Minster on roll heading to state

MINSTER — Minster coach Nann Stechschulte was less than pleased with the team’s 6-7 start.

However, she knew with a few adjustments the team could steer its way back on course. After all, the losses were to quality opponents Liberty-Benton, Celina, Delphos St. John’s, Ottoville, Kalida, Mogadore and Marion Local.

“We went through a really tough stretch in the middle of the season against mostly state-ranked teams,” Stechschulte said. “Our losses came to teams who had a combined record of 140-18 through the district. I’m proud of the way the girls stuck in there. They could have folded up the tent.”

Minster (18-7), which has won 12 in a row, will meet No. 2-ranked Berlin Hiland (24-2) in the Division IV girls basketball state semifinals at 1 p.m. Friday at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.

The Division IV state championship is set for 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

This is Minster’s third trip to state. Minster and Stechschulte have won two state titles, in 1998 and 2004. Berlin Hiland is a four-time state champion (2000, ’05, ’06, ’08).

On Jan. 16, Minster was blown out by Mogadore 73-50 at the Berlin Hiland Classic in the Country tournament. Five days later, Minster bounced back with a 38-36 victory over Fort Recovery.

Stechschulte said the key was getting the guards to become more offensive-minded. They couldn’t continue to only force the ball inside.

“We needed more help from the perimeter to help the big kids out,” Stechschulte said.

Next came a 40-29 loss to Ottoville on Jan. 23 to drop the team’s record at 6-7. But the tide was turning.

“Late in the Ottoville game the guards did a good job pressuring the ball and I had underestimated them,” Stechschulte said. “I didn’t let them loose. Since then, I’ve let them loose. We now jump the ball more in our man. I’ve set them free.”

Minster hasn’t lost since.

Delanie Wolf, a 5-foot-10 junior forward, leads the team in scoring at 10.4. In the tournament, she’s averaging 15.2 points. In the 51-41 regional title victory over Riverdale, Wolf had 16 points and 10 rebounds. She hit 7 of 8 from the field.

Erica Fullenkamp, a 5-11 junior, is averaging 8.8 points. Fullenkamp suffered an ankle injury in the first minute of the regional semifinal win over Pandora-Gilboa and missed the regional title game.

“It’s a second-degree sprain and it was purple the next day,” Stechschulte said. “It’s a lower-ankle sprain. She can run straight, but can’t run or jump on it.”

If Fullenkamp isn’t able to start Friday, Kayla Wuebker, who scored 12 in the regional title game, will get the start.

The center is 6-2 sophomore Tara Clune (6.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg), who is averaging 7.2 points in the tournament. The starting guards are 5-4 senior Sarah Huelsman (5.0 ppg) and 5-6 junior Maria Dahlinghaus (5.0 ppg).

Berlin Hiland lost in the state championship game to Africentric last year, 55-46. The team’s persona over the years has been full-out press-and-run. Hiland averages 69 points per game and gives up 34. Minster, on the other hand, averages 45 points and gives up 39.

“We like to put pressure on people and play a lot of kids. That’s still our style,” Berlin Hiland coach David Schlabach said. “But Minster has lot of kids that can handle the basketball. … Games in Columbus come down to what you can do in the half-court sets.”

Leading the way for the Hawks is 5-7 senior guard Hilary Weaver (14.5 ppg).

“The team’s personality comes from our point guard, Hilary Weaver,” Schlabach said. “She’s been running the point for four years. Her mentality filtrates down to our other kids.”

Guard Noelle Yoder, a 5-7 senior, averages 12.7 points. Rounding out the backcourt are 5-9 sophomore McKenzie Miller (8.5 ppg) and 5-7 senior Jessica Stutzman (6.2 ppg). Katelyn Stuckey, a 5-10 senior, is averaging 8.6 points and 6 rebounds.

Projected starting lineups

MINSTER (18-7)

C — Tara Clune, 6-2, Soph., 6.0 ppg

F — Erica Fullenkamp, 5-11, Jr., 8.8 ppg

F — Delanie Wolf, 5-10, Jr., 10.4 ppg

G — Sarah Huelsman, 5-4, Sr., 5.0 ppg

G — Maria Dahlinghaus, 5-6, Jr., 5.0 ppg

BERLIN HILAND (24-2)

F — Katelyn Stuckey, 5-10, Sr., 8.6 ppg

G — Hilary Weaver, 5-7, Sr., 14.5 ppg

G — Noelle Yoder, 5-7, Sr., 12.7 ppg

G — McKenzie Miller, 5-9, Soph., 8.5 ppg

G — Jessica Stutzman, 5-7, Sr., 6.2 ppg