COLUMBUS — Jackson Center did all it could to contain the unstoppable force in the paint that is Fostoria St. Wendelin post player Kamryn Troike.
But an undaunted Troike, the 6-foot-4 senior, rose to the challenge in a Division IV girls basketball state semifinal at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center. Troike, who finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds, led the Mohawks to a 47-37 win.
St. Wendelin advanced to the state title game for the first time in school history as Troike simply took over the game at pivotal points.
Troike had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the first half when the Mohawks built a 26-16 lead. Troike, who was doubled teamed with a smothering approach by the Tigers, also had eight blocks and 12 defensive rebounds.
“I get it every game but today it was just the worst. They had two people on me like leeches,” Troike said. “I was on the floor and getting grabbed. But the thing is you have to be mentally strong and I’ve progressed. I just do it because I know I have to do it for my team. I knew it was going to be rough, but not that rough.”
St. Wendelin coach Aaron Smith said he knew Jackson Center would focus on his dynamic post player.
“Jackson Center was very physical. They played excellent defense,” Smith said. “We had a sneaking suspicion they were going to double team Kam. We thought we could get it in a little easier than we did.”
Senior Allie Rutter chipped in with 11 points and junior Hailee Burns added eight for St. Wendelin (26‐3), which extended its winning streak to 21 games.
The unranked Mohawks advance to play No. 2-ranked Waterford (27‐1) in the title game at 5:15 p.m. today. Waterford defeated Willoughby Cornerstone Christian 52-42 in the other semifinal. This is the second straight appearance in the final four for St. Wendelin.
Rutter made two free throws to give St. Wendelin its biggest lead, 47-32, with 1:06 remaining. Rutter hit seven of eight attempts from the line.
“It's pretty special,” Rutter said. “It's not very often that teams come back two times in a row. And of course we're not supposed to be here. We're not ranked. But we play with heart.”
Jackson Center coach Scott Doseck said Troike not only presented match-up problems with her size, but also possessed great ball-handling skills and mobility.
“We didn't know how big of a girl she was until we stepped on the court. She's a big girl. She has excellent hands. She moves up and down the floor well,” Doseck said. “They ran their game plan which was to try to get it to her as many times as possible and our job was to keep that from happening. She got high percentage shots. She's a nice player — something we haven’t seen all year.”
Doseck said he tried to prepare his team for Troike's size advantage in practices in a unique way.
“Our principal is a [former University of Findlay basketball player] and he’s 6-9 and he came in there a couple days. But he didn't know how big and strong she was,” Doseck said. “But our girls gave it all they had.
“Our game plan was to face-guard her and when the ball was in the air we'd bring two, three and even four others at her. But it still was not enough.”
Yet the Mohawks started out down 6-0 and then trailed 10-6 early in the game.
“We thought we would have the better start because we were down here last year,” Smith said. “But they won the state in volleyball and they weren't very nervous.”
But St. Wendelin went on a 13-0 run to take an 19-10 lead with 5:36 left in the first half and never trailed again.
Jackson Center (21‐8), which was led by Nicole Fogt’s 14 points, started the second half with a 7-0 run and St. Wendelin led just 26-23 with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
“We know they were going to make a run at us,” Smith said. “We had to fight back. They got it to three and we put a push back on.”
St. Wendelin responded with a 6-0 run to go up 32-23 with a minute left in the third.
The Mohawks had a 7-0 surge to end the first quarter to take a 13-10 lead. Troike sparked the run with six rebounds and four points. Troike scored a bucket inside to give the Mohawks a 40-30 lead with 2:39 left in regulation. Troike then converted again inside with 1:21 left to put St. Wendelin up 45-32.
Smith credited Burns for her ball handling and rebounding (five).
The Mohawk blew a three-point lead with three minutes to go in last year's semifinal against Waterford.
“We had a meltdown,” Smith said. “That was in the back of my mind. But we expanded the lead in the last three minutes.”
Smith said playing games on consecutive days is tough on his nine-player roster. He used no subs. “I'd like to find some ice baths and get our legs regenerated,” he said.
Waterford defeated St. Wendelin 42-36 in the semifinal last year.
“I thought we played them tough last year,” Smith said. “This team is resilient. If we can find the juice to compete we can play with them. Your unranked and you've got 50 wins in two years.
“I said let's beat someone else were not supposed to beat. You don't have to be the best team. You just have to be the best team that day.”
Contact Mark Monroe at: mmonroe@theblade.com, 419-724-6354 or on Twitter @MonroeBlade.
First Published March 12, 2016, 5:18 a.m.
