PREP ROUNDUP: Rockets rip L-B; Elida advances

March 16, 2012

COLUMBUS (AP) — Defending champion Anna ran its winning streak to 50 by defeating Findlay Liberty-Benton 58-41 in a Division III semifinal on Thursday.

The Rockets (27-0) now have the 10th longest streak in Ohio girls history. They’ll face Columbus Africentric, champions in 2007 and 2008, on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Anna, whose closest win this season was by 11 points, led 39-35 after three quarters. The team worked the ball inside to 6-foot-tall Ashley Frohne and outscored the shorter Eagles 18-4 in the fourth quarter. Frohne scored 10 of her 22 points in the fourth.

The Rockets had 42 points in the paint; Liberty-Benton (23-3) had 20.

Erica Huber had 13 points for Anna and Natalie Billing added 12. Cait Craft, an Associated Press co-player of the year along with Billing, had 15 points for the Eagles.

In the other semifinal, Kiyanna Black showed at a critical time why she is the Associated Press Division III co-player of the year as she helped lead Africentric to a 57-37 win against Smithville.

Black had 16 points and was at her best late in the second quarter when Smithville (26-1) cut a 10-point deficit in half.

The Nubians (22-4) outscored Smithville 16-8 in the third quarter and were never threatened.

ELIDA 77, BENEDICTINE 71

TOLEDO — The Elida Bulldogs pulled off a 77-71 overtime win over the Cleveland Benedictine Bengals in a Division II boys basketball regional semifinal Thursday at the University of Toledo.

With the win, the Bulldogs advance to play Sandusky Perkins (23-2) in the regional final at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Elida (22-3) got 21 points and nine rebounds from senior Reggie McAdams.  Sophomore Dakota Mathias scored 20 points.  Junior Aric Thompson added 16 points.  And senior Cory Royster posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards.

Benedictine jumped out to an 8-0 lead before the Bulldogs clawed their way back into the game.  Elida was 5-of-7 from the free throw line in overtime.