With Division IV's defending state champions clinging to a 27-22 halftime lead against an inspired Strasburg team, Hiland's junior point guard took over.

The game was never the same.

Weaver started the second half with nine straight points, a run that included a step-back 3-pointer that left the Tigers flabbergasted, and had a steal in the 11-4 spurt that put Hiland up 38-26. She'd wind up scoring 21 of her game-high 27 points in the second half as the Hawks turned a tight game into a runaway and left Indian Valley with a 65-40 district semifinal win.

The title defense continues in Friday's district title game against Shadyside.

"Hilary's an incredible competitor," Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said. "She had a little swagger to herself in the second half. She'll gladly distribute when she needs to do that. But, when it's time for her to take over a game she's ready and willing."

The run at the start of the second half gave Hiland (22-1) some breathing room against a Strasburg team that brought its best game to the district semifinal.

With the teams trading baskets at the start, the Tigers (17-6) took an 8-6 lead on a pair of free throws that would end up as the only points of the game for powerful center Carly Clark. Karli Mast made a jumper to give Hiland a 10-8 lead and the Hawks never trailed again. But, Strasburg kept it tight until the Hawk burst at the start of the second half.

The Tigers' switching defenses and high energy play at both ends gave Hiland fits in the first half. But, after a recalibration at halftime and the big spark from Weaver, Hiland took off.

"She completely changed this game," Strasburg coach Chad Bonifant said. "Coach Schlabach probably told her it was time to take over and she did that. She's a smart, skilled player. There aren't a lot of high school kids who are going to hit step back threes like she made tonight. She's skilled, there's no doubt about that. The only problem is that she's only a junior."

With the way Weaver took over, it's almost easy to overlook the other thing Hiland did too assert control of the game.

After 22 points in the first half, and a relatively easy time getting them, the Tigers found things exponentially more difficult in the second half. They had just three field goals in the third quarter and five for the entire second half. After a defensive performance in last week's sectional final against Newcomerstown that the Hawks would have liked back, they gave an effort in the second half Wednesday that will be tough to top.

"We thought we gave up too many layups in the first half," Schlabach said. "We went to our zone press and wanted to make sure we didn't give up layups like we'd been doing. We wanted to make sure we weren't giving up something and that helped keep the clock running."

It was a funky offensive night for the Hawks. Juniors Noelle Yoder and Katelyn Stuckey, the team's third and fourth leading scorers, went scoreless. The normally balanced crew saw three players score 57 of their 65 points. Weaver hit 6-of-7 3-pointers to get her 27, Karli Mast had 17 and Mykeila Mast had 13. They also teamed up to make all 10 Hiland 3-point baskets.

On a night like this, contributions do come from other places. Freshman Hannah Stoneman stepped into significant first half minutes after the defensive effort on Clark found Stuckey, Missy Mast and McKenzie Miller all in first half foul trouble. Stoneman scored off an offensive rebound and held her own against the burly Strasburg senior.

"We really needed the battle tonight," Schlabach said. "It's been four weeks since we've had a battle and we haven't practiced well and haven't been playing well because of it. It was good for us to be in that atmosphere again."

AS AN ASIDE -- Schlabach also confirmed Wednesday that Yoder gave a verbal commitment to Bowling Green State University and will sign in the fall to join their basketball team. She will be the second Hiland player in three years to head to the Mid-American Conference, following Kent State's Jena Stutzman. Stutzman and Yoder faced off twice while Yoder was a student at West Holmes.