Ever since we were young, we've been taught to pride ourselves on defense and rebounding," Stuckey said.  "That's what we brought tonight and that's what we'll bring to state.  Hopefully our offense comes along a little bit, too."

Stutzman finished with 10 points and seven rebounds for Hiland, as all five of the Hawks' starters finished with at least seven boards.  Thomas led the way with 10 caroms.

"We knew they were athletic, so we wanted to be extremely physical with them," Thomas said.  "Coach told us all week that rebounding and defense were the keys, and I think by doing that we took them out of their style of play."