Led by senior point guard Kamryn Kimmel, the Marion Pleasant Spartans rallied for their first-ever state final four win.
Columbus – Kamryn Kimmel is normally not the biggest player on the floor for her Marion Pleasant Spartans.
During the fourth quarter of the D-III state semifinals, no one stood taller than the 5-7 senior.
Kimmel scored 10 points in the final period, including back-to-back threes that wiped out an 8 point deficit, to lead the Spartans to a 50-47 win over Gilmour Academy, the Spartans first final four win in school history.
After Kimmels’ threes tied it with 3:58 left, Summer Blevins gave the Spartans their first lead since the opening quarter with a drive to the basket. Naz Hillmon scored the final of her 16 points for the Warriors to tie it again at 44.
Sophomore Leah Maniaci scored off a Blevins feed to give the Spartans the lead for good, and Kimmel finished the job from the foul line, hitting 4 for 4 in the final 70 seconds.
Blevins scored the Spartans first nine points and finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and five assists, several of the no-look variety. Kimmel had 17 points and also grabbed 8 rebounds.
Hillmon, just a sophomore, lead the Warriors, who finished 23-6, with 16 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists. No other Warrior reached double figures.
The Spartans, now 27-2, shot 49% from the floor, 46% behind the arc and 69% from the line. The Warriors were 41% from the floor, 29% behind the arc on 21 attempts, and a woeful 5 of 14 from the line for 36%.
Marion Pleasant will play for its first state championship Saturday against the winner of the Ironton-Columbus Africentric game. Game time will be 10:45am.
(Edited By Julie McMaken Wright)
“The Spot” is proud to sponsor coverage of the 2016 OHSAA State Basketball Tournaments on Pros Magazine.com.
Blevins scored the Spartans first nine points and finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and five assists, several of the no-look variety. (PressPros Feature Photos By Sonny Fulks and Julie McMaken Wright)