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COLUMBUS -- Through 2 1/2 quarters, Hiland was in firm control and on its way to winning back-to-back Division IV girls' state basketball titles and the fifth championship of this decade.

But over the final quarter-and-a-half, things went south fast for the Hawks as Columbus Africentric rallied to wrestle the potential title away and claim its second championship in the past three seasons.

The Nubians used a stifling defense and fierce rebounding in the second half en route to a 55-46 come-from-behind win over the defending state champions to avenge a loss in the 2008 final before 4,795 at Value City Arena on Saturday.

Africentric ended its season with a 23-4 record.

Hiland, which won titles in 2000, 2005 and 2006 in addition to last season, ended up with a 26-2 ledger. The Hawks were playing in the Final Four for the 10th time in school history. Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said it was a tale of two halves.

"We felt at halftime we had a game that was kind of picture perfect for us," Schlabach said. "We kept them out of the paint, made them shoot perimeter jumpers and rebounded the basketball. It was exactly the opposite in the second half. We only gave up 11 (points) in the first half and 44 in the second. That's pretty big there."

Hiland led 9-4 after the opening quarter and seized a 26-11 lead at the half as the Hawks were hitting on all cylinders while the Nubians we're not.

Africentric made just 5 of 29 field goals for 17 percent and the Nubians' big three of Raven Ferguson and Ashar Harris and Shardai Morrison-Fountain combined for just five points on 2-of-21 shooting.

After the intermission, they were 15 of 29 from the floor to spearhead the comeback.
Ferguson, who led the winners with 17 points and also grabbed six rebounds, said the Nubians' comeback began at halftime.

"In the locker room it was somewhat quiet for a minute. Then we said, 'It's not over. It's in your heart to win,'" Ferguson said. "We put our hearts on the court and we won. We didn't look back to last year. We looked forward."

Morrison-Fountain scored all 13 of her points in the second half, including seven in the fourth quarter as the Nubians rallied from a 46-37 deficit with 6:49 to play. Harris had 14 points, a Division IV state tournament record 16 rebounds and three steals.

"In the third quarter, we came out aggressively on defense," noted Africentric coach Will McKinney. "We just didn't cause turnovers. We got points out of those turnovers. You have to beat them. They're not going to lay down."

Hiland turned the ball over 17 times (nine in the second half) compared with 12 for Africentric. The Nubians outrebounded the Hawks 44-31 with 20 offensive rebounds.

"You can't let a team like that get two or three looks at the basket," said Schlabach.



	Big rally gives Africentric victory over Hiland for state title By ROGER METZGER The Times-Reporter COLUMBUS -- Through 2 1/2 quarters, Hiland was in firm control and on its way to winning back-to-back Division IV girls' state basketball titles and the fifth championship of this decade. But over the final quarter-and-a-half, things went south fast for the Hawks as Columbus Africentric rallied to wrestle the potential title away and claim its second championship in the past three seasons. The Nubians used a stifling defense and fierce rebounding in the second half en route to a 55-46 come-from-behind win over the defending state champions to avenge a loss in the 2008 final before 4,795 at Value City Arena on Saturday. Africentric ended its season with a 23-4 record. Hiland, which won titles in 2000, 2005 and 2006 in addition to last season, ended up with a 26-2 ledger. The Hawks were playing in the Final Four for the 10th time in school history. Hiland coach Dave Schlabach said it was a tale of two halves. "We felt at halftime we had a game that was kind of picture perfect for us," Schlabach said. "We kept them out of the paint, made them shoot perimeter jumpers and rebounded the basketball. It was exactly the opposite in the second half. We only gave up 11 (points) in the first half and 44 in the second. That's pretty big there." Hiland led 9-4 after the opening quarter and seized a 26-11 lead at the half as the Hawks were hitting on all cylinders while the Nubians we're not. Africentric made just 5 of 29 field goals for 17 percent and the Nubians' big three of Raven Ferguson and Ashar Harris and Shardai Morrison-Fountain combined for just five points on 2-of-21 shooting. After the intermission, they were 15 of 29 from the floor to spearhead the comeback. Ferguson, who led the winners with 17 points and also grabbed six rebounds, said the Nubians' comeback began at halftime. "In the locker room it was somewhat quiet for a minute. Then we said, 'It's not over. It's in your heart to win,'" Ferguson said. "We put our hearts on the court and we won. We didn't look back to last year. We looked forward." Morrison-Fountain scored all 13 of her points in the second half, including seven in the fourth quarter as the Nubians rallied from a 46-37 deficit with 6:49 to play. Harris had 14 points, a Division IV state tournament record 16 rebounds and three steals. "In the third quarter, we came out aggressively on defense," noted Africentric coach Will McKinney. "We just didn't cause turnovers. We got points out of those turnovers. You have to beat them. They're not going to lay down." Hiland turned the ball over 17 times (nine in the second half) compared with 12 for Africentric. The Nubians outrebounded the Hawks 44-31 with 20 offensive rebounds. "You can't let a team like that get two or three looks at the basket," said Schlabach. Karli Mast had 11 points for Hiland. Mykeila Mast added 10 points and five rebounds, while Katelyn Stuckey scored eight points. Hilary Weaver, who shared co-player of the year honors with Harris, was held scoreless on four shots,but did have five assists. Karli Mast, the lone senior on the team, said it was disappointing not to reach the final goal. "By my standards it does," said Mast when asked if losing in her final game takes away from her overall career. "You put up that goal at the beginning of the season. Obviously, all we really care about is winning state and we didn't get it done." Mykeila Mast made the first basket of the second half for Hiland's biggest advantage at 28-11, but the Nubians cut the deficit to 40-35 after three quarters — thanks in part to a full-court press, as they went on a 12-2 run to end the quarter. Schlabach said the Nubians did to the Hawks what the Hawks have done to their opponents in the past. "They had us on our heels," admitted Schlabach. "We've seen that type of pressure this year and I thought we were capable of handling it, but on this afternoon we didn't do a very good job." The Hawks were still in charge as they led 46-37 with 6:49 left, but Hiland would not score again. A jumper and a subsequent steal and basket by Morrison-Fountain got the Nubians to within one, and a stickback basket by Harris gave Africentric the lead for good at 47-46 with 3:46 to play. "When they took the lead, we needed to get it back pretty quick because they do a good job of taking care of the basketball," noted Schlabach. "When they get it going, they're pretty relentless." Schlabach said the Hawks will try to make another run at a state title next season. "We always set the same goal," said Schlabach. "Unless you win the last game, you're going to be disappointed. I would assume that we've got a few kids in that locker room that are extremely motivated at this point in time to try to keep this thing going."






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