EDITOR’S NOTE: These game summaries were compiled by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and first published at this site. Complete box scores from each of these games is also available at the OHSAA site.
Shaker Heights Laurel 53, Proctorville Fairland 52
Jordyn Meyer’s layup with five seconds remaining lifted Shaker Heights Laurel to a 53-52 win over Proctorville Fairland in the first Division II state semifinal at University of Dayton Arena.
Laurel (19-10) advances to the state championship game for the first time in school history, while Fairland finishes 26-2 after making its fourth appearance at the state tournament.
The game was tied eight different times and saw 10 lead changes. Fairland led by as many as eight points, 27-19, just before halftime, but Laurel opened the second half with an 11-2 run and led by three, 32-29, two minutes into the third period. Neither team led by more than five points in the second half, and the fourth quarter was played within a three-point margin.
The teams traded points on the game’s last five possessions, all in the final 62 seconds. Fairland’s Bree Allen tied the game at 49 with a three-pointer with 1:02 left, and Nyla Edwards gave Laurel a 51-49 lead with 37 seconds remaining.
Out of a timeout, Fairland’s Addison Godby scored in the paint to even the score at 51 with 21 seconds left, but Meyer’s layup with five seconds remaining swung the lead back to Laurel. Fairland pushed the ball up the floor after Meyer’s basket and drew a foul with 0.2 seconds remaining, but split the two free throws for the final margin.
Saniyah Hall played all 32 minutes for Laurel and tallied 26 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and five steals. Meyer also finished in double figures with 14 points.
Four players finished with 11 points for Fairland: Godby, Kamryn Barnitz, Bailey Russell and Kylee Bruce. Allen scored six points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
Cincinnati Purcell Marian 67, Copley 29
Cincinnati Purcell Marian will play in its third consecutive state championship game after defeating Copley, 67-29, in the second Division II state semifinal at University of Dayton Arena.
Purcell Marian never trailed in the contest and used an 18-0 run in the second quarter to pull away.
Dee Alexander, named Ohio’s Ms. Basketball for the second straight year earlier in the week, led Purcell Marian with 18 points on 9-of-15 shooting. She added five rebounds and four assists.
Jayda Mosley (12 points) and Trinity Small (nine points) both made three three-pointers for Purcell Marian, and in all eight different players scored for the Cavaliers.
Kami Ayoup scored 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Copley.
Purcell Marian (28-1) is the defending Division II state champion after winning the Division III state title in 2022. Copley (25-4) was making its second appearance at the state tournament and first since 2006.
Olmsted Falls 62, Rocky River Magnificat 38
Olmsted Falls booked a return trip to the Division I state championship game with a 62-38 win over Rocky River Magnificat in the first Division I state semifinal.
Olmsted Falls, the 2023 Division I runner-up, made 10 of 19 three-pointers for the game and outscored Magnificat 17-4 in the third quarter to pull away. Defensively, Olmsted Falls forced 18 turnovers and scored 24 points off those turnovers.
Danielle Cameron scored 19 points to lead Olmsted Falls. She also collected eight rebounds, five assists and four steals. Jesse Simon added 15 points and Maddie Cerovac scored 10 points for Olmsted Falls.
Reese Roggenburk led Magnificat with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Olmsted Falls (25-3), playing in its second state tournament, will also play in its second state championship game. Magnificat finishes its season 21-7 after making its sixth trip to the state tournament.
Springboro 63, Pickerington Central 54
Bryn Martin scored a Division I state tournament record 38 points to lead Springboro to a 63-54 win over Pickerington Central in the second Division I state semifinal at University of Dayton Arena.
Springboro (24-5) advances to the state championship game for the second time in school history and first time since 1978. Pickerington Central finishes 25-4 overall after making its 15th appearance at the state tournament.
Martin shot 11 of 23 from the floor and 13 of 14 at the foul line. She scored 17 points in the first half as Springboro built a 27-19 halftime lead, then scored 13 of Springboro’s 17 third-quarter points. Martin also collected eight rebounds and four steals.
Springboro never trailed after a 15-2 run turned an early 13-7 deficit into a 22-15 lead midway through the second quarter.
Rylee Bess scored 16 points to lead three players in double figures for Pickerington Central. Zoe Coleman and Blossom Wallace both finished with 11 points.
Martin broke both the Division I semifinal scoring record (32 points – Michelle White, Hudson, 2003) and the Division I tournament record (34 points – Jodi Roth, Shelby, 1983). Martin is tied with Jenna Burdette (Reedsville Eastern, 2014) and Kelly Downs (Richmond Dale Southeastern, 1986) for the third highest single game total in any division in state tournament history; Lynn Bihn (Fort Recovery) holds the record with 43 points in the 1991 Division IV state final.