Girls Basketball: Balance leads Africentric to record ninth state championship
Saturday, March 16, 2024
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Africentric celebrates after winning the Division III State Championship over the Ottawa-Glandorf Titans at University of Dayton Arena Mar. 16. Photo: Joshua Morrison
Kamryn Grant got the ending she wanted. The senior, who missed last year’s state championship run because of a torn ACL and meniscus in her right knee, got the storybook ending she wanted with the Africentric girls basketball team.
Grant was one of four players to reach double figures in a balanced attack that led the Nubians to a 58-47 win over Ottawa-Glandorf in the Division III title game on March 16 at the University of Dayton Arena.
“I don’t have any words … I’m just blessed,” said Grant, a Dayton commit, who had 10 points, 13 rebounds and a pair of steals for the Nubians, who finished 28-2. “I’m just very emotional because last year was very hard for me not getting to play with my team. Just being able to lead my team and giving my all and showing everybody that I was coming back 10 times better. It’s just the most amazing feeling to leave high school with.”
Natiah Nelson needed to pause and wipe the tears from eyes before talking about what the title meant to her. It’s the program’s ninth state championship and puts the Nubians in a class of their own.
Africentric’s Kamryn Grant pulls down a rebound as Ottawa-Glandorf’s Myka Aldrich looks on during the Nubians state title victory in Dayton Mar. 16. Photo: Joshua Morrison
“First of all, we made history … we don’t have to be tied with anybody. We have the most championships on our own,” said Nelson, a senior guard, who had 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. “It feels great to be able to stand on an island all our own. It (also) feels very sad because it’s my last game with them. I know they’re going to be O.K. and I’m on to college now (at DePaul).”
Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame has eight state championships.
Samairah Thompson had 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks and Jeniya Bowers had 10 points as Africentric turned a 21-15 halftime lead into a 13-point lead early in the fourth quarter.
“It feels amazing to be here in this moment,” Africentric coach Janicia Anderson said. “A-High is a sisterhood (and) everybody plays a role. Our 2024 seniors wanted to leave their mark and leave a legacy and they did. It was all theirs and it was amazing. They’re going to go off and they’re going to be great.”
Africentric’s Samairah Thompson leads the Nubians up court on a fast breakagainst Ottawa-Glandorf Titans in Dayton Mar. 16. Photo: Joshua Morrison
Both teams scored more in the third quarter than they did in the first half.
Carlie Brinkman scored five points in a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter to whittle the Titans’ deficit down to six with 4 minutes, 48 seconds remaining. Thompson scored a pair of baskets sandwiched around a Nelson layup right to push the lead back out.
Shaunie Little added eight points, three rebounds and a pair of assists and Ashtan Winfrey tallied six points, three rebounds and a pair of blocks for the Nubians, who found themselves down 4-0 before scoring the next nine points. They led the rest of the way.
“We have two of the best defenders in the state in Shaunie Little and Ashton Winfrey,” Nelson said. “Most of our points come in transition. When we get defensive stops, we’re going to score. Our defense leads to offense.”
Karsyn Erford went for 18 points, five rebounds and three assists, Carli Brinkman had 10 points and three assists and Kaitlyn Kimmet had six rebounds and three steals for the Titans, who finished 26-3.
“We can’t take anything away – (Africentric) won the game,” Ottawa-Glandorf coach Troy Yant said. “We didn’t lose the game – they just won it. They wanted it and they played hard and the breaks went to them.”
Ottawa-Glandorf’s Carlie Brinkman defends Africentric’s Natiah Nelson during the Division III State Championship at University of Dayton Arena on Mar. 16. Photo: Joshua Morrison