Daily Record Sports Writer
GNADENHUTTEN -- The strength of Hiland's schedule this year and all the losses the Hawks suffered through are paying dividends now.
Playing against big-time players like Shadyside's high-scoring guard Karli Bonar is nothing new to the Hawks, which helped in taming the Tigers 52-32 in the girls Div. IV District championship Friday at Indian Valley High School.
"I think it's taken awhile for our schedule to pay off," said Hiland coach Dave Schlabach. "I think it makes a difference now, I really do. We took our kids just about to the brink. We lose eight games the way we did, it could've broke us completely, but I think now it's making a difference. Preparation, playing great players, gets you prepared for different things."
And on Friday, the Hawks were ready, jumping all over Shadyside early, as Kendra Schlabach popped a pair of 3-pointers to ignite an 8-3 run out of the gate.
McKenzie Miller added a pull-up jumper and a three-point play and Jasmine Goings scored inside and the Hawks were up 15-5.
Toni Andes drilled a 3-pointer for the Tigers, but Meagan Hall answered with a back-door bucket to close out the quarter with Hiland on top 17-8.
The Hawks came up empty on their first seven possessions of the second quarter as Shadyside clawed its way back to 17-13.
Bria Coil scored inside and MIller nailed a 3-pointer to extend Hiland's lead to 22-13. Regina Hochstetler scored and the lead was 24-13.
Bonar hit a triple but Hochstetler answered with one of her own at the opposite end to keep Hiland's lead at double digits (27-16) at the half.
"Last year, McKenzie Miller didn't have any help. This year, she has a lot of help," Schlabach said. "Every time they made a run, somebody new stepped up for us. One time Jasmine (Goings) gets a big bucket for us, then Bria (Coil)."
Bonar buried another trey, but an inside score from Goings and a 3-pointer by Hall had Hiland up 13. The senior split a pair of free throws and the Hawks held a 36-22 advantage as the third quarter came to a close.
In the fourth quarter, the Hawks took the air out of the ball and made the most of their trips to the free throw line.
"We were playing very poised tonight," Schlabach said. "That wasn't normal for us. Hopefully, that's the new normal. Because they were playing poised, we felt comfortable taking the air out of the ball. Most times this year I would've said let's keep playing. But that was as poised as we've played in three years. That was probably the best game we've played in over two years.
"We're starting to get kids filling their roles, and playing to their potential," the coach continued. "Our four seniors have completely changed the demeanor of our team the last two weeks. They've always been kind of happy-go-lucky, and they've realized that this is it. Our practices are different. Our kids' mentalities are different. A lot of that has to do with our seniors. They've decided it's time."
Sophomore point guard Emily Yoder took over down the stretch, making good on 12-of-14 shots from the free throw line. She finished with 15 points to lead the Hawks. Kendra Schlabach added nine points and Miller chipped in eight. Hall had six. Hochstetler and Coil each added five in the balanced Hiland attack.
"Emily Yoder... I put on the locker room board all week long different positive things about our kids," Schlabach said. "I put on that board that I thought in Emily we have the best point guard in the region. She works hard. It's just taken her a little time to play with confidence and take care of the basketball. Plus, she was guarding probably the best shooter in the state of Ohio. Bonar was only four away from the all-time 3-point shooting record for the year. She had a challenge. Defensively, her Regan (Miller) and Meagan (Hall) gave us unbelievable efforts."
The Hawks held the high-scoring Karli Bonar to 14 points before she fouled out with 2:18 remaining in the game.
"We really only had one day to prepare for them," Schlabach said. "Other teams have tried to do a lot of switching and stuff, but the problem is she runs off five or six screens. Eventually, something breaks down, and she gets open 3s. We just were going to trail her everywhere; we thought Emily and Regan were quick enough to do it. She got two quick free looks and she drained them both."
Shadyside coach Tina Yates took the onus upon herself for the Tigers' demise.
"It's my fault. We weren't ready to play," Yates said. "They put everything they had on the line. To get out of districts, you've got to go through Hiland. You've got to be focused and ready to play. We just didn't come out with any intensity. It's all my fault. I didn't have them ready to go.
"It's hard to simulate their quickness in practice," Yates added. "They are very fundamentally sound and in your face on defense. We struggled with that today."
Hiland (16-8) advances to the Perry Regional on Thursday. Shadyside bows out at 20-4.
"We haven't won many games in tournaments where we were basically the underdogs," Schlabach added. "I honestly thought our sectional/district was the best in the state with Rosecrans and Shadyside. To come out of it on top, I feel really proud of our kids."
