Waterford tops NK for state title
DAYTON — The season ended with a silver lining.
The New Knoxville girls basketball team suffered just their third loss of the season on Saturday, as they were defeated 35-26 by Waterford in the Division IV state championship.
The Lady Rangers were attempting to win their second state title this school year, after capturing the volleyball crown in November at Wright State.
As it turned out, they joined the 2007 team as state runner-ups.
They finished with 27 wins for the year.
Waterford scored just nine points in the opening quarter, but New Knoxville was held scoreless, missing all seven of its shots (including three from 3-point range).
The second quarter was even, and New Knoxville rallied in the third. A score by Avery Henschen got them within one point at the start of the fourth, but Waterford stretched the lead back out and held on for the win.
The Lady Wildcats won their second state title, the first having come in 2016. They were also runner-up in 2015 and 2017, and reached the state semis in 2018 and last year.
Kendall Sury had eight points for the victors. Cara Taylor had seven.
Haley Fledderjohann scored 11 points for the Lady Rangers, and Carsyn Henschen put in six. Avery Henschen had 10 rebounds, and Carsyn pulled down nine on the day.
Coach Tim Hegemier, who is retiring after 17 seasons and 278 wins, pointed to the slow start as one of the factors for the loss. “We missed some easy shots,” Hegemier said.
He added that the Rangers “have nothing to hang their heads about.
This is one of the most successful group of girls. I love them to death. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.”
Hegemier said he would miss working with players. He noted that New Knoxville is one of the smallest public schools in the state, but remained optimistic. “Hopefully, another group will be back again.”
Waterford coach Jerry Close said, “We made the right plays at the right time. These girls were not going to be denied.”
He added that they had played the toughest schedule in the program’s history in order to help prepare for the postseason. He pointed to the leadership of the seniors.
“Without (that), none of this happens,” said Close.
The senior leadership was also a factor for New Knoxville.
Finishing their basketball careers were guards Fledderjohann, Becca Leffel, Ellie Gabel and Erica Weadock, and forwards Avery and Carsyn Henschen and Melisa Waterman. All of them except Leffel were part of the volleyball title run.
Neither team was able to score for the first five minutes of action on Saturday afternoon, with turnovers and misses keeping it deadlocked.
Waterford finally broke through with a 3-pointer by Mackenzie Suprano with 3:05 to play. They then got a three, then a two-point shot, both by Madi Hiener. In the final seconds, Avery Wagner, a 6-3 freshman, made one of two free throws to put the Wildcats up 9-0.
Fledderjohann made a three from the corner with 45 seconds elapsed in the second for New Knoxville’s first score.
Lilly Franchino hit for Waterford from long distance, and Leffel dropped one in with 3 1/2 minutes to go, as defenses continued to limit chances at both ends.
A trey by Fledderjohann bounced up off the rim and dropped back through the net to make it 12-9.
But the Wildcats closed the half with a three-point play by Taylor and a fast-break score by Sury. At intermission, Waterford led by eight, 17-9.
New Knoxville took their defensive pressure up a couple of notches in the third period as they looked to reduce the gap. Carsyn Henschen made a three-pointer. After a Wildcats score, she took a pass from her sister Avery and put it in the hoop. Avery then connected on a jumper with 3:48 to play, making it a one-possession game at 19-16.
Each team made a pair of free throws, with Fledderjohann doing so for the Lady Rangers, putting it at 21-18.
A jumper by Avery Henschen on the opening possession of the final period got the score to one, 21-20.
Waterford showed its resilience with a three on the wing by Suprano, then a score by Wagner to push it back to six.
The margin stayed there as the final minutes continued to tick down. Ellie Gabel made a shot near the midpoint, and Carsyn Henschen connected from behind the arc with 90s seconds left.
Waterford capped it off with baskets by Taylor and Sury in the final minute.
Also winning state titles on Saturday were Reynoldsburg (Division I); Archbshop Alter (Division II) and Purcell Marian (Division III).
Score by quarters
Waterford 9 8 4
14 -- 35
New Knoxville 0 9 9 8 -- 26
WATERFORD (35)
Cara Taylor 2-0-34-7; Lilly Franchino 0-2-0-0-6; Mackenzie Suprano 0-2-0-0-6; Kendall Sury 3-0-2-28; Layken Jones 0-0-00-0; Madi Hiener 1-10-0-5; Avery Wagner 1-0-1-2-3; TOTALS 7-5-6-8-35.
NEW KNOXVILLE (26)
Haley Fledderjohann 0-3-2-2-11; Becca Leffel 0-1-0-0-3; Avery Henschen 2-0-0-0-4; Carsyn Henschen 1-11-2-6; Melisa Waterman 0-0-0-0-0; Ellie Gabel 1-0-0-0-2; TOTALS 4-5-3-4-26.