State champion Hiland committed to excellence

By Jason Currence
Times-Reporter.com sports correspondent

COLUMBUS — The Lady Hawks from Hiland played 30 games, came out victorious 29 times, the last being the sweetest, as it resulted in their fifth girls Division IV basketball state title in a 61-41 victory over Waterford.

The Hawks were dominant during the 2016-17 season with 22 of their 30 wins by 30 points or more, 17 games by 45 or more, and an astonishing eight games with a margin of victory over 70. After surviving a rare close game in the state semifinal (a 44-41 win on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Kennedy Schlabach, it was back to business for the red and black as they blew out the Wildcats by 20 in the title game

Waterford came into the contest as the defending Division IV state champions and the 2015 runner-up.

Hiland validated their regular season dominance by blowing through the Division IV tourney accumulating a 44.5 margin of victory in the process.

"Our kids know every practice their job is on the line, our practices are wars sometimes," said head coach Dave Schlabach in response to how he keeps the team motivated with such lopsided victories.

"We were an overly committed group, after a devastating loss last year I felt we needed to change some things if we wanted to get back down here," said Schlabach. "We needed to find a more balanced scoring, a post presence, and play faster."

The Hawks' coaching staff can check all of those boxes complete as all phases of the Hiland attack were on display Saturday afternoon.

"I got into this game 12 years ago and two of the teams I always wanted to play was Fort Loramie and Berlin Hiland, from 2000 and even before they have been a tremendous powerhouses," said Waterford head coach Jerry Close.

Close got his wish, but it would only result in his team being the last speed bump in a championship season for the Hawks.

A championship and magical season littered with highlights and storylines, none more memorable than head coach Dave Schlabach having his daughter, junior Kennedy Schlabach, hit the game-winning three at the buzzer in the state semifinal game against Ottoville to set up the state final matchup against Waterford.

Without question teams win championships, however, strong play from individual players are essential when making a run at a title, and the Hawks had no shortage of standout players.

Along with Dave Schlabach earning Division IV coach of the year honors, senior Angela Troyer was a Ms. Basketball nominee, Division IV player of the year, and named to the Division IV first team All-Ohio. Joining Troyer on the All-Ohio teams were junior Kennedy Schlabach who was named to the second team and junior Morgan McMillen was named to the third team.

With the Hawks only setback coming from the Division III state champion and a whole lot of talented underclassmen, Hiland will no doubt be a contender in the 2017-18 season as well. It's never easy to replace a first team All-Ohioan (A. Troyer), but the returning Hawks will be laced with championship experience, an invaluable commodity in sports.

"We have an outstanding eighth grade class coming up next year, with several girls that will be competing for playing time," said Hiland assistant coach Nick McMillen.

That's a scary thought for upcoming competition.

Hiland now boasts 15 final four appearances, 10 championship game appearances, and now five state titles to bolster a program already rich in tradition.

"Thirty days we will enjoy this, I want these girls to get some rest, then it's back to work," said Schlabach in response to how long will the team take to savor this victory before beginning preparation for next year.

It's that kind of dedication and hard work that results in winning, especially in the manor in which the Hawks won games all throughout the 2016-17 season.