Southwest Ohio's best Division I girls basketball teams advanced to regional tournament action Saturday as four district champions were crowned. Princeton, Winton Woods, Mason and Mount Notre Dame will all play in regional semifinals Tuesday night.
Lakota East vs. Princeton
The Vikings have just three losses and had already defeated Lakota East twice during the season by double digits. Saturday morning at Lakota West was no different, although Princeton did trail 30-26 at halftime.
Behind 27 points by Greater Miami Conference-leading scorer Solè Williams, the Vikings went to 23-3 by holding the Thunderhawks to 13 second-half points. The final was Princeton 58, Lakota East 43.
"Things are going pretty well," Princeton coach Dee Davis said. "We still haven't peaked. The girls keep finding ways to win and fight and make their season last longer."
Davis is a 2003 Princeton graduate who became the school's first girls McDonald's All-American before Kelsey Mitchell did so in 2014. She's trying to take the Vikings to the same levels she reached. Junior Solè Williams could be on that path. This season featured three Greater Cincinnati McDonald's All-Americans who are seniors. Williams is a junior and may be next.
"It would be amazing for her to get that opportunity," Davis said. "I'm very optimistic that if she continues to put two seasons together that she'll get that opportunity. She's worked hard for it, earned it and I would be more than thrilled if she could get that."
The Vikings are in line for a rematch with Mount Notre Dame now. The two played Dec. 22 with Princeton winning 86-59 but was later forfeited because a Viking player had exceeded the nightly limit on quarters between junior varsity and varsity. The game is set for Tuesday, March 1 at Princeton, the designated host site for the OHSAA regional tournament. Game time is set for 8 p.m.
Centerville vs. Winton Woods
McDonald's All-American and Oregon signee Chance Gray had 15 first-quarter points and 24 at halftime. She passed the 2,200 career point list to make it to No. 25 among Ohio's all-time scorers.
But, Centerville came from eight down at half to creep within two in the fourth quarter. The Warriors withstood the challenge and won the game 61-50. Gray finished with 30 points and was 7-of-15 frombehind the arc. Freshman Daniah Trammell had a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Warriors coach Carlton Gray has now taken his basketball team to a district title and was defensive coordinator on the school's first state title in football since 2009 back in December. The former NFL player is full of Forest Park pride.
"This caps off a tremendous year when you talk about football and everything else that's been going on," Carlton Gray said. "I never would have fathomed anything like this. It means a lot. These people really appreciate all that we've been trying to do. We still have a long way to go. This is the foundation for hopefully something we build with our team."
Winton Woods hasn't lost since Nov. 29 when it fell to Turpin. Carlton Gray was Eastern Cincinnati Conference Coach of the Year with Chance Gray winning ECC Player of the Year by averaging over 26 points per game. Saturday she got the first snip of the district title net with her dad watching and sister Amber (a former McDonald's All-American) holding the ladder.
"I knew as far as we got to the tournament that people were going to start playing me straight up," Gray said of her quick start. "That gives me freedom to do what I need to do to help my team."
It was her first district title, something she fell short of in three seasons at Lakota West.
The Warriors' winning streak is now at 23 and their record is 25-1. Winton Woods now meets Mason in a regional semifinal Tuesday at Princeton in a game scheduled for 6 p.m.
Mason vs. Springboro
Mason took the GMC title this season, sharing with Princeton The Comets also had a McDonald's All-American in 6-foot-6 inch center Kyla Oldacre who will next play in the post for the Miami Hurricanes.
Down 26-25 at the half against Springboro, Oldacre scored the first eight points of the second half to put the Comets back in front for good. Four inches taller than Springboro freshman Aniya Trent, she was a constant presence in the paint. In the end, Mason's No. 44 was too much as the Comets got the district plaque with a 57-48 victory.
"Halftime, it was like, 'Hey, it's our time, let's pretend like it's 0-0 and it's time for us to push them back," Oldacre said.
Oldacre matched a season-high with 27 points and collected 15 rebounds and led everyone in steals with six in addition to four blocks. She shot 16 free throws, sinking 11.
Coach Rob Matula's Comets have now won 11 straight games and are 23-2. He's now won eight district titles in one of the toughest districts around.
"This district has got to be one of the toughest districts in the United States," Matula said. "There's so many good teams in the Southwest region. Again, not taking it away from the other regions in Ohio, but man, this is a meat-grinder here!"
Mason's next grind will come against Winton Woods with Matula well aware of what player they will need to stop.
"Chance (Gray), I have so much respect for her," Matula said. "Obviously when she was at (Lakota) West we played against each other. I know it'll be a great game."
Bellbrook vs. Mount Notre Dame
With another perfect season, Mount Notre Dame has not officially lost since Jan.14, 2019, against Centerville. Not only is KK Bransford a McDonald's All-American, but she's also the reigning Ohio Ms. Basketball who will be going to college at Notre Dame.
Saturday, Bransford had her usual well-rounded game and plenty of help on the stat sheet from her Cougar teammates. Junior Keisha Francisco banged in five 3-pointers to lead MND with 18 points. The Girls Greater Catholic League leader in scoring and assists, Bransford had 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals. Senior Abby Wolterman added 9 points and 8 rebounds.
"Keisha came out on fire, Taylor (Stanley) facilitated the ball and we all chipped in," Bransford said. "It helps when we all chip in. I'm just so happy we were all on the same page tonight."
Mount Notre Dame defeated Bellbrook handily 67-27.
Their 97th win in a row came against a team that came in 23-2. By early in the fourth quarter, MND coach Dr. Scott Rogers had emptied his bench. Eventually, the clock ran as the margin reached 35.
"A lot of teams have great players and we're going to see one on Tuesday," Rogers said in reference to Princeton's Solè Williams. "They rally around each other and that's what it's all about. I can't wait to get back to work."
The girls regional semifinals Tuesday now features the marquee rematch of 25-0 MND against the team that might have broken their streak in December. Rogers missed that game on the bench against Princeton as he was out ill with COVID-19.
"I'm glad I get to be there for this one," Rogers said. "They're a great team. We'll see what happens."
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