Cool, calm and composed, Dublin Coffman took down Pickerington Central 53-41 in the opening Division I girls regional semifinal. In the nightcap, Imarianah Russell poured in 30 points and as uber-talented Reynoldsburg routed Gahanna 72-46.
Westerville, OH – Way back in November, when uniforms were being handed out, girls basketball players, coaches and fans around Central Ohio already were licking their chops in anticipation for a potential showdown on March 4 that would determine which Division I team advances to the final four in Dayton.
Just like many had thought − and hoped ─ it will be state powers Dublin Coffman and Reynoldsburg squaring off for the regional title at 7 p.m. Friday in Westerville South’s sparkling one-year-old Ed Calo Gymnasium.
Whether they want to admit it or not, both teams have scores to settle. Coffman beat Reynoldsburg, 60-57, in a 2021 regional semifinal before dropping an epic 75-73 title game to Newark.
“Getting to the state has been the primary goal for us and for Coffman since the season started, and even though the Central District is super-competitive with teams like Newark, Pickerington Central and Gahanna, I suppose a lot of people figured that Reynoldsburg and Coffman would have to go through each other at some point or another,” Reynoldsburg coach Jack Purtell said. “Having watched their game tonight, they’re going to present a great challenge. It should be some kind of game.”
Gahanna’s Clarke Jackson (22) goes to the basket against Jamiona Ross of Reynoldsburg.
Before his opponent had been determined, Dublin Coffman coach Adam Banks pointed out that the core of his team is made up of seven seniors and two juniors who want nothing more than to reach the state tournament for the first time since 2014. Reynoldsburg made it 2010, 2012 and 2016. Neither program, however, has tasted victory in the final four.
“We’re back here in the exact same situation we were in last year when we suffered a heartbreaking defeat,” he said. “It would be an understatement to say these girls want it badly.”
While Reynoldsburg (23-2) earned the No. 1 district seed over Coffman (24-1) based on a more ambitious statewide schedule, the Shamrocks were ranked No. 3 and the Raiders No. 4 in the final Associated Press state media poll.
Adding yet another twist to the showdown is that Central District player of the year Imarianah Russell spent her first two seasons at Coffman before transferring to Reynoldsburg as a junior.
“I’ve been waiting for this game since last year,” said Russell, a legitimate Ms. Basketball candidate who has signed with West Virginia. “I felt like they didn’t deserve to win that game … we beat ourselves. So this is the rematch we’ve all been waiting for. Coffman, y’all better be ready.”
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Coffman avenged its lone loss (55-53 on Nov. 27) by defeating ninth-ranked Pickerington Central, 53-41, in the opening game Tuesday. Reynoldsburg walloped Gahanna, 72-46, in the nightcap.
Running its open post offense in machine-like fashion, with precise cutting, screening, passing and deadeye shooting, Coffman took a 12-3 lead and was never seriously threatened by the talented, but less experienced Tigers (20-7).
Dublin Coffman’s Taylor Covington sets up the offense.
Finally forcing the pace with defensive pressure that created steals and transition, Central managed to lop a 14-point deficit to six twice in the third quarter, but Coffman never flinched. The Rocks pushed their lead to as much as 16 before both teams’ benches were emptied.
“Honestly, we weren’t totally prepared right for that first game (against Central),” senior guard Taylor Covington said. “We watched a lot of film and decided to faceguard and offer help on their two best players. Obviously, we weren’t exactly the same teams we were in the first game of the season, but that loss stuck with us a little and we were kind of wanting a second chance against them.”
Covington had 13 points (11 in the opening half) and five assists. The Indiana Tech recruit knocked down three of Coffman’s six three-point shots. Ohio University-bound 6-0 Cassidy Lafler matched Covington with 13 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Wisconsin commit Tessa Grady (nine points) and Tara Flynn (eight) helped Coffman to a significant advantage on the boards.
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“We’ve already dealt with big game pressure like this plenty of times over the past three seasons,” Lafler said. “We’re always calm and composed out there. If we feel rushed, we can’t get work done. This game felt a lot different than the first one with Central. We prepared differently and really felt in control the whole way.”
Pickerington Central’s Madison Greene drives up the court.
Despite a season-ending loss of its top player, Jenna Kopyar, to a torn ACL, Banks loves the makeup and chemistry of his team, which features five players six feet or taller.
“We feel like our five players on the floor always are a threat to score and they’re equally adept at driving, passing, rebounding and setting screens,” he said.
Berry Wallace had 13 points and Madison Greene 11 for Central, which looked out of sorts much of the night.
“They made it tough for our top two scorers to get off their shots,” coach Chris Wallace said. “We had a hard time possessing the ball and they beat us handily on the boards. Hats off to them. They were just the better team tonight.”
Despite being rested much of the second half, Russell scored 30 points to pace Reynoldsburg, which shot out to a 9-0 lead and never looked back. Wright State signee Makiya Miller added 17 points and Ohio State-bound Mya Perry 11 for the Raiders, whose lone defeats came to out-of-state opponents.
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Reynoldsburg had trounced Gahanna, 73-54, earlier in the season.
Kimora Perkins came off the bench to score 16 points for overachieving, but outmatched, Gahanna (16-9).
“I’ve got to think Russell and Perry are the best duo around and having a healthy Makiya back playing her best game of the season makes us that much stronger,” Purtell said. “We really wanted to get inside and win the boards tonight and I believe we did that. I know people look at our talent, but this group is more than just that. These girls really care about each other and will do anything to help the team win.”
Pickerington Central’s Trinity Jackson attempts a reverse layup with Dublin Coffman’s Taylor Covington closing in.
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Pickerington Central’s Madison Greene shoots over Dublin Coffman’s Ellie Vaccari (PressPros Feature Photos by John Hulkenberg).