Times-Reporter.com sports writer
COLUMBUS — Kennedy Schlabach and the rest of her Hiland teammates weren't ready for the season to end.
Schlabach buried a deep 3-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer as top-ranked Hiland rallied from 10 points down in the second half for a 44-41 win over No. 7-ranked Ottoville in a Division IV state girls basketball semifinal at Value City Arena on the campus of Ohio State University Thursday night.
The No. 1-ranked Hawks improved to 28-1 and will play defending champion Waterford (25-3) Saturday at 2 p.m. for the state title.
They will be seeking their fifth state title in program history.
Waterford beat Jackson Center 37-35 on a basket at the buzzer by Hayley Duff in the earlier semifinal.
Schlabach, a junior daughter of head coach Dave Schlabch, along with Division IV state Player of the Year senior Angela Troyer and junior Morgan McMillen saved their best for last as the Hawks battled turnovers and less than stellar shooting in the first half.
They were the only Hawks to score in the game.
Troyer led the winners with 18 points, including 13 in the second half, while Schlabach added 15 and McMillen chipped in 11.
The younger Schlabach just wanted to come through.
"Morgan did a great job of getting the ball up the court and she was able to find me," said Schlabach, a half hour after making the biggest shot of her career. "I didn't have a lot of time and I knew I had to get the thing off. I was able to knock that thing down when she passed it to me."
Ottoville led 10-7 after the opening quarter, 21-18 at the half and 32-27 in a third quarter that saw the Hawks down 32-22 at one point.
The Hawks took their first lead with 3:38 left in the game as Troyer completed an and-one to put the Hawks up 37-36.
She added two free throws to give the Hawks a 39-36 edge, but the Lady Green battled back and tied the game at 39-39 thanks to three free throws by Bridget Landin, who led Ottoville with 15 points.
Troyer again came up big as her jumper with 34 seconds left put the Hawks up 41-39.
Hiland could have added to its lead in the final minutes, but missed two front ends of one-and-ones, two by Schlabach, who would redeem herself.
With 7.8 seconds left, Landin sank two pressure free throws to knot the game at 41-41.
But Hiland had the last laugh.
The ball was inbounded to McMillen, who weaved her way through the Green defense and dished the ball off to Schlabach, who squared up and calmly shot the ball as it swished through the twine as time expired, setting off a wild midcourt celebration.
"We drew it up just like we wanted, and the kids executed it," said coach Schlabach. "It was nice that it was my daughter, even more so for my team."
Hiland is appearing in the state final four for a 15th time. Ottoville made its sixth trip to the big dance.
The Hawks have won four titles overall (2000, '05, 06, '08) and have earned state runner-up five times (1989, 2009, '10, '12, '13).
Ottoville was the state runner-up in 2005. Ironically, it lost to Hiland in that final.
Hiland made just 14 of 38 field goals for 37 percent, while Ottoville was 15 of 33 for 46 percent.
The Hawks turned the ball over 13 times, but 11 of those were in the first half. Hiland forced Ottoville into 22 miscues, with many coming down the stretch and the Hawks would capitalize on them.
Ottoville outrebounded Hiland 27-19 as Landin led the way with 10 caroms as the Green got plenty of second chances throughout the night. McMillen paced the Hawks with four.
Ottoville ended its season at 24-4.
