DAYTON, Ohio — Columbus Grove got out to a 22-6 advantage after the first quarter and led wire to wire clinching its first state title defeating Rootstown 65-46 in the OHSAA Division VI girls’ basketball state championship game at UD Arena on Saturday.
Columbus Grove (27-2) shot 56.3% in the first quarter and forced the Rovers (27-2) to begin 0-of-9 from the field. Kendal Palte had 10 points in the opening period.
Rootstown outscored Columbus Grove 13-11 in the second quarter going 7-for-11 at the free throw line and holding the Bulldogs scoreless for the final 2:30.
But the Bulldogs bounced back to start the second half. Four different Columbus Grove scorers combined for an 18-6 run that saw the Bulldogs lead as large as 51-25 after Ella Schroeder made a free throw with 1:05 left to play in the third quarter.
“I think everyone was a little bit nervous to start,” Northwest District co-Player of the Year and University of Findlay commitment Lauryn Auchmuty said. “Just waiting for the tip-off and all the adrenaline to start. (It) kind of dwindled down a little bit and (we could) not be so anxious, and getting those first couple points and going on that run, it really helped with the nerves. We knew we had a big lead on them, a decent lead on them, and so we didn’t have to be as nervous as if it was playing Minster again and having basket after basket and going back and forth between the scores.”
Physicality prevailed throughout much of the contest. Columbus Grove held a 34-21 edge on the glass including bringing down seven offensive rebounds for 12 second-chance points.
Auchmuty led all scorers with 17 points and went 9-for-10 at the free throw line. Palte totaled 14 points and Nicole Nesby posted a 13-point, 16-rebound double-double.
The Bulldogs clinched the first-ever Division VI state championship with the win after the OHSAA expanded to seven divisions before this school year.
“They’re confident in their abilities. They’re confident in their preparation,” Columbus Grove head coach Brian Schroeder said. “I mean, they watch a ton of film. We lift during the vast majority of the season. They show up for morning shootings, so you know, your confidence comes in your preparation and then the moment doesn’t get too big for you.”
Rootstown’s 27 wins are the most in school history. Kelsey Bittecuffer led the Rovers with 12 points and Elliott Smallfield added 10.
“They came out and they looked relaxed, and we didn’t,” Rootstown head coach Joe Leonard said. “We just uncharacteristically got ourselves, I don’t know, in a 20-2 hole or whatever it might have been, so it’s just hard when you get into a game like this against a team that’s obviously that talented you dig a hole like that, so, but I thought our girls didn’t quit.”
