Girls basketball: Rowan Kildoo pushes Highland to win over Chippewa

GRANGER TWP. — Many aspects of the game are coming into focus for the Highland girls basketball team at the midway point of the season. One of the biggest is the Hornets don't care who scores, as long as they win. That was apparent again Monday in a non-league showdown with Wayne County Athletic League power Chippewa, as Rowan Kildoo carried the early load and everyone else followed suit in another impressive 56-45 victory that will continue to pay off with significant MaxPreps RPI points for the Division III tournament draw. Kildoo finished with a team-high 18 points, but that wasn't the story. The junior wing had 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the opening eight minutes as the Hornets (11-1) roared to an early lead — this time 20-13 after an action-packed quarter — and managed it the rest of the way. "It was really important. We knew we had to get off to big starts against good teams — four really good teams — over the (Christmas) break," she said. "We have a really hard schedule, so we overcame adversity and really worked together to get all of these wins. "I just knew we had to get a good start. Coach (James Madison) always harps on us for having quick and fast starts, so I knew I had to do everything I could to get us a big lead." A 5-foot-9 junior who missed 18 games last season due to ACL reconstruction surgery, Kildoo set the tone right away with a steal and score that moved the lead to 9-3. She was active in other ways, too, scoring off catch-and-shoot opportunities as well as a putback. Kildoo added four more points early in the second quarter as Highland moved ahead by double digits before going quiet in the third, but she drilled a 3-pointer off a kickout from Grace Shondel to make the score 49-38 in the fourth and deny a comeback bid by the battle-tested Chipps (7-4), who were without starting point guard Bree Regan. Shondel played a part in that, too, as the soccer star dominated defensively en route to 13 points, nine rebounds and seven steals. Physical center Emeri Gausman added 11 points and eight boards, while athletic forward Madi Morgan posted 10 points, three boards and a team-high three assists on a night when Highland won the rebounding battle 37-22. "Rowan played an unbelievable first half and gave us the cushion we needed," Madison said. The 2023 Division II state runner-up that is currently battling undefeated reigning D-V state runner-up Norwayne for WCAL supremacy, Chippewa didn't go away quietly after adjusting to Highland's athleticism and unselfish offense. Wing Delaney Marshall (24 points) was outstanding, and the junior scored all 13 Chipps points in the third quarter to keep them afloat. Battling tooth and nail to keep the deficit reasonable, Chippewa cut to 44-38 on a fast-break layup with 7:03 left before the Hornets woke up. Shondel head-faked and drove baseline for a layup to stem the tide on the next possession, then she got to the free throw line before pivoting and finding Kildoo for the open 3-pointer that pushed the advantage to 49-38 with 5:54 remaining. Highland knew Christmas break could define its season with games against Medina, Toledo Whitmer, Hoover and Chippewa. The Hornets would have been OK with a 3-1 record during that stretch, but they won all four while showing improvement in each. With 2025 graduates Aleena VanKirk, Grace Madison and Bianca Pallante in the house Monday, they also wanted to show the program remains in great shape. "I feel like all of us are starting to take this really seriously," Shondel said. "Obviously this year, everyone was like, 'Oh, Highland isn't going to be this good. They lost five seniors,' but we've come out and we're what? Eleven-and-one right now? "It's getting real, and I think that we're all just in it to win it." Contact Albert Grindle at (330) 721-4043 or agrindle@medina-gazette.com. Highland 56, Chippewa 45 CHIPPEWA &emsp;&emsp;13 8 13 11 — 45 HIGHLAND &emsp;&emsp;20 12 12 12 — 56 Chippewa — Delaney Marshall 8-6-24, Aira Regan 4-2-10, Myra Lewis 4-0-9, Lucy Goodrich 0-0-0, Emme Donnelly 0-0-0, Cally West 0-0-0, Jordyn Tully 1-0-2, Lenna Tester 0-0-0, Aubrey Ashcraft 0-0-0, Makayla Berlin 0-0-0. TOTALS: 17-8-45. Highland — Rowan Kildoo 8-0-18, Madi Morgan 4-1-10, Emeri Gausman 4-3-11, Jordyn Caples 0-0-0, Grace Shondel 6-1-13, Scarlet Gordon 1-0-2, Bridget Cope 1-0-2, Sophia Madison 0-0-0, Alaina Weingart 0-0-0, Kennedy Lawson 0-0-0. TOTALS: 24-5-56. 3-point goals — Marshall 2, Lewi, Kildoo 2, Morgan. Rebounds — Highland 37 (Shondel 9), Chippewa 22 (Lewis 8). Assists — Chippewa 9 (Donnelly 5), Highland 11 (Morgan 3). Records — Chippewa (7-4), Highland (11-1). Junior varsity — Highland 43, Chippewa 15 (H: Weingart 9).