Daily Record Staff Writer
GNADENHUTTEN — Hiland’s depth and experience paid big dividends on Saturday, as four players scored in double figures to help the Hawks knock off Garaway 63-41 to capture the Division III East District championship.
The win advances the Hawks to the Logan Regional on Wednesday. Due to Logan’s boys basketball team winning its district, the regional tournament has been moved. However, no site has been secured. State officials are scrambling to find an alternate site. They hope to have everything settled by Monday.
The one-two punch of Morgan McMillen and Tiffany Weaver helped Hiland open up a 9-5 lead, but the Pirates battled back behind 3-pointers from Zoe Johnson and Kallie Regula, and a driving layup by Haley Shutt to take a short-lived 12-11 lead.
McMillen answered with a bucket and the Hawks led 13-12 after one.
Hiland’s Bowling Green-bound senior rattled home a triple from the top of the key to open the second quarter and the Hawks built a 30-19 advantage by halftime.
Zoe Miller and Tiffany Weaver went to work inside and Kennedy Schlabach swished a 3-pointer and the Hawks were rolling into the break.
“We had to play almost flawless to that point, but they still managed to build a double-digit lead,” Garaway coach Dave Shutt said. “That takes a toll. That forced us to press a little bit more and take some shots we don’t normally take.”
Triples by Schlabach and McMillen helped Hiland open things up inside and Weaver, who finished with 14 points, and Miller, who added 15, went to work on the much smaller Pirates.
“In the first half, we were 100 percent every time we went inside,” Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said. “It’s nice to feel like we don’t have to hit 15 3s to beat a really good team.”
The Hawks finished with six triples, one less than Garaway made.
Hiland was up 45-26 after three periods and despite the Pirates closing to 54-31 midway through the final frame, a McMillen 3-pointer helped the Hawks fend off the feisty Garaway team. McMillen paced the Hiland offensive with 22 points. Miller added 15, Weaver had 14 and Schlabach finished with 10.
“We had a great first quarter and were hoping to keep it where it was at,” Shutt said. “But then we got down and went into press mode. We could’ve folded the tent in the fourth quarter, but we cut it to 13 and had the ball. We just couldn’t make that play or two to get us over the hump.”
The win improved Hiland’s record to 21-4. Garaway bows out at 21-5 (three of those losses coming to the Hawks).
“It hit us hard,” Shutt said. “We lose four seniors who put a ton of time into this. It was a special group, near and dear to my heart, because I knew them since they were little. They care for each other.”
His daughter, Haley paced the Pirates with 12 points.
“They did a good job. They pressured us and we didn’t handle it real well,” Schlabach said. “We haven’t been pressured all season. It was good for us to see that pressure and know what that felt like.”
The coach praised the play of his group on the offensive end, but was exceptionally satisfied with the defensive effort turned in by freshman Morgan Yoder, who held Sydney Mullet to one basket.
“For a freshman to be that smart, it’s something else,” the coach said. “She watched about five hours of Garaway film last night.”
The Hiland coach relished another trip to regionals.
“This never gets old,” Schlabach added. “Every senior class is different. Could you imagine if Kennedy had lost this game? I just ... I know how important that game was to our seniors. We wanted to make sure we got this job done today. They’re a good team. I wasn’t comfortable up 15 with six minutes to go.”
Weaver, the junior post, was excited to earn another trip to regionals.
“Coach had us prepared for everything,” Weaver said. “I love playing the inside game. I just try to give it my all. Getting back to regionals feels great.”
