Times-Reporter.com sports writer
COLUMBUS — Hiland's drive for five came to a successful end Saturday.
Stifling defensive play throughout, solid 3-point shooting in the second quarter and an 11-0 scoring burst to start the third lifted Hiland to a 61-41 win over defending champion Waterford for the 2017 Division IV girls state basketball crown at Value City Arena on the campus of Ohio State University.
It's Hiland's fifth state championship as the Hawks completed a 29-1 season.
Hiland, making its 15th appearance at the state tournament and 10th time in the title game, captured its first championship since 2008.
The Hawks also won crowns in 2006, 2005 and 2000. They were runners-up in 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 1989.
Waterford, the 2016 titleholder, ended up 25-4.
"I'm very, very proud of our kids," said Hiland head coach Dave Schlabach. "We've lost some state championship games the last seven or eight years, but these kids were committed to bring back a state championship to Holmes County."
A loss in the regional final a year ago, helped fuel the fire.
"After a devastating loss last season, they were a very committed group that worked their way back here," said Schlabach. "I felt like were had to change some things to get back down here again. We had to be a little more balanced in our scoring, find a post game and play a little faster. I felt all those things came into play today."
Division IV All-Ohio Player of the Year Angela Troyer led the Hawks with 20 points and junior Morgan McMillen added 17, while senior Angela Troyer chipped in nine and sophomore Tiffany Weaver added eight.
Troyer, who is headed to Ohio Dominican University, was just happy to win her final game at VCA.
"To come down here and ultimately complete the goal we've all been working so hard for is the best feeling," said Troyer, who was 6 of 13 from the floor and 4 of 4 from the line.
McMillen, who came to Hiland after her freshman season at New Philadelphia, was calm, cool and collected on the sports' brightest stage as she was 7 of 13 from the field.
"I just tried to stay calm out there," said McMillen, a daughter of assistant coach Nick McMillen. "I felt like if I was calm, my teammates would follow along. I felt that was big for us."
In addition to Troyer and McMillen, the Hawks got big games down low in the form of Jessica Troyer and Weaver, who combined for 17 points and were solid defensively.
Only three Hawks scored in the semifinal win.
Hiland's defense also rose to the occasion as the Hawks forced Waterford into making 19 turnovers leading to 21 points.
"That's our style....that's what we love to do," said Schlabach of the Hawks' pressure defense. "We have to create shots off turnovers. I thought we got good things from our pressure."
Waterford head coach Jerry Close said Hiland's pressure was a big factor.
"Three different times we let things get a bit out of control," said Close. "Against a team like that, you can't recover. Their ability to do to us what we did to other teams was the difference."
"We haven't faced pressure like that all year," admitted Close. "It's hard to prepare for. This game should be a very valuable learning tool for them."
Junior Ali Kern led the Wildcats with 17 points and fellow junior Megan Ball just missed double figures with nine.
Ironically, both Hiland and Waterford made it to the title game on last-second, game-winning shots on Thursday.
Schlabach buried a 3-pointer as time expired to lift Hiland to a thrilling 44-41 win over Ottoville in one semifinal, while junior Hayley Duff's layup with a tick left gave Waterford a scintillating 37-35 win over Jackson Center in the earlier semifinal.
There was no such suspense on Saturday.
Hiland led 9-6 after the opening quarter as the Hawks took advantage of six Waterford turnovers in the first eight minutes of play. The Hawks came out firing on all cylinders in the second as they sank 8 of 16 field goals including four 3-pointers led by Troyer's back-to-back threes and regular basket that pushed their lead into double figures (27-16) at the 2:23 mark.
At one point, the Hawks started out 1 of 8 from 3-point land, but made four of their next six in the half.
"We got a lot of good shots in transition," said Schlabach. "We're a very unselfish team."
Schlabach's junior point guard daughter, Kennedy, dished out a team-high six assists.
"She distributed the ball well again today and got the basketball up the floor," said the elder Schlabach.
Waterford cut its deficit to 27-21 with under a minute left in the half, but Jessica Troyer's basket and two free throws down the stretch gave the Hawks a 31-21 lead at the half.
Hiland forced 12 turnovers in half and scored 14 points off Waterford miscues.
The Hawks blew the game open with an 11-0 burst to start the third quarter, taking a 42-21 advantage at the 4:30 mark of the period. Waterford's first points came with 4:01 left.
Hiland took a 49-30 bulge into the final frame where the Hawks pulled their starters one-by-one with two minutes remaining in the contest to thunderous applause.
Then a wild celebration ensued as the clock hit zeroes.
Hiland made 22 of 49 action shots for 45 percent and 9 of 10 free throws for 90 percent. Waterford was 16 of 44 from the floor for 36 percent and 8 of 12 from the line for 67 percent.
The Wildcats outrebounded the Hawks 32-27 as Ball and Kern each led the way with 10 caroms. McMillen paced Hiland with five.
The Hawks turned the ball over 11 times.
Hiland's lone loss of the season came to Division III Gates Mills Gilmour Academy 60-49 at the Hawks' girls basketball showcase Classic in the Country back in January.
The played in the Division III title after after the Hawks.
Hiland joins four other schools (Delphos St. John, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame, Columbus Africentic and Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown) as the only programs to win five championships. The Hawks broke away from a tie with West Holmes and River View with four each.
Only Pickerington and South Euclid Regina has have won more with six titles apiece.
Waterford, located in Washington Country near Marietta, was making its third consecutive appearance in the final four after finishing as runner-up in 2015.
"They're gonna be good again next year," said Schlabach of the junior-laden Wildcat bunch. "They should be excited about their program."
As for the Hawks.....
"Our goals never change," said Schlabach, who is in his 26th season at the Hiland helm. "We want to give an effort to win a state championship."
