The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Lancers advance to D-II state title game
Lancers overcome sluggish shooting to advance
COLUMBUS » The shooter’s mentality is this: “If you’re hot, shoot it. If you’re not, shoot ’til you are.”
For most of its Division II state semifinal against Bellbrook, the Gilmour girls basketball team couldn’t hit the nearby Olentangy River with an entire rack of basketballs if it was standing on the shoreline.
But a timely six-point run midway through the fourth quarter and a pair of key defensive stops helped give Gilmour a 47-40 victory over Bellbrook in the first of two Division II state semifinals at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 16.
The win puts the Lancers (25-3) into the state championship game March 17 against Toledo Rogers.
“We shoot really well most days. We have a lot of confidence,” relieved Gilmour coach John Curran said.
“We have a lot of confidence we’re going to make the 3s. We’ll let ’em fly tomorrow, too.”
Gilmour certainly “let ’em fly” against Bellbrook. The Lancers just didn’t make many of them, hitting only 6 of 30 (20 percent) from beyond the arc for the game.
“We have a lot of confidence we’re going to make the 3s. We’ll let ’em fly tomorrow, too.” – Gilmour coach John Curran
The Lancers seemed to be in trouble midway through the fourth quarter when they passed the ball around the perimeter on a 48-second possession while Bellbrook coach Jason Tincher hopped up and down as if he was doing jumping jacks, imploring his team’s defense and a Bellbrook fan base that seemingly brought everyone from its southwest Ohio town.
Bellbrook had a 34-33 lead and, perhaps most importantly, momentum.
That’s when Gilmour finally found its stroke.
Junior guard Annika Corcoran (game-high 19 points) buried a 3-pointer for a 36-34 lead. Two possessions later, Corcoran stole a pass, went coast-to-coast for the layup, was fouled and made the free throw.
That swing gave Gilmour a 39-34 lead, and the Lancers not only never trailed again, but the Golden Eagles never got closer than four points the rest of the way.
“That was a high-energy part of the game,” Tincher said. “Our kids were starting to get into it, our girls were bustin’ it defensively. We had them huffin’ and puffin’ a little bit at that point.
“Corcoran hit that shot. It was such a close game that a four- or-five-point (lead) could make a difference. That was kind of a critical point of the game.”
Corcoran said the 3-pointer was “exciting” but that the ensuing andone was even bigger.
“I knew with the bucket and free throw, that defense is what would turn the game around for us,” she said. “To do that in the fourth quarter was really good for us.”
Over the final three minutes of the game, Naz Hillmon had a steal and coastto-coast layup, freshman Athena Hocevar blocked a shot, and Hillmon blocked a shot on a Bellbrook 3-pointer.
Hocevar, Emma Gurley and Hillmon hit free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
For most of the game, Gilmour struggled shooting the ball. Not only were the Lancers 6 of 30 from the arc, but they missed 14 of 25 free throws.
Bellbrook’s defensive scheme appeared to be to limit Hillmon, the 6-foot-2 Michigan recruit, and take their chances leaving the Lancers’ shooters open.
“You could have the right scheme and not stop her,” Tincher said of Hillmon. “I put my point guard (Cassiday Hofacker) on her, told her to be a gnat, and pray they don’t shoot it (well). You try to take away what they do well, and Naz is what they do well.”
Hillmon finished with 11 points, but had 19 rebounds — a record for rebounds in a semifinal game regardless of division.
“It was very crowded (in the paint),” Hillmon said. “I tried to kick it out to my teammates, and usually they hit the shots when I kick it out to them.”
Even though Gilmour struggled shooting the ball, Bellbrook led only 23-21 at the half. And when Sarah Bohn hit a midrange jumper at the end of the third, the Lancers and Golden Eagles were tied.
When Olivia Greathouse made two free throws at the 4:24 mark of the fourth, Bellbrook had a 34-33 lead. Then came Corcoran’s personal 6-0 run — and the Lancers never trailed again.
“Nothing seems to really bother this team,” Curran said. “Everybody on the team made plays. Our freshman, Athena, made a couple big defensive plays, Emma made free throws down the stretch, and Sarah Bohn played a solid floor game all day.”
Aside from Corcoran’s 19 and Hillmon’s 11, Bohn had seven, Gurley six and Hocevar four.
Bekah Vine (11) and Hofacker (10) led Bellbrook.
Now the Lancers will set their sights on a second consecutive state title. Last year, Gilmour won a Division III state championship for the program’s first state title.
This one, should the Lancers win it, would be a Division II crown.
“The pressure’s not off,” Hillmon said. “There’s always pressure on us. There’s a target on our back each and every game we’re in. The pressure’s not off. It’s still on.”