Defense propels Africentric to victory in Division III girls basketball regional semifinal
SPRINGFIELD – The Africentric girls basketball team followed one of its mottos to perfection early in Wednesday’s Division III regional semifinal.
The Nubians got their desired three consecutive defensive stops to start the game against Cincinnati Country Day, and by the middle quarters they could feel themselves wearing on the Nighthawks.
Giving Country Day few if any comfortable looks on offense, Africentric translated a swarming defense into several easy baskets in transition in a 61-50 win at Springfield High School.
“We knew they would pound the ball inside and just try to get the shot that they wanted, so we definitely wanted to make them uncomfortable if they did get the shot they wanted,” Nubians coach Janicia Anderson said. “We wanted them to use a lot of energy to shoot that shot. …
“We slid our feet well and had some good box-outs. When you play solid defense for 15 to 20 seconds, it gets you some energy.”
Kamryn Grant’s 15 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and four assists and 15 points and eight rebounds from Samairah Thompson paced Africentric (25-2) into Saturday’s regional final against No. 2-ranked Kettering Alter.
“Our defense, we’ll always stay on your back,” said Thompson, a Buffalo signee. “Around the second quarter into the third, we could tell we were wearing them down and that boosted our energy.
“I thought I might have an advantage on their post players. I used my size (5-foot-10) and my strength in the paint to make it work out.”
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The Nubians also defeated Country Day 49-40 in the same round here a year ago on their way to winning the state championship.
Africentric was ranked sixth in this season's final Associated Press state poll, three spots ahead of Country Day (21-5).
The Nubians used runs of 11-0 and 15-2 to build a 31-13 lead halfway through the second quarter. They led 39-21 at halftime and used a 6-0 spurt out of the break to lead by as many as 24 points.
Ashtan Winfrey added 13 points and four rebounds for Africentric.
Elizabeth Zimmerman’s 27 points led Country Day. Twin sister Megan Zimmerman added 13 points and six rebounds.
The Nighthawks finished on an 11-5 run to make the final more respectable.
“Those two (the Zimmermans) always have their foot on the gas, and then the rest of their girls, they play well together so we just wanted to impose our will,” Anderson said. “They never let us get the best of them, though. Hats off to them for just fighting.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Africentric girls basketball wins Division III regional semifinal
