Waterford uses experience, defense to defeat Loudonville in OHSAA Division IV state semifinal

Waterford advances to its second state championship game in three years

DAYTON, Ohio - Sometimes when you get to the state semifinals, it just comes down to experience. And on Thursday in the first OHSAA girls basketball Division IV state semifinal, Waterford relied on that experience for a 41-32 win over Loudonville at the University of Dayton Arena.

Waterford was making its third appearance in Dayton in four years, while Loudonville was playing in the state semifinals for just the second time in school history, and first since 1992.

"I think when you get in these games against good teams, experience definitely helps," Waterford head coach Jerry Close said. "I think it helps leading into the game more than anything."

After the two teams got off to a shaky start, Waterford opened it up in the second quarter, winning that eight minutes 13-5 to take a 23-11 lead into halftime. The quarter was dominated by juniors Kendall Sury and Avery Wagner, who combined to score all 13 points for the Wildcats after Sury made a runner off the glass at the first quarter buzzer.

""I felt like it was at a slow pace, so I started kind of revving up and getting down the court fast and hit that last-minute shot," Sury said. "I think that brought up our energy a lot and it really got us going."

Sury kept that momentum going by hitting a 3-pointer and a layup to score the first five points of the second quarter. Then the 6-foot-4 Wagner had her way in the paint, scoring the next two baskets for Waterford before Sury hit four free throws. 

Sury led the Wildcats with 17 points, while Wagner had 12 points and 17 rebounds. 

The defense for the Wildcats was also in strong form in that second quarter, forcing five Loudonville turnovers and altering multiple shots in the paint or forcing the Redbirds to kick the ball out on a drive because either Wagner was in the paint waiting. 

"It definitely helps that I am 6-4," Wagner said. "That's my job, I protect the paint. The paint's mine. So it's juts what I do."

With Waterford leading by 16 in the fourth, Loudonville scored seven straight to cut the lead to nine but Waterford responded with six of the net eight points before Loudonville's Jena Guilliams knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers for her six points to make it a 39-32 game with 1:51 left. 

Those were the only 3-pointers Loudonville hit in the game. The Redbirds entered the game with 189 3-pointers made on the season and were shooting 29% from deep but made just two of their 19 3-point attempts on Thursday.

"I appreciated them waiting until the last two minutes to make (a 3-pointer)," Close said with a laugh. "(3-point defense) is what we have worked on. At the beginning of the season, we were giving up a lot of threes. Now we are doing a really nice job of closing out."

Waterford basketball coach Jerry Close talks to his team during a timeout in the OHSAA Division IV state semifinals against Loudonville on March 14, 2024 / Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports

Waterford was then able to break the press and get a layup for Avery Smithberger to ice the game.

"I think any time you have experience on a stage like this it helps," Waterford head coach Jerry Close said. "In that fourth quarter, I think we got a little tense and tight just because we had gotten a lead and we were expecting to win."

Ohio Ms. Basketball runner-up Corri Vermilya had a double-double for the Redbirds with 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Sophia Spangler added 11. 

Waterford will now look to win its second state title in three years and the third in program history as the Wildcats will now move on to play Fort Loramie in the state championship game on Saturday at 10:45 am.

But the early game doesn't benefit the Wildcats just because they played at 11:00 am in the state semifinals, according to their head coach. 

"We hate morning games, absolutely hate morning games," Close said, somewhat joking. "(But) when you're here, it's great." 

-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh