GNADENHUTTEN — It's not often a team goes zero-for-the-quarter from 2-point range, yet has a double-digit lead. But when the 3-pointers are falling like rain, it's easy to see how it could happen.

And on Wednesday night in the girls Div. IV District semifinal at Indian Valley, the Hiland Hawks took what the River Pilots gave them, which was plenty of open looks from long range in rolling to a 60-27 thrashing and advancing the District championship game Friday against returning state qualifier Shadyside.

The Hawks drilled five first-quarter 3-pointers without making a 2-pointer, building a 16-4 lead. Regan Miller split a pair of free throws for the only Hiland points to come from inside 19-feet, 9-inches.

Meagan Hall got the long-range assault started by swishing a trey from the corner. After Regan Miller's free throw, McKenzie Miller dialed up deep and the Hawks led 7-2. Kendra Schlabach followed with a triple from the top of the key and Hall hit another from the corner. Regina Hochstetler got in on the act as well, hitting from the wing for a 16-4 advantage.

River's Haylee Bowers buried a buzzer-beater to make it 16-7 after the first quarter.

"We take what teams give us," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said of River's option to play a 2-3 zone. "At the first timeout, I asked the kids not to fall in love with the 3 completely. But that's what they were giving us, so I told them, once we take the shot, if we don't make it, go get the rebound."

And the Hawks got the rebounds, winning the battle of the boards 42-13. Hiland's defense forced 18 turnovers, and held the Pilots to 7-of-24 shooting from the field, including one 3-pointer. Each team hit 12 free throws.

The Hawks continued to fire away from long range in the second quarter, connecting three more times from beyond the arc to build a 34-16 lead at the break. Hiland made 8-of-19 triple tries in the first half. They didn't make any more in the second half, but by then, the damage was done.

Hiland never looked back in the second half, outscoring the Pilots 13-5 in the third quarter and then relying on the future Hawks to finish things out.

Miller and Regina Hochstetler paced the balanced Hiland offense with 12 points apiece, as a dozen different players scored in all for the winners, who improved to 15-8. Hall and Emily Yoder added seven points apiece and Natalie Nickol and Megan Beachy each chipped in five.

But it was the fast start ignited by the senior Hall that had Schlabach smiling.

"Meagan Hall's done a great job of starting games off for us," Schlabach said. "Her first quarters have been really good and she's been able to take and make those first couple shots and get us going.

"I think we've got more kids shooting the ball a little bit better right now," the coach continued. "We're going to need that from here on out. We were disappointed with our fouls and turnovers, but at the end of the night you win and I felt we got to rest some of our kids a little bit, and nobody got hurt, so it's a good night."

River bows out at 12-11.

The Hiland coach quickly turned his attention to the district championship game against the team that ended the season for the Hawks last year.

"We've got a great opponent on Friday, a very familiar one," Schlabach said. "The best player in the district right now (junior guard Karli Bonar) is playing for Shadyside. We've all got good players, but they've got a kid who is on fire. Bonar took over in their win against Garaway (in the other district semifinal). It's going to be a great challenge for us.

"Shadyside has a really solid post. They're a really good team," the Hiland coach added. "If we win Friday, it will be because we had a surprise. Somebody who hasn't been doing a lot will have to get us 10. Both teams know what's coming. A supporting cast kid will hopefully make the difference."