COLUMBUS, OH -- Down seven points with 2:48 to play, it looked like Hiland wouldn't make it to
"Championship Saturday."

But the Hawks weren't ready for the season to end.

Hiland ripped off an 8-0 run capped by senior Katelyn Stuckey's basket with 18 seconds left and the Hawks survived Minster's last-second shot en route to a 49-48 win in the girls' Division IV state basketball semifinals played before 6,269 at Value City Arena on Friday afternoon.

Hiland, ranked No. 2 in the state, improved to 25-2 on the season and will play No. 3 Canal Winchester Harvest Prep
(26-1) for the title today at 5:15.

The Hawks, making their 11th appearance in the Final Four, will be playing in the state title game for a third straight season and will be vying for its fifth championship.

"There was not a lot of coaching involved at the end of that game," admitted Hiland coach Dave Schlabach. "That was just our kids making a lot of plays -- the seniors refusing to get beat. That senior group is what was the difference."

Senior Hilary Weaver led the Hawks with 12 points and senior backcourt mate Noelle Yoder added 11, while sophomore McKenzie Miller added nine points and Stuckey tallied six of her eight in the final frame.

"It comes down to wanting it and doing what you have to do to get yourself back in the game," said Weaver of the comeback. "You can't let yourself think you're actually going to get beat. We all played together well and we took care of business."

Stuckey's power layup with three players around her was the game-winner.

"It was just another layup," understated Stuckey. "I just read the defense and reacted."

Last season, Hiland was on its way to a second consecutive title, but Columbus Africentric pulled off a big second-half comeback to stymie the Hawks' bid.

That loss has been the source of motivation for this season.

"We all just looked at each other and we knew that this wasn't our last game," said senior Jessica Stutzman, who scored seven points. "We had one more game we wanted to play and we're there now. We still have unfinished business and we have 32 minutes left."

Hiland won despite shooting just 34 percent from the floor (18 of 53), but made up for it at the line by making 65 percent (11 of 13).

Minster, which ended up with a record of 18-8, was 17 of 36 from the floor for 47 percent.

The Wildcats, who were making their third appearance at the state tournament and trying for its second title, defeated Hiland in the 2004 semifinals en route to their only crown.

"It was going to be a battle from the beginning," said Schlabach. "It was a very similar game to 2004. It was a grind and we just kept trying things. It was kind of like our regional semi game (an overtime win over Lutheran East). The way it was going it was going to have to be something special at the end."

Minster coach Nann Stecheschulte said her team turned the ball over too many times.

"They came at us the whole game," said Stecheschulte. "We couldn't run a set for the life of us. I thought we both made plays. We had 15 turnovers and they had eight. They were 11 of 13 from the line and we were 9 of 16 (56 percent). Free throws don’t win all the games -- just the close ones."

Junior Maria Dahlinghaus and junior Erica Fullenkamp led Minster with 12 points apiece, while junior Delanie Wolf added 11 and 10 rebounds.

The Hawks trailed 13-12 after the first quarter and 23-19 at the half before taking a 32-31 lead into the final frame.