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CAMBRIDGE - For River head girls basketball coach Rick Isaly, Saturday afternoon's loss to Hiland in an Ohio Division IV Eastern District Final inside Gene Ford Gymnasium at Cambridge High School was very similar to the 2023 game against the Hawks.
The Pilots (23-4) played well for the first quarter and the first four minutes of the second quarter, but then the turnover bug bit them hard.
River, ranked 10th in the final Associated Press poll, led 21-20 with just under five minutes left before halftime, two costly mistakes with the ball ignited a 9-0 run by Hiland (24-2), ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll, as it led 29-21 at the break.
"This was almost the exact same thing that happened to us last year against Hiland in this game," Isaly said. "I just watched the film this morning. We played a very good first quarter and a good half of the second quarter, but then I think we got tired. We were up one there and they made a run to get it to eight at the half."
The Pilots committed six of their 13 turnovers in the third quarter, including on four consecutive possessions around the midway points, and the high-flying Hawks made them pay.
"Then we turned the ball over numerous times in the third quarter and they pulled away. We were focused defensively on their Big 3, but they had girls knock down shots that usually don't."
Kaylee Hagan kept River in the game early on as she buried back-to-back trifectas to put the Pilots on top 21-20, but the Monroe Countians couldn't get some good, open looks to fall.
"We just couldn't get the ball to fall at times, especially in the first half," Isal;y noted. River was 15-for-43 from the floor (35 percent).
River all-Ohioan Kelsey Harlan led the Pilots with 16 points, with 11 of those coming in the second half as she was bumped and jostled all game with the ball in her hands. She capped a double-double, and outstanding career, with 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
"I feel so bad for her," Isaly said of Harlan. "She plays really hard the entire game. She's worked all her life on her game and I just feel for her. She had a tremendous career here."
Hagan added eight points and five boards. Zoe Fox had seven points, as did Maci Isaly.
Player of the Year candidate Ashley Mullett, who is headed to Division II power Ashland University, netted 10 of her team tying-high 16 points in the third quarter, including a pair of treys.Joplin Yoder added nine of her 16. Mallory Stutzman finished with 12 points. She and Yoder each had seven rebounds.
Hiland advances to regional action against Portsmouth Notre Dame on Thursday at Pickerington North High School.