Ohio Division 4 State Final Four preview

<strong>By Jim Dabbelt</strong> <em>Prep Girls Hoops Ohio</em> &nbsp; <strong>State Semi-FInals</strong> <em>Friday, March 15</em> &nbsp; Minster (26-1) vs Cornerstone Christian (23-4), 1:00 Ottoville (24-3) vs Shadyside (24-4), 3:00 &nbsp; <strong>State Championship Game</strong> <em>Saturday, March 16, 5:15</em> &nbsp; What you will see if you attend the Division 4 state tournament games, including a breakdown of each team. &nbsp; <strong>Minster-</strong> the defending state champions are back for more, and they have the firepower to challenge for another title. The Wildcats come into the game led by first-team all-Ohio sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="32556" first="Ivy" last="Wolf"], who led the Cats with an average of 13 points per game, while running the show from the point guard spot. Senior <strong><span style="font-size: 10pt">Courtney Prenger,</span></strong> a second-team all-state post player headed to Xavier, also averages 12 points and 7 rebounds per game for the Midwest Athletic Conference champions. Prenger also scored her 1,000th career point and is second in school history for scoring and rebounding. The three-time state champions have plenty of firepower, including senior wing Demaris Wolf, who is averaging nine points per game, while sophomore guard Janae Hoying contributes eight per game. They can clamp down on you defensively, and create a lot of their offense off of their defense. Defeated Fort Loramie in the regional finals in a game that pitted the top two teams in the final AP poll. &nbsp; <strong>Cornerstone Christian Academy- </strong>A very balanced scoring team, all five starters are close-to or into double figures in scoring. They have played a very strong schedule with a lot of bigger schools. This team is led by [player_tooltip player_id="159029" first="Riley" last="Stopp"], as the 5-foot-10 sophomore is averaging 13 points per game, while junior Madison Cloonen is close behind at 12.9 points and over eight rebounds per game. Kailey Tyna is also in double figures scoring at a rate of 12.1 points per game. This is their fourth consecutive district title, and with a good nucleus of scoring, they look to dethrone the defending state champs. They are not very deep, one thing that Minster hopes to expose in their semi-final game. &nbsp; <strong>Ottoville- </strong>This seven-time state qualifier is looking for their first state championship after picking up two runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2018. This team is a very balanced scoring team and come at you with a solid defensive plan. Kasey Knippen is their leader, averaging 14 points per game, while [player_tooltip player_id="91108" first="Nicole" last="Knippen"] is close to double figures at 9 points per game. Both of these sisters can shoot the perimeter shot and for them to challenge for the state title, the team must shoot well from the three. The rest of their starters, Haley Hoersten, Quinley Schlagbaum and Brynlee Hanneman, all seniors, are between 5-7 points per game. &nbsp; <strong>Shadyside- </strong>Speaking of shooting the three, Shadyside loves to do that! Their semi-final vs Ottoville could come down to which team is more successful from beyond the arc. Baylee Wach is their leader, as the 5-foot-7 junior scored 18 points per game, one of two players in double figures. Tory Hendershot is a 5-foot-6 sophomore who also averages 12 points per game, and leads the team with 7 rebounds per game. The rest of the starters can produce, as Sydnie Destifanes scores 8 points per game, while both Macy Coffland and Jaycee Mayeres both scored six per game. They have made over 200 three’s during the season, meaning Ottoville needs to find the shooters and contain their strength. This is the fourth final four appearance in their history. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;