1-2 punch of Miller, Bazelak leads Alter to 3rd straight title
Co-coach Christina Hart had been the cerebral, buttoneddown spokesperson for Kettering Alter for four years until the emotions of winning a third straight Division II championship forced her to pause for five seconds behind the microphone before making an opening statement.
She needed a timeout. Otherwise, she might have broken down.
“They look for one another … they do it as a team … they’ve done it for four years," Hart said.
The Knights, led by heady seniors Braxtin Miller and Libby Bazelak, seemingly got every important 50- 50 ball and deflection and rebounded fearlessly to take down Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown 58-41 on Saturday at Value City Arena.
Alter ( 28- 2) won a fourth championship since 2008.
Miller, who is bound for Oklahoma State, said it finally was time to exhale after the pressure of four years of tournament runs. Her class won 115 games.
“It’s a relief," she said. “You can take a breath. It’s over — it’s done. These are things we’ve dreamed about since we were playing in third grade."
Miller and Bazelak meant everything for the Knights. Miller had 23 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Bazelak 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and five steals.
Bazelak, a Duquesne recruit, said the assist total might be the most important statistic to her.
“We’re a good team about sharing the ball," she said. “Passing is my most favorite part of basketball."
The Knights had assists on 16 of 24 baskets.
Hathaway Brown
( 18- 11) made several runs in the second half, but twice Alter kept possessions alive by getting offensive rebounds and baskets after missing the front end of one-and-ones.
A driving layup by Emily Long after a missed free throw made it 48-39 with 2:11 remaining in the game.
“That’s just how we practice," guard Olivia Gillis said. “We always hear ( co- coach) Kendal ( Peck) saying to finish the play."
Peck said the Knights always were tested going into the tournament because of a difficult nonconference schedule.
“We’ve done it playing a big girls schedule," he said. “You can take a breath. It’s over — it’s done. These are things we’ve dreamed about since we were playing in third grade.”
Kettering Alter’s Braxtin Miller