Girls high school basketball: Medina seniors further their legacy, clinch district title

GRANGER TWP. — Seniors Shannon Wojciak, Elizabeth Stuart, Aly Dwyer, Sarah McKee and Regan Todia were aware the Division I, Northeast 4 District championship game against Highland could further define their legacy as one of the best classes the Medina girls basketball program has produced. They were not going to be denied, and contributions came from everywhere. Stuart made shots early, Todia added a big 3-pointer, Wojciak did the dirty work, Dwyer kept everyone organized and McKee finished the job. A big second quarter ultimately held up Friday, as the fourth-seeded Bees grinded out a 52-42 victory over the third-seeded Hornets to join the back-to-back winners of 1976 and '77 as the only Medina teams to grab two district titles in a three-year span. Winners of 10 straight by an average of 21.7 points, the Bees (19-6) advanced to play Federal League champion GlenOak (17-2) in an 8 p.m. Tuesday regional semifinal inside the friendly confides of Richard H. Clevidence Gymnasium, yet another one-of-a-kind scenario the Ohio High School Ahletic Association decided upon during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We've wanted this. To get it twice in one career for the seniors and juniors is incredible and once-in-a-lifetime," Dwyer said. "I know we're never going to get this moment ever again, so hopefully we can continue it into regionals. "We're leaving a legacy behind. Hopefully the younger kids can look up to it and get it, too. I can't put into words how memorable this is." Ashland recruit McKee was scoreless in the decisive second quarter the Bees won 15-4 but scored six much-needed points over the final 3:17 to finish with a team-high 14. Stuart bombed in eight of her 13 points in the opening period, Wojciak finished with five points, 12 rebounds and four assists, Dwyer posted five points, three boards, four dimes and only two turnovers and junior guard Hailey Tripp added seven points. Medina took control with a well-balanced 19-2 run that stretched from the 7:16 mark of the second quarter to 6:43 of the third. Tripp and Wojciak each had five points, while Todia pushed the lead to two possessions for the first time at 22-17 and McKee capped the spurt with consecutive buckets that made the score 33-19. The senior-laden Hornets (18-6) got to 42-37 midway through the fourth but missed a shot and committed an illegal screen to prevent them from getting closer. McKee then scored consecutively again to push the spread to 46-37 with 2:50 remaining and Highland never threatened again. "(McKee) is so focused on other people's scouting reports that other people have to step up," Bees coach Karen Kase said. "It does open up inside-out passing, but other people are capable. It's not just 'The Sarah Show' by any means, and you saw that tonight. "We knew Highland would (make a run). We knew it was going to be a battle no matter what, and it wasn't going to be over in the first half because of (Maddie) Miller and (Kendall) McCormick's capabilities of hitting threes and attacking, but we didn't panic." All-Ohio guard McCormick shot 5-for-16 but still finished with team highs of 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists to spearhead Highland, which led 15-14 after a fast-paced first quarter. Miller scored nine of her 12 points during the Hornets' comeback bid in the third, and her driving layup at the buzzer cut the deficit to 42-35. Senior forward Taryn Kenny added five first-quarter points, but no one else had more than four on a night when Highland's season-long weakness — streaky shooting — bit it again with 2-for-13 and 2-for-14 efforts in the second and fourth quarters, during which it was outscored 25-11. The Hornets also made only 2-of-14 3-pointers overall. Highland played stout switch-everything man defense for most of the night, but Todia, Tripp, Wojciak, Dwyer and Stuart still got clutch 3-pointers when they needed them. "We just lost people, and they've got too good of shooters to do that," Highland coach James Madison. "Give them credit. They made a lot of 3-pointers in that run." After beating the Hornets for the second time this season (51-40, Dec. 5), the Bees will seek their first regional victory since 1982. The Greater Cleveland Conference co-champions certainly have momentum and believe senior leadership will give them a puncher's chance against a very good GlenOak team. Getting to play at home is a massive bonus, too. "We've wanted this ever since we started playing basketball, and we've been together since third grade," Wojciak said. "This is a great win for us. We all wanted it and we all practiced for it, so it's nice to have it." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Medina 52, Highland 42 Division I, Northeast 4 District Final MEDINA &emsp;&emsp;14 15 13 10 — 52 HIGHLAND &emsp;&emsp;15 4 16 7 — 42 Medina — Elizabeth Stuart 4-2-13, Shannon Wojciak 2-0-5, Sarah McKee 5-4-14, Hailey Tripp 3-0-7, Aly Dwyer 1-2-5, Regan Todia 1-1-4, Leora Owings 1-0-2, Kate Bobey 0-0-0, Mylie Roberts 1-0-2. TOTALS: 18-9-52. Highland — Alayna Tessena 2-0-4, Lindsey Frederick 0-0-0, Alexis Furyes 1-1-3, Maddie Miller 5-1-12, Kendall McCormick 5-6-16, Taryn Kenny 2-0-5, Delaney Lawson 0-2-2. TOTALS: 15-10-42. 3-point goals — Stuart 3, Wojciak, Tripp, Dwyer, Todia, Miller, Kenny. Rebounds — Medina 30 (Wojciak 12), Highland 23 (McCormick 7). Assists — Medina 12 (Dwyer, Wojciak 4), Highland 5 (McCormick 4). Records — Medina (19-6), Highland (18-6).