BERLIN — The Hawks didn't need any come-from-behind magic like they did in their first meeting to top visiting Ridgewood Wednesday at the Perry Reese Jr. Community Center.

Hiland built an early advantage and then used a fourth-quarter run to pull away with a 47-31 triumph over the Generals.

"For the first time all year, the kids showed some passion and energy. They got ticked. We had kind of an old fashioned Hiland run there for a second," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said of the fourth-quarter run.

The Hawks led 9-4 after the opening eight minutes of action and held a six-point lead, 21-15, at the half.

Ridgewood hung tough, and pulled within three (29-26) late in the third quarter on a three-point play Victoria Wiggins, and had a shot at tying it, but a 3-point attempt failed and seemed to fuel Hiland for a fourth-quarter run.

The Hawks took a 31-26 lead into the final frame, and went on a 7-0 run to open the fourth on a bucket by Regan Miller, two McKenzie Miller free throws and a Kendra Schlabach 3-pointer, and finished on a 16-5 blitz en route to their 12th win of the season against three defeats.

The Hawks had nine different players score, but only one in double figures. McKenzie Miller led the way with 14 points and seven rebounds. Meagan Hall was next with seven points.

"Tonight again, we had three or four kids who played really well," Schlabach said. "I thought our post players (Bria Coil and Hannah Stoneman) posted up big and strong. Regan gave us a couple good minutes. But we just can't seem to put it all together. Hopefully it won't be wait until next year."

Neither team shot particularly well from the field. Hiland went 3-for-13 from 3-point range, and Ridgewood was 2-for-13.

"I'm not disappointed with the way the girls played," Ridgewood coach Doug Patterson said. "If they played like this all year, we'd be about 10-5 instead of 7-8. If some of those shots would've fallen in the first half, and they were good shots, it could've been different. We'd have been up at halftime, instead of down 21-15."

The Ridgewood coach is going through some of the same growing pains as HIland.

"I think we play well in this gym. We've never beaten them here, but all the banners and the atmosphere, it makes everyone step up and play better," Patterson said. "We are a good team. We just haven't gotten it all together yet. We will. We're young. We've only got one senior."

Kayla Tedrick led the Generals with 10 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore post Kelsey Miller chipped in eight points and four rebounds.

The veteran Hiland coach has been bewildered by his troops all season

"Last year we knew what we were going to play every game," Schlabach said. "This year, we've had to play five different types of defenses, three types of presses. We just seem to, on a nightly basis, go through the whole repertoire to figure something out. I think that's why we've had some decent fourth quarters this year where we've come back and beat teams.

"With this group, we just have to try and figure it out during the game," he continued. "We scout a team and think we can do something, but then get into a game and realize we can't."

Schlabach hopes this win helps his Hawks get things going in the right direction.

"We go Ridgewood, Garaway, Newcomerstown and West Holmes. We could easily have gone 0-4 in that run," Schlabach said. "This was a good start. Saturday (Garaway) is a big game for these kids. For us to play Africentric and Walsh somewhat tough and get beat, this group has never won a big game. They've been part of some big wins in past years, but this group has never won a big game by itself. They have a chance Saturday night to play in a big game. Sixteen years of IVC titles on the line."