Independence wins fi rst district title

Fifth-seeded Independence pulled away in the final minute to edge sixth-seeded Eastmoor Academy 37-34 in a Division II girls basketball district championship game Friday at Westerville Central.

Annika Johnson scored 11 points and Sadera Johnson 10 to lead Independence, which captured its first district title in program history. Johnson went 6 for 6 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter. Mchale Grant led Eastmoor with 10 points.

The 76ers (20-5) advance to play Dayton Carroll in regional play at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Springfield. Eastmoor finished 14-10.

Topseeded Hartley (21-5) led the entire way in beating fourth-seeded Lakewood (18-7) in a Division II district title game at Westerville Central. It marked the second district title in three years for the Hawks. Trailing 22-21 at halftime, top-seeded and defending state champion Africentric (23-3) took the lead in the third quarter and didn't look back in a Division III district championship victory over seventh-seeded Cardington (18-6) at Ohio Dominican. It marked the 12th district title in 13 years for the Nubians. Jordan Horston totaled 17 points, seven steals and two assists to pace Africentric, which outscored Cardington 13-2 at the freethrow line. Leah Morrow added nine points, seven in the pivotal 18-9 third quarter. Sage Brannon paced Cardington with 14 points.

Gabby Burris racked up game-high totals of 32 points and 15 rebounds to power fourth-seeded Liberty Union (22-3) over fifth-seeded Pleasant (21-5) in a Division III district title game at Ohio Dominican. Burris is an Ohio University signee.