Girls basketball: JA, Shekinah Christian capture district titles

By Gregg Rettig

Managing Editor

PICKERINGTON — The Jonathan Alder girls basketball team successfully defended its Central District championship last night at Pickerington High School North.

The top-seeded Pioneers knocked of eighth-seeded Mifflin, 53-37, to advance to the regional semifinal round at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at Zanesville High School.

The Pioneers (19-5) never trailed in the game and played much better last night than they did Wednesday against Centennial. Alder continually was able to get the ball in the low post and made crisp passes throughout the night.

Defensively, they played much better, too.

“I really think changing to a man-to-man (defense) helped us a lot tonight,” Alder coach Terra McDaniels said. “We were able to control the game.

“Offensively, I thought we did a good job of spreading the floor and looking for the right times to attack the basket.”

Morgan Plummer scored 12 of her 18 points for the game in the fourth quarter, while teammates Bridget Troyer had 11 and Brittany Bakenhaster finished with nine.

Shekinah Christian 55,

Worth. Christian 43

WESTERVILLE — The Shekinah Christian girls basketball team won its first-ever district championship last night, topping Worthington Christian at Westerville Central High School.

“The last three games, it’s been a different player for us each night,” Flames coach Rod Yoder said, referring to Ashley Gingerich’s 23-point effort.

The Flames (19-4) next play Thursday at Pickerington North.