Girls Basketball: Africentric, Harvest Prep win Division III district titles
Thursday, February 29, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Africentric’s Natiah Nelson (center) helped the Nubians beat Centerburg in a district final at Capital University Feb. 29 and scored her 1,000th career point in the process. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Natiah Nelson wasn’t sure why so many of her teammates were asking her how many career points she had in her girls basketball career. So, when Africentric coach Janicia Anderson told her that she had surpassed the 1,000-point milestone on Feb. 29, she was more than pleased.
Nelson, who entered the night with 994 points, led the Nubians to a 52-29 win over Centerburg in the first of two Division III district finals at Capital University.
Eighth-seeded Harvest Prep upset top-seeded Mechanicsburg 63-59 to win its second consecutive district title and fifth overall in the second game.
“We were talking about it in the locker room earlier today,” the senior guard said. “Everybody was asking me how many points I had and I was like, ‘I don’t even know.’ So, it’s nice to be able to get a district championship and my 1,000th point in my senior year.”
Nelson, who reached the milestone on the first possession of the second half, led second-seeded Africentric with 18 points and added four rebounds and three steals.
The Nubians improved to 24-2 overall with their second consecutive district championship and won their 18th title in 21 seasons. They’ll play either Cincinnati Country Day or West Liberty-Salem in a regional semifinal on March 6 at Springfield.
Africentric scored the first 12 points of the game and led 14-1 in the second quarter before fifth-seeded Centerburg got going.
The Trojans, who finished 19-6, had 10 turnovers and just one field goal attempt and trailed 10-0 after one quarter.
Centerburg kept it close in the middle two quarters, trailing 25-13 at the break and 37-23 after three.
“I think we were hesitant – we were second-guessing ourselves,” Anderson said. “So, we definitely didn’t play our best offensive game. But the way we played defense was awesome. When you play defense like that, you can kind of live with the stagnant things that you do on offense because you’re not giving up buckets.”
Centerburg’s Clara Johnson drives to the basket against Africentric’s Natiah Nelson during the teams’ district final game at Capital University Feb. 29. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Kamryn Grant, who had 12 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a pair of blocks for the Nubians, scored two baskets early in the fourth quarter that helped the team pull away.
Samairah Thompson had 10 points and eight rebounds, Shaunie Little had four steals for Africentric, which had 15 steals, six blocked shots and forced 26 turnovers.
Centerburg was trying for its third district title. The Trojans last won in 2012, but have only won five tournament games since, including two this season.
So, this was rarified air.
“Look Africentric (is) the standard,” Centerburg coach Bill Abner said. “They are such an impressive group of kids. I think we were a little nervous and intimidated in the first quarter. This is the first time (our) kids have been on this kind of stage before. Once we settled down, we played like we knew we could. I am so proud of our kids. There was not one ounce of quit in them. We just ran into a very talented team.”
Kayla Larimore and Clara Johnson had seven points each and Kenlee Fairall and Evie Stowe added six points apiece for the Trojans.
Larimore had 10 rebounds, Johnson added nine and Tiara Sheppard had five for the Trojans.
Fast start, familiarity fuel Harvest Prep
Harvest Prep coach Lee Sims said the fast start by sophomore guard Maliyah Lofton and the familiarity of beating Mechanicsburg in last year’s tournament were key.
Lofton scored the Warriors’ first eight points and finished with 22 overall along with four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Harvest Prep defeated 43-42 in last year’s district semifinal round.
Harvest Prep’s Maliyah Lofton (2) drives for two of her 22 points during the Warriors’ district final win over Mechanicsburg at Capital University Feb. 29. Photo: Kevin Rouch
“We watched that game over and over again to see who their people were,” Sims said. “(Addie DeLong) was one of their people and she had an amazing game tonight. Our plan was to try to get back (on defense) because she runs transitions really well and they get the ball up to her.
“(Lofton) has been getting better as the season has gone on. She’s been looking to attack and get more aggressive offensively. The first thing I put on the board was we’ve got to have a fast start. We didn’t want to be trying to dig ourselves out of a hole because (Mechanicsburg) is a really good team.”
The Warriors led by as many as 10 points in the first half and eight in the third quarter.
The Warriors, who play North Robinson Colonel Crawford or Castalia Margaretta in a regional semifinal on March 7 at 6 p.m. at Elida, improved to 17-9 while Mechanicsburg finished 23-3.
“Our goal was to come out really aggressive and keep our foot on the pedal,” Lofton said. “A lot of people were saying that we’re not supposed to be here right now. So, we just keep that in mind every time we step on the court and show them that we’re supposed to be here.”
Mechanicsburg trailed until an Addie DeLong basket with 36 seconds left in the third quarter put it ahead 42-41.
DeLong led all scorers with 26 points and added four rebounds.
The teams traded leads until a Camryn Woods put-back early in the fourth quarter gave the Warriors the lead for good.
Woods finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and a pair of blocks.
Ja’Nys Lawson and Adjoa Acheampong each had nine rebounds and Monae Gamble had six steals for Prep.
Ella Forrest had 12 points and four boards and Olivia Skillings added 11 points, seven steals, six rebounds, five assists and a couple blocks and Emily Conley chipped in seven points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals for Mechanicsburg.
Mechanicsburg’s Addie DeLong led all scorers with 26 points during the Indians’ district final game with Harvest Prep at Capital University Feb. 29. Photo: Kevin Rouch