Experienced Hiland rallies past upstart Lake Ridge in girls basketball regional semifinal

By KEVIN LYNCH
Daily Record Sports Writer

MASSILLON — Lake Ridge has come a long way in a few short years, making it to the regional tournament in its first season of eligibility since serving a two-year probation.

Unfortunately for the Royals, their trip to Massillon was for a date with defending Div. IV state runner-up Hiland, and the Hawks, after a forgettable first half, played like a team that has been down this road before.

Hiland outscored the Royals 30-12 in the second half to score a 38-28 triumph and advance to the regional championship Saturday against Maplewood, which knocked off Lowellville 45-36 in the other regional semifinal.

Hiland came out of the gate scoring one field goal in the first quarter and only two more in the second, connecting on 3-of-21 from the field in the first half.

But the Hiland defense kept the Hawks in the game, holding North Ridgeville Lake Ridge to only 16 first-half points, to trail 16-8 at intermission.

"We told the kids at halftime, we felt fine where we were at," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said. "I told them if they give up 16 in the second half, we'll win.

"Defensively, Emily Yoder, Jenica Schrock, Sasha Goings, those kids just wear you out. They wear you out just watching. They did a great job defensively on their guards. Defensively, I thought out kids were phenomenal in the second half," the coach continued. "We get to play for a trip again. I'm so proud of our kids.

"This has happened to us before this year where our defense has kept us in it long enough for us to figure it out offensively," he added. "If you're ever going to get to Columbus, you're going to have to win a game like this. It was a game where we figured it out late. We just had to trust our kids."

Hiland held the Royals to three baskets in the third quarter, two of them coming from Saunders inside. The 6-footer seemed unstoppable when she got the ball inside.

"She created quite a match-up for our kids," said Schlabach, whose Hawks are one win from making the program's 13th state trip. "We gave up so much size there, but I thought Jas (Goings) did a good job on her."

Saunders hit 5-of-7 from the floor before fouling out with 10 points in the fourth quarter. Two of those fouls were charges, taken by the Hawks.

A three-point play by Natalie Nickol got the Hiland offense rolling in the third quarter. Regina Hochstetler followed with a three-point play, (her first points of the game). A turnover by the Royals and a 3-pointer by Hochstetler, and the Hawks were down 20-17 with just under three minutes to play in the third quarter.

After three misses at the other end, Kendra Schlabach cut through the Lake Ridge defense for a layup and the Hawks trailed 20-19.

A charge by the Royals gave the ball back to Hiland and Jasmine Goings drilled a pair of free throws to give Hiland a 21-20 lead.

Saunders scored inside to give Lake Ridge a 22-21 lead after three quarters, but all the momentum was clearly in Hiland's court.

Sharday Baines scored on the opening possession of the fourth quarter to give the Royals a 24-21 lead, but Hochstetler answered with a triple from the wing to tie the game at 24.

Baines drove in for an apparent score, but it was negated by a charging call. Schlabach scored to give the Hawks a 26-24 lead.

A steal and a pass to Hochstetler, who scored inside put Hiland up 28-24 three minutes into the fourth quarter.

Lake Ridge misfired inside and the teams traded empty possessions before Hochstetler delivered again, dropping in a triple from the top of the key to give Hiland a 31-26 lead with 2:49 remaining.

After a missed triple by the Royals, Schrock was fouled and she swished both free throws for a 33-26 lead.

Saunders scored her final basket inside on the next trip down the floor, but fouled out going for a rebound on the ensuing possession and Goings delivered two free throws for an eight-point lead. She finished with 10 points.

Another miss led to another foul by Lake Ridge and Hochstetler sealed the deal with two free throws inside 30 seconds for the final score.

The junior finished with 16 points to pace the Hiland attack after going 0-for-the first half. She finished 5-of-19 from the floor, 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. But every shot she hit was big.

"Regina's 3-pointer out of the time out was huge," Schlabach said. "We have so much confidence in her, we just kept running stuff for her. We knew it was going to happen eventually.

"You've got to have so much confidence in yourself, after the first half she had, to come back the way she did," Schalabch added. "I told her to shoot the ball every time she was open. We believe in her, and I think that helps too."

Being in this environment also is helpful for Hiland.

"I think being here before helps," Schlabach said. "I think our kids expect to win. It doesn't mean we always win, but the expectation is that we'll win. It's not cockiness. It's a humble, we work for it really hard and we feel we're the best of the lot mentality. The alumni that come out and support us, that have had success, it all makes a difference. Being here before and our schedule continues to help. The games we've been in and the type of talent we've had to play against all season long is paying off. When you prepare, like this group has prepared for so many years, their level of confidence is great."

The confidence of the Royals was shaken in the second half, according to their coach Lisa Medvetz.

"They got on a run and that rattled us a little bit," Medvetz said. "Not being in this atmosphere, we just couldn't get into our offense, as much as I was screaming to get into it. We didn't attack like we did in the first half.

"Obviously, them being here so many times, they're used to it," the coach continued. "They were composed. It helps making it here every year. I don't think we could've had a better first year. Our program is growing."

The Royals finish their season 23-4.

"Games like tonight come down to players who have invested the most, and our kids have invested so much," Schlabach said. "Our grittiness, our toughness, Jasmine had a heck of a challenge tonight (in 6-foot senior post Monet Saunders). She and Natalie Nickol did a great job on Saunders."