By TIM STRIED
OHSAA Media Director
DAYTON, Ohio - Columbus Africentric Early College won its second consecutive Division III state title, defeating Ottawa-Glandorf, 58-47, at University of Dayton Arena.
The state championship was Africentric’s ninth overall, most in OHSAA girls basketball history. All nine championships have come since 2007.
Africentric’s largest lead of the first half was 11 points, 21-10, after Ashtan Winfrey scored with 4:34 left in the second quarter. Ottawa-Glandorf chipped away at the lead and drew within two points twice, the final time when Karsyn Erford’s bucket pulled O-G within 29-27 with 3:42 left in the third quarter.
Africentric (28-2) immediately answered with a 13-3 run—in which four different players scored—and stretched its lead back to 12 points, 42-30, with 1:40 left in the third quarter. From there, Ottawa-Glandorf would get no closer than six points.
Both teams made 21 shots from the floor, but Africentric was 3 of 6 from three while Ottawa-Glandorf was 0 for 4. Africentric shot 13 of 14 from the foul line, compared to 5 of 12 for O-G, and made 8 of 9 foul shots in the second half.
Africentric also had a 34-25 edge in rebounds and score 11 second-chance points.
Four different players scored at least 10 points for Africentric. Samairah Thompson had 12 points and six rebounds, while Natiah Nelson finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Kamryn Grant posted a double-double of 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Bowers also hit double figures with 10 points.
Ottawa-Glandorf (26-3) was led by Erford’s 18 points. Carlie Brinkman was also in double figures with 10 points.
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