D1 State Tourney Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Pickerington Central (24-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":294181,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/06/Berry-Wallace1-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-294181" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='164654' first='Madison' last='Greene'], 5-7 PG - incredible athlete, runs offense. Moves well and can score from anywhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='313105' first='Olivia' last='Cooper'], 6-1 SF - strong post with good moves in the paint, handles the boards well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='217321' first='Berry' last='Wallace'], 6-1 W - one of top 3 juniors in Ohio, inside/out. Great court sense, good passer and defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='217319' first='Jaden' last='Tucker'], 5-4 PG - runs the floor well, distributes and can score from the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='360702' first='Rylee' last='Bess'], 5-5 PG - recovered from injury earlier in the career. Incredible guard with crazy handles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Blossom Wallace, 6-1 W - very fundamental freshman, making an impact with this talented team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Road to Dayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def Columbus Franklin Heights 83-14</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Lewis Center Olentangy 68-46</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Dresden Tri Valley 63-30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Dublin Coffman 60-52</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Marysville 54-39</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Storylines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They last won the state title in 2018, it was their seventh state championship in school history. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pickerington Central has several D1 recruits and a group of younger players like Bess and Blossom Wallace who have all made noise on the D1 recruiting trail. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Princeton</strong> <strong>(26-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":359350,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/12/Sole-scaled.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-359350" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='157707' first='Sole' last='Williams'], 5-8 G- top 2023 in Ohio, Sole is headed to Texas A&amp;M.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='360681' first='La'Sonja' last='Hill'], 5-6 PG- Very active, great hands. Controls tempo and can score inside/out. Excellent senior leader.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 Dede Carter-Hartley, 6-1 P- Strong physical kid in the paint, good hands and a big rebounder. Runs the court and is effective.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Road to Dayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Ursuline Academy 59-20</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Western Hills 76-18</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Walnut Hills 61-30</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Mount Notre Dame 58-48</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Mason 59-55</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Kings 65-53</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Storylines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With many people feeling that [player_tooltip player_id='157707' first='Sole' last='Williams'] was snubbed for a Ms. Basketball nomination, she should have extra motivation to finish the job. She is as smooth as they get, can take over a game at anytime. Her athleticism is next-level and can take over a game at anytime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Princeton is trying to stay perfect on their state championship resume. They won in 1987, won in 2014 now they want to remain perfect on their trips to the final four. Their coach Dee Davis is a former professional basketball player and she is ready to finish the job this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Grafton Midview (23-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='270514' first='Mary' last='Meng'], 6-5 P- 16.4 points, 17 rebounds per game. Dominates the paint, grabs everything in site, great on the boards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='280109' first='Olivia' last='DiFranco'], 6-0 G- averaged 18.3 points and is a great leader. Able to contribute in a variety of ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='537956' first='Leah' last='Difranco'], 5-6 G- rising freshman with a lot of promise with her game. Contributed 4.6 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Road to Dayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Amherst Steele 52-34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Cleveland St. Joseph Academy 53-34</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Brunswick 58-24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Akron Hoban 70-45</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Solon 62-59</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Storylines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They are the smallest school in the state in Division One, now they are in the final four! They set school record in wins (22), points scored (1,351) and field goals made (533).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of records, Olivia DeFranco has set the single season scoring record with 477 and other records. She also scored her 1,000th career point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='270514' first='Mary' last='Meng'] has grabbed 441 rebounds this season, a new school record. She also had a game with 28 rebounds, a new record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Olmsted Falls (23-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 Mia Kalich, 5-11 W - another first-team all-District player, Mia is a great leader and can play well downhill. Handles and good leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Danielle Cameron, 5-9 G - rising junior who had a great season, excited to see her play at the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='157709' first='Paige' last='Kohler'], 5-8 G- she is the D1 Player of the Year in the district and a Buffalo signee. Paige is a complete guard who can play fast and score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Road to Dayton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Cleveland John Marshall 78-16</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Westlake 72-38</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Avon Lake 55-38</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Fremont Ross 48-37</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>def. Holland Springfield 63-21</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Storylines</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Their first-ever trip to the final four in school history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Division 1 Schedule</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Friday</span></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6:00pm- Cincinnati Princeton v Midview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8:00pm- Pickerington Central v Olmsted Falls</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>FINALS on Saturday, 8:30pm</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->