Lakota West, Princeton girls basketball set for DI regional final

After a 63-51 loss at Sycamore on Feb. 18, Lakota West girls basketball's second setback in three games, the Firebirds changed their approach to the rest of the season.

"We have this new thing we like to say: 'Us is enough.' We're focused on us out there because we think teams need to beat us. We don't have to beat teams, because we're the team to beat this year," senior Katie Fox said.

The mantra has led the Firebirds to four straight wins, all by double digits, the latest one being a 68-56 defeat of Springboro to set up a rematch with Princeton in Saturday's Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I, Region 4 final.

Fox and fellow senior Sydney Williams led West early, combining for its first 12 points. The former finished with a game-high 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 10-of-11 at the free-throw line, while also chipping in six rebounds and four assists.

"The seniors, they step in these big games and big moments. I thought our seniors played a hell of a game," Lakota West coach Jay Chadwell said.

The senior class was also the story for Springboro as Ady Martin scored 10 of her 17 points in the first quarter, giving the Panthers a brief 16-14 lead.

"I wouldn't be where I am without my coaches and all the support of my teammates. You've got to put the work in to be able to succeed and I wouldn't be able to do that without my supporters," Martin said.

When West took a 13-point lead at halftime, then again midway through the third quarter, McKenzie Jones pulled her team back within 6 points to end the third quarter. Jones, a Tulsa signee, finished with 24 points, six rebounds, four steals and three assists.

The difference came in the second quarter as the Firebirds outscored the Panthers 21-6. West got 3-pointers from Fox, Williams, Caroline Bayliff and Jayda Nielson, while a staunch defense allowed just two field goals.

"Teams struggle to score against them. We were able to manufacture 56. We just really had a hard time guarding them, especially in the half court," Springboro coach Mike Holweger said.

The Firebirds went 6-for-11 from 3-point range in the first half, then proceeded to score all their second-half field goals from inside the arc.

Lakota West is playing some of its best ball right now because of how well the teammates are playing together. At any time, any of the five players can bring the ball up the floor or have the hot hand.

Sophomore Isabella Saunders scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half and converted six free throws in the fourth quarter. Freshman Zoe Odame, often tasked with guarding the opposition's best player, dared Jones to beat the Firebirds.

"Zoe's the type of kid that, as soon as she walked in the door, it was an automatic upgrade to our program. And that's not a knock to anybody except for the fact that she is just a special kid," Chadwell said.

For the Firebirds to earn their first trip to state since 2015, they will have to beat Princeton for the first time since Jan. 23, 2024. One major key? Not committing 23 turnovers like they did in a Feb. 4 loss to the Vikings.

"We lost early in the last couple years and we knew, losing to Fairmont in the second round, we were like, 'We're gonna get this opportunity again and we need to come out and play.' So I'm just so proud of our girls for coming out and executing our stuff," Fox said.

While Springboro was denied a third straight trip to the state tournament, Jones, Martin and Lorelai Blair ended the final year of their career with a 19-6 record and achieved their biggest goal: prove the doubters wrong.

"This was probably the most fun basketball team I've been a part of. From the beginning to the end, we've connected like no other team I've ever been with. The connection with this team and past teams ‒ I mean, past teams were great ‒ but this connection, we built forever bonds with the girls that we play with," Jones said.

Lakota West: Fox 7 10 26, Saunders 3 6 12, Neilson 3 2 9, Williams 3 0 8, Odame 3 1 7, Bayliff 2 1 6. Totals: 21 20 68.

Springboro: Jones 6 11 24, Martin 7 1 17, Parrett 4 0 10, Blair 1 0 3, Wilhite 1 0 2. Totals: 19 12 56.

Half: LW 35-22. 3-pointers: LW 6 (Fox 2, Williams 2, Bayliff, Nielson); S 6 Parrett 2, Martin 2, Jones, Blair)

Princeton surges past Milford for third regional final in last four years

After securing a sixth straight district championship, the Vikings will play for their fifth trip to state, hoping to add a fourth gold trophy to the case.

"Unfinished business. I really don't have any emotions other than we have something to prove and something to get done. We left something on the table last year and we're hoping to get it back," Princeton head coach Dee Davis said.

A 55-44 defeat of Milford in the first game of the DI, Region 4 semifinals didn't come easily, but as the Vikings have done all year, they refused to lose.

Junior forward Kylie Perone led Milford to an early 8-2 lead before Princeton responded to take a 13-8 lead early in the second quarter. Perone finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and five blocks, all game highs.

As sophomore phenom Erin Thomas played just seven minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, Kamryn Lowe stepped up with 6 points, four rebounds and two steals.

"It was a team win. I'm just excited to bring our seniors another win, to bring them to regional finals and I was just happy to be in the moment," junior Najah Love-Muhamad said.

Each time the Eagles got back into the game, Princeton had an answer. When Mikayla Chadwell cut the deficit to one point to open the second half, Thomas, Lowe and Kiara Harris keyed a 8-2 run. After Rachel Morgan scored four straight points to give Milford a 39-38 lead, Thomas and Lowe converted breakaway layups.

Tied at 44-44 with just over three minutes left, Princeton rattled off the final 11 points to seal the victory.

"That's that grit I talk about. They work, they compete hard, they don't have a quit in them, and I appreciate that as a coach," Davis said.

Milford deserves major credit for competing the way they did, especially with junior point guard Gabby Chadwell out with an injury. Until the end of the game, the Eagles never let the deficit grow to more than 7 points. Each of the five players on the court gave it their all until the final buzzer.

"These kids always believe. They're going to put their head down and they're going to play as hard as they can," Milford coach Matt Tolliver said.

The most-eye popping stat was the 21 turnovers that Princeton forced, leading to 10 fast-break points.

"We all contribute in a big way, and I love that. We all want to win, we're all able to do the little things, going after loose balls and getting on the ground. It gives us more energy and more motive to win the game," Love-Muhamad said.

The junior contributed 6 of her team-high 13 points in the fourth quarter.

For Milford, a historic season comes to a close at 22-3, including a first district title since 1994. As the Eagles graduate two rotational players in Morgan and Ella Crompton, they are poised to compete for a regional and state title in 2027.

"Those two kids, you can't replace them. Just wonderful kids that are kind of role players throughout the year, but man, you need those type of kids," Tolliver said.

Princeton: Love-Muhamad 6 1 13, Lowe 4 4 12, Thomas 4 2 10, Sneed 3 3 9, Harris 1 4 6, Smith 2 0 5. Totals: 20 14 55.

Milford: Perone 7 3 17, Morgan 4 3 12, Chadwell 4 0 8, Rockey 1 0 3, Worthington 1 0 3, Pappas 0 1 1. Totals: 17 7 44.

Half: P 22-19. 3-pointers: P 1 (Smith); M 3 (Rockey, Worthington, Morgan).

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Lakota West, Princeton girls basketball set for DI regional final