Only two area girls basketball teams have survived in Ohio tournament play to reach state semifinals on Sunday, and each has the daunting task of facing state champions from a year ago.
For Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division champion Anthony Wayne (23-2) in the Division II semifinals, the opponent is Olmsted Falls (22-5), which won Ohio’s Division I state crown last year after finishing as D-I runner-up in 2023.
Prior to those runs to the state final, the Bulldogs of coach Jordan Eaton lost to the AW Generals 70-66 in the 2022 D-I regional semifinals at Sandusky.
For Notre Dame (21-6), runner-up in Michigan’s Catholic High School League, the foe in Sunday’s is powerhouse Cincinnati Purcell Marian (21-6), which has captured three straight Ohio state championships — in Division III in 2022, and in Division II the past two years.
Prior to that, coach Jamar Mosley’s Cavaliers reached the D-III state semifinals in 2021.
Here is a look at each state-semifinal matchup on Sunday.
DIVISION II
Anthony Wayne (23-2) vs. Olmsted Falls (21-5), at Mansfield Senior, 4 p.m.
In her seventh season guiding Anthony Wayne coach Jami Carter has posted a 116-51 record, including a 22-7 finish in 2021-22 when the Generals reached the D-I state semifinals before falling 67-48 to eventual champion Reynoldsburg.
“It’s something the kids have worked for since we were there three years ago,” Carter said of returning to state. “It’s harder than one would think to get back to state. As much as I would agree that we had the talent the last two years, there were a lot of dynamics that we’ve worked through to get the opportunity to come back this year. It was never a lack of talent, that’s for sure.
“These seniors have worked hard and, to see their hard work pay, off is what’s most important to our staff.”
AW is led by Villanova University-bound twins sisters Elise and Brooke Bender, senior fourth-year starters who led AW on its final-four run in 2022.
Elise Bender, a two-time finalist for Ohio's Ms. Basketball award, is averaging 23.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 65 percent on 2-pointers, 39 percent on 3-pointers, and 86 percent at the foul line. The 6-foot-1 wing has scored an AW school record 2,016 career points.
Sister Brooke has contributed 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while shooting 72 percent on 2-pointers, 47 percent on 3-pointers, and 86 percent at the line.
AW’s starting lineup is rounded out by 5-11 junior Leah Pike (11.6 points, 5.1 rebounds), third-year starting senior point guard Sophie Smith (2.3 points, 2.8 assists), and 5-8 junior Kennedie Hill (4.4 points, 2.0 assists). The Generals’ top subs include sophomores Corrin Voltz (6.6 points, 2.4 rebounds) and Lauren Brenneman (4.7 points, 2.7 rebounds), and junior Addison Hill (1.4 points).
With its mix of aggressive man-to-man defense and up-tempo offense, Anthony Wayne has outscored foes by an average of 71.7 to 30.3 through 25 games, including regional wins over Twinsburg (58-20) and Hudson (48-32).
The Generals’ two losses came against Purcell Marian (70-60) on Dec. 8, and Indiana power Indianapolis Lawrence Central (63-57) on Dec. 30. AW takes a 15-game winning streak into its second state final-four appearance.
The good news for AW as that Olmsted Falls’ top player of the previous three years, Danielle Cameron, has graduated and moved on to Youngstown State University. Cameron had led Olmsted Falls in scoring in all four of its state semifinal and final games the past two years, averaging 20.8 points in those contests.
The Bulldogs returned two starters from the 2024 state-title squad — 5-11 junior guard-forward Jesse Simon, and the team's lone senior, 5-9 guard Maddie Cerovac. They are joined by 5-5 junior guard Avery DeLisio and 6-0 sophomore guard Emma Schaefer, who each saw significant time in last year’s state tournament wins. In the Bulldogs’ 63-48 regional-final win over Green, Schaefer and DeLisio led the way with 20 and 17 points, respectively.
“They’re a very well coached team,” Carter said of Olmsted Falls. “They always reload. They’re very methodical in what they do, and very good at what they do. They have athletes from freshmen up through seniors.
“Similar to us, they have their own style of basketball which is unique and good. They shoot a lot of 3s, and have a lot of motion [offense] movement, kind of like what we do. We’re going to have to defend well in our half-court defense, and knock down shots. We can't have a bad quarter.”
Olmsted Falls has outscored opponents by an average of 53.0 to 36.3 through 26 games.
What might be the keys to an AW victory?
“Our half-court defense — staying true to our principles defensively,” Carter said. “Doing what we’re good at, and having the confidence to knock down shots.
“I don’t think there’s any [motivational] edge when you get to the final four. It’s whoever plays their game and whoever executes the most.”
The winner will advance to the D-II state championship game at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the University of Dayton Arena, where they will face the winner of Sunday’s other D-II state semifinal between Sunbury Big Walnut (24-3) and Cincinnati Winton Woods (26-0), which will be played at Vandalia Butler High School.
DIVISION III
Notre Dame (21-6) vs. Cincinnati Purcell Marian (21-6), at St. Marys Memorial, 3 p.m.
Notre Dame’s Eagles are making their ninth trip to a state final four in 14 seasons, all under 17-year coach Travis Galloway (325-104 record). The prior eight appearances all came in Division I in a 10-year span (2012-21).
Under the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s new seven-division tournament format, which replaced the longstanding four-division system, Notre Dame has dropped from D-I to D-III, and Purcell Marian from D-II to D-III.
The Eagles will not only be facing a three-time defending state champion, but Ohio’s most highly regarded player in the Cavaliers’ 6-1 senior Dee Alexander. She has received the state’s Ms. Basketball award the past two years, and the future University of Cincinnati Bearcat is expected to make it three in a row this year.
“We know there’s a big challenge ahead of us on Sunday,” Galloway said. “Dee Alexander is a very good player, and she’s got some very good players around her as well. They have a very complete team. They play extremely hard defensively, and they share the ball offensively. They’re very good.
“Our kids understand that, and they know what’s ahead of them, and they’re going to do their best to prepare. As coaches, we’re going to do our best to put them in the best situations to compete and win the game on Sunday.”
Alexander — who in her six career state final-four games has averaged 24.0 points and 8.0 rebounds — has scored more than 2,000 career points and will play for the West squad in April's prestigious McDonald’s All-American game in Brooklyn, N.Y. This season she is averaging 20.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, and scored 50 points in a game.
She is one of three four-year starters for Purcell Marian along with senior twin guards Ky’Aira and Cy'Aira Miller. Senior Trinity Small has also contributed as the Cavaliers’ top sub the past three years, giving Purcell Marian Ohio’s most experienced and battle-tested lineup in this year’s field.
“They have a lot of varsity experience with their top players,” Galloway said. “But, we don’t play them in a series. We only have to beat them one time. It’s just having that mindset, and getting prepared to put a game plan together and go out and execute, and win.”
Five of the Cavaliers’ six losses came against top out-of-state competition, and their lone loss to an Ohio team was a 46-45 setback against Pickerington Central (23-3), which is playing Rocky River Magnificat in Sunday’s D-I state semifinals.
Purcell Marian is outscoring foes 70.4 to 44.1 per game.
Since the 2020-21 season, when they lost in the D-III state semis, the Cavaliers have posted a 124-14 overall record. They went 26-1 in winning a D-III title in 2022, 27-2 in winning a D-II championship in 2023, and 29-1 in repeating that D-II crown last year.
The makeup of Notre Dame’s regular game rotation is in stark contrast to that of the Cavaliers, lacking any clear standouts with impressive stats.
The Eagles, who typically use an eight or nine-player rotation, are paced by 5-9 senior team leader Nina Sims, who averages a team-high 11.7 points to go with 2.5 rebounds per game.
Joining her in the starting five have been 5-7 junior guard Kallie Thames (8.2 points, 3.5 rebounds), 5-4 senior point guard Bella Calcamuggio (5.9 points, 2.4 assists), 5-10 senior forward Jade Battle (5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds), and 5-6 senior Kailey Lothery (3.8 points).
The Eagles’ top subs have been sharp-shooting 5-7 sophomore Brooklyn Armstead (7.8 points), who has hit 50 of her 115 3-point attempts this season, 5-6 freshman Joi Battle (6.3 points, 4.6 rebounds), and 5-9 senior forward Bobbi Hunt (2.3 points, 3.1 rebounds).
Thames, who transferred to NDA from Perrysburg, is the daughter of former Waite All-Ohioan and University of Toledo star guard Craig Thames.
Armstead, who hit five 3-pointers in the district final, and seven 3-pointers in the regional semifinal, is the daughter of former Emmanuel Baptist (now Emmanuel Christian) All-Ohioan and West Virginia University guard Lionel Armstead, who is the head boys coach at Clay High School.
Jade Battle transferred from Springfield after helping the Blue Devils reached the Division I regional finals as a sophomore in 2023.
“It’s always concerning on the first time [at state] with nerves and how do they handle the whole week of the final four,” Galloway said. “But, our kids are excited for the challenge, and excited to still be playing and still practicing every day together.”
The trademark of this balanced offensive group is its consistently relentless defense, both in full-court and half-court schemes. Notre Dame has outscored its opponents by an average of 53.7 to 32.9 per game.
“We’ve really got to defend well to hang around and be competitive in the fourth quarter,” Galloway said. “We’ll get some shots and play in the flow offensively. But, sometimes you have rough nights not shooting well.
“What can’t change how well you defend. We can’t change that mindset throughout the game. We have to make it a game where it’s possession by possession, and not allow big runs from them because they are so explosive.”
Of the Eagles’ six losses, three came in CHSL regular-season and playoff contests against top-ranked Michigan Division 2 power Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard (49-38, 38-28, and 48-31). A fourth came to another out-of-state foe, Ft. Wayne (Ind.) Homestead (64-37). ND’s only in-state losses came against D-I Perrysburg (48-46) and D-I state semifinalist Rocky River Magnificat (58-46).
The winner will advance to the D-III state championship game at 1 p.m. Friday at the University of Dayton Arena, where they will face the winner of Sunday’s other D-III state semifinal between Lyndhurst Brush (24-2) and Avon Lake (22-5), which will be played at the Canton Field House.
First Published March 7, 2025, 6:31 p.m.
