Regional final rematch - Waterford vs Hiland

[Farmer Yoder]

Officiating was fine. No reason to even suggest it was a factor.

Waterford defense won the game. Hiland was 7-31 at one point with 0 made 3s. Suri nearly outscored Hiland by herself.

officiating was ok. lead official was pretty good and made the majority of the calls. as for the other two officials one was average and the other was let’s just say not good. waterford was the better team and would have won with farmer yoder officiating.

Yes, you are correct.

[IVCguy]

This was not one of Hiland's better teams. Waterford beat a better squad last year and Waterford was bringing most of their team back.

This Hiland group are great kids, but missing a few elements. They had their big girl (Yoder) and a somewhat big girl, Haberger - and a bunch of munchkins. Their PG is a soph and will get better. Usually, Hiland has a PG that can drive into the paint, score or assist in there. She struggled with that. Their 6th player (Mishler) has a little size, but was a freshman.

A team with good size and discipline (Waterford) would make it very hard for them to score. On the other end, Coach Brechtl got her bigger players isolated on the low block against Hiland's munchkins who walled up - and Waterford scored on 2 footers a bunch of times.

So, I looked at this game as a formula that would yield a certain result - as long as Waterford played solid and leveraged their advantages - which they did.

I watched the game with the sound off. I didn't perceive that officiating was a factor. At the regional and state level, officials tend to allow more contact and the games are more physical. Looked kinda typical to me, although I did see a couple of major collisions and bodies flying. But you get that in girls basketball. FWIW

[Jimbobscousin]

Officiating was fine. No reason to even suggest it was a factor.

Waterford defense won the game. Hiland was 7-31 at one point with 0 made 3s. Suri nearly outscored Hiland by herself.

officiating was ok. lead official was pretty good and made the majority of the calls. as for the other two officials one was average and the other was let’s just say not good. waterford was the better team and would have won with farmer yoder officiating.

Yes, you are correct.

No, NO you are not correct. The officiating was ridiculously bad. Two of those officials have ZERO business calling a regional final game. I have no idea what is going on in the Southern part of Ohio but the officiating this year has been BAD!.

[SEOsportchamp23]

Kendall Sury has been the difference in this one. 15 points.

Waterford took full advantage of the mismatch that Sury had with her defender. If you watched the game, as soon as the ball went into the post, hiland’s defense collapsed. Which opened up lanes and shooting for anyone on the outside. They (Hiland) focused solely on Wagner and Smithberger because they knew that their inside game would be an advantage for Waterford. I wouldn’t say that Sury won the game for them. I would say it was a collective whole. Wagner and Smithberger did not score a lot of points, but they played a defensive game that was unmatched. Look at the stats as a team. Those two contributed in every other stat not to mention Smithberger got laid out and Wagner took a charge that sent hilands big to the bench fouling out. Then you had Malec and Pottmeyer who stepped up and scored some great points had great passes and Malec at her size of 5 foot two (and that’s giving her a little bit), she out almost rebounded everyone that was taller than her. Yes Sury did score a lot of points, but it was because they took full advantage of that mismatch. If Hiland would have focused on her, that would’ve left Wagner and Smithberger open. I think the determining factor in this whole game was Waterford was just a better team last night. Well prepared, disciplined, and honestly, the game preparation with knowing the matchups favored Waterford in the long run. For anyone to say that Hiland team was down this year, I would have to disagree. After watching them play their tournament games, they are a very good team. Probably one of the better defensive teams that Waterford has faced other than Sheridan.

Great team win by Waterford. And good luck Friday. The matchup with Fort Loramie will be a good one.

[IVCguy]

Kendall Sury has been the difference in this one. 15 points.

Waterford took full advantage of the mismatch that Sury had with her defender. If you watched the game, as soon as the ball went into the post, hiland’s defense collapsed. Which opened up lanes and shooting for anyone on the outside. They (Hiland) focused solely on Wagner and Smithberger because they knew that their inside game would be an advantage for Waterford. I wouldn’t say that Sury won the game for them. I would say it was a collective whole. Wagner and Smithberger did not score a lot of points, but they played a defensive game that was unmatched. Look at the stats as a team. Those two contributed in every other stat not to mention Smithberger got laid out and Wagner took a charge that sent hilands big to the bench fouling out. Then you had Malec and Pottmeyer who stepped up and scored some great points had great passes and Malec at her size of 5 foot two (and that’s giving her a little bit), she out almost rebounded everyone that was taller than her. Yes Sury did score a lot of points, but it was because they took full advantage of that mismatch. If Hiland would have focused on her, that would’ve left Wagner and Smithberger open. I think the determining factor in this whole game was Waterford was just a better team last night. Well prepared, disciplined, and honestly, the game preparation with knowing the matchups favored Waterford in the long run. For anyone to say that Hiland team was down this year, I would have to disagree. After watching them play their tournament games, they are a very good team. Probably one of the better defensive teams that Waterford has faced other than Sheridan.

Great team win by Waterford. And good luck Friday. The matchup with Fort Loramie will be a good one.

I agree with that analysis - except the last part about the quality of this Hiland team.

No one said they weren't a good team. I've been watching them since the early 90s. So, "good" is relative. They are always fundamentally sound. Many times some fan from another team would say, "They are so talented" when they weren't that talented, just skilled and well-coached. They have had some uber talented teams - and those teams tended to win championships.

This team had some things missing that would make them state contenders. I mentioned a few of those. Making a regional final was probably the ceiling for them and they had a really fine season.

Waterford will face more talented and bigger teams in the next round. Hopefully, they will play and win two.

[SEOsportchamp23]

Kendall Sury has been the difference in this one. 15 points.

Waterford took full advantage of the mismatch that Sury had with her defender. If you watched the game, as soon as the ball went into the post, hiland’s defense collapsed. Which opened up lanes and shooting for anyone on the outside. They (Hiland) focused solely on Wagner and Smithberger because they knew that their inside game would be an advantage for Waterford. I wouldn’t say that Sury won the game for them. I would say it was a collective whole. Wagner and Smithberger did not score a lot of points, but they played a defensive game that was unmatched. Look at the stats as a team. Those two contributed in every other stat not to mention Smithberger got laid out and Wagner took a charge that sent hilands big to the bench fouling out. Then you had Malec and Pottmeyer who stepped up and scored some great points had great passes and Malec at her size of 5 foot two (and that’s giving her a little bit), she out almost rebounded everyone that was taller than her. Yes Sury did score a lot of points, but it was because they took full advantage of that mismatch. If Hiland would have focused on her, that would’ve left Wagner and Smithberger open. I think the determining factor in this whole game was Waterford was just a better team last night. Well prepared, disciplined, and honestly, the game preparation with knowing the matchups favored Waterford in the long run. For anyone to say that Hiland team was down this year, I would have to disagree. After watching them play their tournament games, they are a very good team. Probably one of the better defensive teams that Waterford has faced other than Sheridan.

Great team win by Waterford. And good luck Friday. The matchup with Fort Loramie will be a good one.

I agree with that analysis - except the last part about the quality of this Hiland team.

No one said they weren't a good team. I've been watching them since the early 90s. So, "good" is relative. They are always fundamentally sound. Many times some fan from another team would say, "They are so talented" when they weren't that talented, just skilled and well-coached. They have had some uber talented teams - and those teams tended to win championships.

This team had some things missing that would make them state contenders. I mentioned a few of those. Making a regional final was probably the ceiling for them and they had a really fine season.

Waterford will face more talented and bigger teams in the next round. Hopefully, they will play and win two.

May have jumped the gun a little on the Fort Loramie match up. Max preps had Waterford facing them in the final four as did most of the media, but seems like that draw has not happened yet.


In any case, no matter who Waterford match ups with it will be a good game. Interested to see how they do the final four. Ottoville and FL are very close in proximity ( an hour) . Mogadore and Waterford have a little bit more of a distance between them.(2 hours)
Will definitely be interesting to see how they match this up. And they play Friday night.

[dboy]

Waterford to play Mogadore. I am 95% sure it will be played at Dover HS.

[dboy]

Kendall Sury has been the difference in this one. 15 points.

Waterford took full advantage of the mismatch that Sury had with her defender. If you watched the game, as soon as the ball went into the post, hiland’s defense collapsed. Which opened up lanes and shooting for anyone on the outside. They (Hiland) focused solely on Wagner and Smithberger because they knew that their inside game would be an advantage for Waterford. I wouldn’t say that Sury won the game for them. I would say it was a collective whole. Wagner and Smithberger did not score a lot of points, but they played a defensive game that was unmatched. Look at the stats as a team. Those two contributed in every other stat not to mention Smithberger got laid out and Wagner took a charge that sent hilands big to the bench fouling out. Then you had Malec and Pottmeyer who stepped up and scored some great points had great passes and Malec at her size of 5 foot two (and that’s giving her a little bit), she out almost rebounded everyone that was taller than her. Yes Sury did score a lot of points, but it was because they took full advantage of that mismatch. If Hiland would have focused on her, that would’ve left Wagner and Smithberger open. I think the determining factor in this whole game was Waterford was just a better team last night. Well prepared, disciplined, and honestly, the game preparation with knowing the matchups favored Waterford in the long run. For anyone to say that Hiland team was down this year, I would have to disagree. After watching them play their tournament games, they are a very good team. Probably one of the better defensive teams that Waterford has faced other than Sheridan.

Great team win by Waterford. And good luck Friday. The matchup with Fort Loramie will be a good one.

I agree with that analysis - except the last part about the quality of this Hiland team.

No one said they weren't a good team. I've been watching them since the early 90s. So, "good" is relative. They are always fundamentally sound. Many times some fan from another team would say, "They are so talented" when they weren't that talented, just skilled and well-coached. They have had some uber talented teams - and those teams tended to win championships.

This team had some things missing that would make them state contenders. I mentioned a few of those. Making a regional final was probably the ceiling for them and they had a really fine season.

Waterford will face more talented and bigger teams in the next round. Hopefully, they will play and win two.

The same is probably true for Waterford. Good is relative to this team compared to past years. But Waterford played tremendous defense. Hiland did not hit a three until the fourth quarter and only had three for the game. You can say they had a poor shooting night but that is because of Waterford. I don't remember many, if any, open looks they got. Sury played a great game as many people have said but most are basing that on her 26 points. I thought she was tremendous on the Mullet girl. And the Pottmeyer girl was incredible. She guarded Troyer for most of the first half and gave her nothing. Troyer's threes were not when Pottmeyer was guarding her. She also guarded the Yoder girl and did not back down. Another area where i have to tip my cap to the coaching staff. Hilverding knows matchups and from what I have heard, he can game plan with the best of them. Close manages a game about as well as any coach I have seen and can get the best out of their girls. The Pottmeyer girl also guarded the Lauer kid from Marietta as i understand it so she is a dawg. Smithberger and Malec great as well and Wagner did a great job of being the decoy and deferring to the others for the better of the team. Different players carry the load at times for this team and they do it unselfishly. They played poorly in some games early on but have been rolling of late. They are the last of the TVC teams left so I will support them the rest of the way. Good luck to the wildcats from Federal Hocking.