UNIONTOWN, OH- Lake High School was the site for the Girls Division VI Regional Championship game between the Smithville Smithies (23-3) and Rootstown Rovers (25-1). These teams met in Rootstown back on January 11th with the Rovers taking the win 47-34. It's never an easy task having to beat the same team twice in a season. This one was everything you would expect from a Regional Final coming down to the final seconds. The Rovers were able to pull out the 37-36 win and clinch their first State Final Four berth in school history.
It was a slow start to this one offensively for both teams. The Smithies would get on the board first on a three ball from Faith Lengacher.
After a pair of Rover free throws, Madi Singer scored inside for Smithville putting them up 5-2. The Rovers would then finish the quarter on a 9-2 run with six of the points coming from senior Nadia Lough and a three to end the quarter from Kelsey Bittecuffer as they took an 11-7 lead after one.
Smithville came out strong in quarter two after a Madi Singer scored four straight to tie the came at 11. Nadia Lough would hit a three at the other end putting the Rovers up 14-11.
Following a pair of Smithie free throws, Lough scored inside and Kelsey Bittecuffer scored and was fouled but could not convert the free throw. Rootstown took an 18-13 lead into the half. Nadia Lough led all scorers for the Rovers with 11 points while Madi Singer had 8 points for the Smithies.
Smithville would open the 2nd half scoring six of the first eight points cutting the deficit to 20-19 after an Aly Wickens three. It stayed a one point game for the next few possessions until an Addy Germann three made it a 25-21 Rover lead. Rootstown would close the 3rd maintaining a five point lead at 28-23.
Wickens would come out roaring to begin the 4th scoring six straight to give Smithville a brief one point lead. Lough and Bittecuffer were able to score on back to back buckets putting the Rovers up 32-29. Madi Singer would hit a big three to tie the score at 32. Nadia Lough would come right back with a tough score inside to make it a 34-32 game.
Singer got it right back on the other end scoring to tie the game at 34. After a Lough free throw split with 36 seconds to play, it was Singer once again scoring on a backdoor cut putting Smithville up 36-35 with under 20 seconds to play.
But it was Lough who would come through once again in the biggest moment of the game, fighting through three defenders to get the score in what would be the winning basket.
Colbie Curall then came up with a big steal late to seal the victory 37-36.
Nadia Lough was terrific for the Rovers with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Kelsey Bittecuffer chipped in 8. Madi Singer led the Smithies with 8 points.
The Rovers will play in the Division VI State semi-final next Friday at a site TBD.
Postgame interviews with Nadia Lough, Kelsey Bittecuffer and coach Joe Leonard
Rootstown Rovers Regional Championship Award presentation
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