Times-Reporter staff writer
NEW PHILADELPHIA — It was Zanesville Rosecrans’ turn.
After being knocked out of the postseason the past two years by the Hiland Hawks, the Bishops were on the winning end this time.
Seniors Maddie Chandler and Kloie Johnson combined for 35 of Rosecrans’ 47 points, and the Bishops’ length on defense stymied the Hawks for a hard-fought 47-38 decision and the Division IV girls’ district basketball championship.
The game featured the Nos. 3 and 4 state-ranked programs before a large crowd at New Philadelphia High School on Saturday afternoon.
Chandler scored a game-high 23 points, with most coming in the paint, and Johnson, who scored her 1,000th point in a Rosecrans uniform during the game, drilled four 3-pointers for 12 points.
Rosecrans (24-1) will play in the Perry district next weekend. Its victory ended a regional drought that had lasted since 1999.
Hiland’s season ends at 22-4. The East District Player of the Year, senior Regina Hochstetler, scored a team-high 16 points and Jenica Schrock had seven.
The Bishops contested the Hawks’ shots, holding them to 10-of-46 shooting (22 percent) from the floor and forcing 14 turnovers.
It was the 17th meeting between the two storied programs; Hiland leads 10-7.
In the most recent matchups, Hiland claimed a 47-37 victory in last year’s district championship, and the Hawks won a 36-35 double overtime in a sectional final the year before.
The win was a long time coming for Rosecrans’ head coach Gale Kirkbride and his senior-laden program.
“We got beat by two points by Shadyside when they were freshmen, and two years ago, we were beaten by Hiland in double overtime, and they beat us last year when we were up and couldn’t close the deal,” said Kirkbride. “You know you’re going to have to go through Hiland to get there (the regional) and thank goodness we finally got there.”
Hiland head coach Dave Schlabach felt the Hawks didn’t execute with the game still in the balance.
“We were down six, and we turned the ball over four straight times,” lamented Schlabach. “We had a lack of execution offensively. We got some stops, but we couldn’t score.”
“My biggest concern was Chandler coming in,” added Schlabach. “Nothing about them really surprised us. They’re a very good team.
We knew it was going to take a tremendous effort.”
The Bishops were able to keep one step ahead of the Hawks in this year’s matchup.
Rosecrans led 11-9 after the opening frame and extended its lead to 26-18 at the half. Chandler had eight points in the opening frame and Johnson hit three of her triples in the second quarter.
The Bishops took a 36-30 lead into the final frame.
A three-point play by Chandler to open the fourth quarter gave Rosecrans some momentum, and the Hawks were never able to get over the hump.
In fact, the Hawks were held without a field goal in 15 attempts over the final eight minutes and only cashed in at the charity stripe, making 8-of-9.
It was a sour season ending for Schlabach, whose run with his senior class — including Hochstetler, Schrock, Emily Yoder, Sasha Goings and Erin Schrock came to a close.
“We’ve had a lot of good classes come through, but this one ranks right up there,” said Schlabach. “We’re really, really going to miss them. They’re really hard workers and great leaders.”/p>
