Turnovers started getting the best of Cedarville, Tri-Village started to rebound better and at halftime the lead was down to four.
The second half was hard-fought, but Tri-Village started making shots and never stopped riding the post play of Danika Mann all the way to a 49-42 victory in the finale of a Division IV district final tripleheader.
“They’re really physical,” said Mann, who had 23 points and 10 rebounds. “We just had to match their intensity level, and I think we did that in the second half.”
The second-ranked Patriots (24-1) meet Jackson Center in a regional semifinal at 6:15 p.m. Thursday at Vandalia Butler. Jackson Center beat Tri-Village last year in a district final.
“We want revenge from last year,” Downing said. “I’m still not OK with it.”
Cedarville (22-4) was led by Ise Bolender’s 17 points and Hayley Melton’s 12. They helped stake the Indians to a 22-10 lead.
“The girls wanted to show that they could play with a team at the top of the state,” Indians first-year coach Josh Mason said. “In that first half they were trying to get that message across to everybody in the gym. And I think we showed that today.
Up four at the half, the Indians quickly pushed the lead to seven. But Tri-Village answered with a 9-0 run. After four more lead changes, the Patriots kept the lead.
“We knew they were going to throw haymakers at us and we were going to do the best we could to stay on our feet and throw haymakers back at them,” Patriots coach Brad Gray said.
Downing added 15 points and the Patriots made 16-of-23 free throws.
Jackson Center 37, Cincinnati Christian 26: Senior guard Kamryn Elchert says Jackson Center is always prepared for whatever because of great scouting reports and intense practices.
So when Cincinnati Christian played tight defense on leading scorer Cassie Meyer, Elchert knew what to do.
“I knew I had to be the one to step up and take the shots,” she said. “So with the help of teammates chipping in points here and there we always get it done.”
Elchert, who already, had two 20-plus scoring games in the tournament, made four 3-pointers and led the Tigers with 14 points. Her two 3-pointers in the first minute of the the fourth quarter stretched the lead 35-20. Seven Tigers scored and Meyer was held to two free throws.
Russia 42, Covington 28: Covington wasn't going to let Russia leading scorer Maria Herron be the difference in Saturday's first game. So Tiffany Hatcher was, and the Raiders are district champs for the second time in three years.
Hatcher made three 3-pointers and scored 15 points. Herron, the Shelby County League Player of the Year, attempted only five shots and her only points were five free throws in the final two minutes.
“She’s an awesome shooter so they had to key on her,” Hatcher said. “She’s very unselfish, she looks for everyone on the floor.”
Covington (20-6) led 21-19 at halftime. Hatcher hit a 3-pointer for a 24-21 lead and the Raiders’ defense took over, limiting the Lady Buccs to seven second-half points.
“I felt momentum and that’s what we talked about in the locker room at halftime,” Hatcher said. “We needed the momentum and we got it back.”
The Raiders face Minster or Upper Scioto Valley in a regional semifinal at 8 p.m. Thursday at Vandalia Butler.
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