Region XII District I Tournament

Semifinal No. 1: Owens 79, Columbus State 55

By Nicholas Huenefeld

Jeryn Reese had 17 points and 11 rebounds as No. 1 seed Owens advanced to Saturday's Region XII District I championship game with a 79-55 win over No. 4 seed Columbus State.

Owens, winners of 15 straight, led from start to finish. Midway through the first quarter, they stretched their lead and eventually led by 14 through one. In the second quarter, they held the host school to six points and opened up a 43-18 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, Columbus State started strong and scored the first seven points, but Reese answered with a three point play on the other end to start a 7-0 run for Owens. The Cougars outscored Owens 21-19 in the third and by one point in the final two quarters combined, but the damage was done.

Assisting Reese in the scoring column was Lakyn Gulley, who hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Briana Williams added 13 points and six assists, and Aysah Ingram had eight points and 12 rebounds.

For Columbus State, who finished its season at 13-16 overall, Carli Codner-Pinto had a game-high 23 points (12 in the fourth quarter). She was her team's lone player in double figures, although Keyvona Davis had nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Owens (25-6) will take on Cincinnati State in tomorrow's 1 p.m. championship game.

Semifinal No. 2: Cincinnati State 83, Cuyahoga 62

By Tom Hathaway

Cincinnati State advanced to the NJCAA District I women's basketball tournament championship game with an 83-62 win over Cuyahoga in Friday's semifinal action.

The Surge, 22-9, will face Owens, 27-4, at 1 p.m. at Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. It Cincinnati State's fifth championship game appearance in the past six seasons. Owens will be making its fourth straight appearance. 

Montrail Roberts scored a career-high tying 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead Cincinnati State. It was the 17th double-double of the season for Roberts, who is averaging a double-double (17.6 points, 11.6 rebounds).

Cincinnati State shot 50 percent from the field to take a 41-32 lead at halftime. The Surge put the game away with an 18-0 scoring run to start the third period. Cuyahoga was scoreless in the first 5:19 of the quarter.

Complementing Roberts in the scoring column were Kianna Delas with 17 points, Chloe Baird with 13 and Dameras Whitlock with 12. Darian Carter led Cuyahoga, which closed the season at 17-12, with 16 points.