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Warren girls blast Hillsboro for sectional title

Photo by Ron Johnston Warren’s Abbie Smith (00) makes a move with the ball during a high school girls basketball sectional final against Hillsboro Saturday at Jim Myers Gym in Logan, Ohio.

LOGAN, Ohio — Millie Ryan and Abbie Smith wore out Hillsboro High in the paint.

Warren High’s two post players scored 13 points apiece as the third-seeded Warriors defeated the 14th-seeded Indians, 50-17, Saturday afternoon, in an OHSAA Division II Southeast girls sectional basketball final at Jim Myers Gymnasium.

“Hillsboro was playing a box-and-one on Abbie,” said WHS head coach Amy Colgrove. “So, when a team does that, the other post player should be getting the benefit of that.

“I thought Millie moved without the basketball better, and we were able to find her on the weak side a lot.”

Olivia Alloway added 10 points while Molly Grayson and Caspen Ford chipped in with five and five markers, respectively.

Warren, No. 4-ranked in D2 with a 22-1 record, extended its winning streak to 21. The Warriors are scheduled to play either sixth-seeded Lancaster Fairfield Union or 11th-seeded Washington Court House Washington in a district semifinal game at 8 p.m. Friday at Southeastern High.

Hillsboro exited tournament play with a 6-17 mark. The JR Moberly-coached Indians were paced by Karleigh Hopkins and Josie Hopkins, who tallied six and five points, respectively. Christine Page netted four coming off the bench.

“Hillsboro was physical and definitely played with a lot of energy,” said the 6-foot Ryan, who wore a protective mask for a broken nose.

After starting the game with a 9-0 run on an Alloway layup, a Smith putback, a Grayson triple, and two Smith freebies, Warren never looked back. Alloway’s five first-quarter points helped stake the Warriors to a 17-6 advantage.

Hillsboro hurt itself with nine opening-stanza turnovers. The Indians finished with 31 in the contest.

“Coming into the game, we knew we needed to pressure them a little bit,” Colgrove said. “I thought our guards did a pretty good job of pressuring without fouling.”

Ryan scored five points and Smith four in the second period as WHS stretched its lead to 30-8 at the break.

“I felt it a little bit during the game, but I tried to do my best for my team,” Ryan said. “We’ve been working really hard these past few weeks.”

During third-quarter action, Ryan and Smith each had four points as the Warriors outpointed Hillsboro, 15-4, and led 45-12.

In the fourth period, both coaches cleared their benches, and everybody who was healthy got playing time.

Warren was without the services of Sommer Saboley and Alexis Frazee (injury).

“Alexis and Sommer should be back in our next game, and that’s going to help a lot,” Ryan said. “They provide a lot for our team.”

Ron Johnston can be reached at rjohnston@mariettatimes.com

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