Daily Record Staff Writer
CAMBRIDGE — Hiland unleashed its three-headed monster, while controlling River's one-woman wrecking crew. The result was a 59-49 triumph over the Pilots and the Div. IV Eastern District championship.
The win sends Hiland (21-4) to the regionals on Thursday at Perry, while sending the Pilots home with a 21-5 record.
Brittany Miller took advantage of River's attempt to deny Kennedy Schlabach the ball. As two or three defenders collapsed on Schlabach, Miller was open for the shot and knocked down a pair of first-quarter 3-pointers and scored eight of the Hawks' first 10 points. The senior finished with a game-high 21 points.
"I was supposed to guard (Jensen) Caretti, so I didn't think I'd score much," Miller said. "I played with confidence and knocked some shots down. Teams can't really scout us because it's usually a different person every night who steps up."
Caretti, the 6-foot-1 future Ohio State Buckeye, was held in check by Miller, until she got in foul trouble, and then Megan Beechy came off the bench and occasionally Morgan McMillen chipped in guarding Caretti, who finished with 13 points.
Morgan McMillen, who is finally healthy, drilled a 3-pointer from the corner that gave Hiland a 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter. The sophomore finished with 16 points, using a wide assortment of moves inside and out to help the Hawks move on.
"It's just been a matter of getting her back and in rhythm again," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said of McMillen. "She was out for six weeks. She can score so many ways, with a great post move, back to the basket for a layup, or step out and hit the 3. I'm excited for her.
"They came out in a box-and-one on Kennedy, and that freed Morgan up," the coach continued. "They tried a triangle and two on Kennedy and Morgan and that freed up Brittany. That's where you have to find the open people and we did a good job of that."
McMillen commended the play of her mates off the bench, who helped shut down Caretti.
"We knew she's a great player. We had to defend with intensity," McMillen said. "Our bench is tremendous."
Caretti was held to two first-half field goals, one a triple, and two free throws. Miller stroked two more triples and McMillen went to work inside to build a 36-25 lead at the break.
Hiland's depth wore the Pilots down some to start the second half and the Hawks opened a 47-33 lead after three.
A 3-point barrage by Kennedy Schlabach (two) and another from Miller to open the fourth quarter put the Hawks up 19, 56-37, and it was all over but the awards ceremony. Schlabach finished with 12 points.
River chipped away, taking advantage of some sloppy passing late by the Hawks, but the Pilots did not have enough to overcome the huge deficit.
a"They've got a nice team. They just bring so many kids at you," said River coach Rick Isaly. "It's hard to defend one or two kids and then have another kid step up, but that's what happened."
