DAYTON – Fort Loramie took Crestview’s best punches through the first three quarters and lived to tell the tale on Thursday afternoon during their 50-41 comeback state semifinals victory at UD Arena.
Last time the Knights and Redskins met in the state semifinals the SCAL champions walked out with a decisive victory. This time around though Fort Loramie found themselves able to execute late, outscoring Crestview 21-8 in the final eight minutes to advance to the Division 4 finals on Saturday.
Junior Avery Brandewie finished the afternoon with a game high tying 22 points, 16 of which came in the fourth period. Brandewie, the Co-Player of the Year in the Shelby County Athletic League this season connected on 10 of 12 free throws and gave her offense a 35-33 lead early in the first on a personal four point run.
Crestview (26-3) was led in scoring by senior Cali Gregory’s 22 points but finished with just four scorers in the game and just four points from anyone not named Cali Gregory in the second half.
Gregory nailed four three point goals in the game and helped her Knights pull back to within 39-35 late in the fourth quarter that saw her score all eight of Crestview’s markers.
Despite having a commanding 18-8 lead in offensive rebounds the Knights shot just 29% (13/50) for the game from the field against the immense pressure defense of the Redskins.
Crestview finished 9/10 from the line while their counterparts Fort Loramie (27-2) ended 16/21 on charity tosses in addition to also assisting on 12 of their 16 field goal connections while shooting 48% overall.
Saturday morning at 10:45am Fort Loramie will be making their sixth state championship game appearance in search of their fourth state title since 2013 when they battle Waterford, a team that defeated Loudonville 41-32 in the days opening game.
Scoring:
Fort Loramie (50):
Ariel Heitkamp 2
Victoria Mescher 9
Skyler Albers 6
Jaden Rose 4
Maddie Shatto 3
Avery Brandewie 22
Summer Hoying 4
FG: 16/33
3PT: 2/7 (J. Rose, Maddie Shatto)
FT: 16/21
REB: 27
TO: 13
Crestview (41):
Myia Etzler 2
Kaci Gregory 7
Ellie Kline 10
Cali Gregory 22
FG: 13/50
3PT: 6/19 (C. Gregory 4, K. Gregory, Kline)
FT: 9/10
REB: 29
TO: 12