Girls State Basketball: Loudonville falls to Waterford in D-IV semifinal

DAYTON — The Loudonville girls basketball team's incredible season ended with a thud Thursday, as the Redbirds couldn't shots consistently during a 41-32 loss to Waterford in the Division IV state semifinals at University of Dayton Arena. The Redbirds (26-3), who beat Buckeye 88-8 on Dec. 11, trailed 23-11 at halftime and made 12-of-55 field goals (21.8%), 2-of-19 3-pointers (10.5) and 6-of-8 free throws (75.0) overall. They led for only 17 seconds. Ms. Basketball finalist and Ashland recruit Corri Vermilya led Loudonville with 13 points on 5-for-20 shooting, 13 rebounds, two assists and five steals before fouling out. Tiffin-bound Sophia Spangler added 11 points, Jena Guilliams had six and Mya Vermilya had two on 1-for-13 shooting. Waterford (24-0), the 2016 and 2022 D-IV state champion, got 17 points from Kendall Sury and 12 points and 15 rebounds from 6-foot-4 Avery Wagner. The Wildcats lowered their defensive scoring average to 33.0. Loudonville's coaching staff includes former Chippewa coach and longtime Wadsworth Township resident Denny Schrock, as well as Kaitlyn King, a former Strongsville guard and the daughter of 1991 and 1992 Gazette golf MVP Steve King of Medina. In other games: Fort Loramie 50, Convoy Crestview 41 Barely a double-digit scorer on the season, Avery Brandewie exploded for 22 points on 6-of-7 field goals and 10-of-12 free throws to power the Redskins (27-2) past the Knights (26-4), who led by eight points with 3:12 left in the first half. Fort Loramie, which won the second half 31-18, shot 16-for-33 from the floor (48.5%) and 16-for-21 at the foul line (76.2). The Redskins are one of Western Ohio's premier programs, having won in 2021, 2015 and 2013 among 11 prior state appearances. Division III Ottawa-Glandorf 47, Portsmouth 40 Making their six state appearance in the last 10 seasons, the Titans (26-2) had 30 points in the paint to overpower the newcomer Trojans (22-6) and will take on defending champion Africentric on Saturday. Ottawa-Glandorf was so balanced that backup Alivia Grothause tied starter Katie Kaufman with a team-high 10 points. Kaufman also grabbed 14 rebounds as the Titans won the category 39-23. Portsmouth, which started two freshmen and two sophomores, was led by guard Sienna Allen's 12 points on 4-for-17 shooting and Daysha Reid's 10 on 5-for-17. Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com.