After Hiland's amazing comeback victory in overtime in the Regional semifinal against Lutheran East, the 43-22 triumph over Cuyahoga Heights to send the Lady Hawks back to State was almost anti-climatic.

"It was a different style of game from the other night, that full court, penetrate-and-pitch and a lot of action," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said. "Ultimately, you've got to win a few different ways, and those were definitely two different wins this week.

"We weren't able to run our back door stuff or take it to the basket," the coach continued. "They cut down the lanes so well, we had to try and spread them out and throw the ball down to the post."

"It was definitely a different style of play," senior point guard Hilary Weaver said of Saturday's game against the Redskins, after facing the ultra-athletic Falcons of Lutheran East in the Regional semifinal. "They didn't have the athleticism, but we still had to respect them. They beat some quality teams to get here.

"From an energy standpoint, this game was really different," Weaver added. "But we're going to Columbus, and that's awesome. It never gets old. Three out of my four years I've been lucky enough to get a chance to play in Columbus, and every time it feels just as good, if not better. It never gets old."

Right from the start, Hiland exploited a rare height advantage on the low post and pounded it inside to Katelyn Stuckey, who led the way with 14 points on six-for-six shooting with two free throws.

"We were tired physically and mentally," Schlabach said. "It was a grind out there. I thought our press would bother them, but they're very well-coached, and they spread us out. They reminded me a lot of Garaway. We didn't get much off our perimeter tonight, but Kate Stuckey and Hannah Stoneman had good games for us. Our first three possessions we wanted Stuckey to touch it. She got us going early. We felt she had a good mismatch in there. The other night she got two touches.

"It's nice that we have multiple kids that we can go to, and adjust each game to what teams have," Schlabach continued. "We're so excited, but it was such an emotional win the other night, that it just seems almost like a letdown. But we're excited."

"You don't have to watch Stuckey long to know that she's really good," Cuyahoga Heights coach Al Martin said. "We were concerned because our post is a little under-sized. We believe in playing single on the post and making them earn it. She earned it. She's very good. She throws the ball up there so softly. I thought she had a particularly good night. I didn't know if we could guard their perimeter girls, but I thought our girls did a nice job forcing them to go inside, and she delivered for them."

"It was a total team effort," Stuckey said. "We knew we had a post advantage over them, so we were going to work it inside. Usually I'm looking up. It felt good to finally play against someone my own size. We always seem to have a height disadvantage, but somehow we find a way."

Led by Stuckey's six first-quarter points and a hounding defense, Hiland built a 14-2 lead after the opening eight minutes of action and cruised to the Regional title.

Heidi Mervar kept the Redskins close scoring their first eight points, but she didn't have enough help. It was 22-12 at the half.

Hiland went on a 15-8 run in the third quarter and it was all over but the net cutting ceremony.

"They are really good all around," Mervar said. "We came in knowing they're a good team that's been to State several times. We figured we had nothing to lose, we were the underdogs; we may as well go for it and play all out. They were just really tough and hard to get anything going against. We never played a team that defended like they do."

"They are by far the best team we've played," Martin said. "Heidi had our first eight points. She was basically keeping us in it by herself."

Mervar, who finished as the second-leading scorer all-time for Cuyahoga Heights, wound up with 13. Lexi Matt and Carly Stock each added four.

Stuckey was the lone Hiland player in double figures with 14, but she had plenty of help.

Weaver finished with seven points and five assists. Hannah Stoneman poured in six points and added three rebounds. Noelle Yoder scored five points and McKenzie Miller chipped in four. Regan Miller scored three and Jessica Stutzman and Meagan Hall rounded out the scoring with a bucket each.

"We thought our pressure would bother them more. We were just so tired and it seemed like we were a step late, we weren't reading our stuff," Schlabach said. "We have a lot of kids who are beat up. We had to sub a little bit quicker that took us out of our rhythm at times. We needed to get kids in and out of there to get to Columbus as healthy as possible."

The players are anxious to get back to State to wash away the taste of last year's bitter defeat.

"It never gets old. This experience is amazing," Stuckey said. "This year, we have the motivation from that loss last year at State. We want to get back, we have unfinished business there."

"Coming off of last season, where we had the lead and gave it up, that definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths," Weaver said. "It's just great that we gave ourselves an opportunity to get back to Columbus and finish up what we started."

"After last year, that feeling will never leave us, Yoder said. "It's exciting we get another opportunity to go back down to State, and hopefully take care of business so we don't feel like that again."

"We talk all the time about the first seven years when we couldn't get over the hump. We'd get beat by Rosecrans every year and we'd watch them play in the State finals. Our kids just kept working that much harder," Schlabach said.

"We'll never take it for granted," he added. "I was looking down there and saw a lot of grade school and junior high kids who've never been to Columbus. They want their shot a few years from now. A lot of dreams get put in place on nights like tonight. We coach for our players, and my goal always is that our seniors can play their last game in Columbus, no matter what happens. This group deserves that."