Gilmour Academy rode a 38-point second half to edge ahead of Africentric and advance to Saturday’s Division III finals.
Columbus – If a game really never is over until it’s over…then consider another example of a second half comeback at these girls state tournament games.
Gilmour Academy (23-5) overcame a 29-27 halftime deficit to put up 38 second half points and steam past Columbus Africentric (25-3) to advance to one half of Saturday’s Division III championship. They’ll play the winner of the upcoming second semi-final game between Versailles and Winchester Eastern.
Gilmour shot 48% from the field (21 of 44), but impressively, they could not miss from three point range during their second half outburst (4 of 4 in the fourth quarter). They finished at 46% from behind the arc and simply put too much scoring pressure on the favored Africentric. Emily Kelley led the Lancers with 24 points, while teammate Naz Hillmon also touched double figures with 16.
For Africentric, the Nubians shot 31% from the field (21 of 67), and just 5 of 16 from behind the arc. They had three players finish the contest having scored in double figures – Kynnedy Azubike (10), Jordan Horston (17) and Alexia Smith (10).
In just their second trip to the state semi-finals, Gilmour will seek its first state in Saturday’s championship game.
Africentric was seeking its sixth state title in eight trips to the Final Four.
Versailles plays at 3 pm and that game story will be available this evening on Press Pros.
“The Spot” is proud to sponsor coverage of the 2017 OHSAA State Tournaments on Pros Magazine.com.
Gilmour Academy's Emily Kelley led the Lancers to victory with 24 points in their win over Columbus Africentric. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Julie McMaken Wright)