Granville girls basketball leaves no doubt in victory against Heath

On Feb 23, 2023

GRANVILLE — The Granville girls basketball team led Heath 7-2 after the first quarter Wednesday, but it was a forgettable one for junior Harper Annarino as she had her shot blocked, missed two free throws and committed a foul out of frustration with the Bulldogs’ physical play.

That angst did not last long. Annarino went to work inside in the second quarter, scoring 11 points and sending top-seeded Granville on its way to a 53-21 victory against No. 9 Heath in a Division II district semifinal at Lakewood.

“We came out ready to fight, knowing they were going to have a game plan ready for all of us. We knew never to give up,” said Annarino, who outscored the Bulldogs, piling up 26 points.

“It’s the next-play mentality (Coach Tate Moore) talks about,” she added. “If something bad happens just keep playing. Let that frustration leave your head.”

Granville (23-2) plays Bishop Hartley at 1 p.m. Saturday at Capital as the Blue Aces attempt to win their third consecutive district title. The Hawks (10-14), reigning regional champions, have struggled against a difficult schedule, but they edged No. 4 River Valley 46-42 on Wednesday.

With nobody standing 6-foot or better in Heath’s first six players, Annarino scored 20 points in the team’s Licking County League meeting in December, a 61-42 Granville win. The Bulldogs (18-6) used the shorter but physical and athletic seniors Taliyah Holmes and Allie Dunlap to beat up Annarino in the game’s early going.

“We knew they were going to come in with something for Harper,” Moore said. “They were prepared, and they frustrated her. That’s a credit to Harper’s resiliency. A lot of kids if they miss some layups, get in foul trouble might get down on themselves. She keeps her head up and keeps going.”

While Annarino began to score in the paint, Granville also added a trio of 3-pointers in the first half taking a 26-5 lead. Heath could not get started against Granville’s 1-3-1 zone.

Junior Taylor Warehime and her substitute senior Ella Hoover gave Heath fits with their length. Senior Ella Schneider never let the versatile Holmes ignite as the Bulldogs missed their first nine 3-point attempts and rarely could get a shot in the paint.

“I told my girls, ‘If you get an open look, shoot the ball because a shot is better than a turnover.’ They are not only big and athletic, but they are skilled and play great team basketball,” Heath coach Katy Barry said. “If you are going to go down, you might as well go down to a team like that.”

Whereas Heath made a significant dent in its halftime deficit during the December game, Granville kept it foot on the gas in the third quarter on Wednesday as Warehime scrambled into the Heath backcourt to get a loose ball for a steal and a layup, and senior Ava Gossman and Annarino each had three baskets with one of Annarino’s being a 3 off a Gossman pass and forcing a Heath timeout.

Supporting Annarino’s 26 points was Gossman with 13. Hoover and junior Aliyah Moore each hit a 3.

“We have weapons all over the court,” Annarino said. “It doesn’t matter who they face-guard, who they put on our shooter. Anyone can score on this team. We just find who is open, who has a mismatch and play from there.”

Heath found more offense in the second half with junior Caroline Robertson and sophomore Hannah Cash each hitting a 3, and sophomore Shelby Moore scoring on a putback. Robertson led the Bulldogs with eight points, and Holmes added six.

Heath graduated four starters and coach Mark Collier resigned following a run to the district finals two seasons ago. Barry arrived with a blank slate, and Holmes, a standout four-year player, led the Bulldogs to a 12-win improvement and an LCL-Cardinal title, their first league championship since 2010, this season.

“I cannot be more proud of this group of girls,” Barry said. “We are undersized at every position, and they play their hearts out. They’ve bought into what we’ve taught them. It’s been exciting to watch. We’ve enjoyed the league championship, and it’s been fun to see the excitement of girls basketball brought to Heath.”

It will be a clash of the Central District’s best in Division II during the last few seasons. One team will extend a run of district dominance and play either John Glenn or West Holmes in Zanesville on Tuesday.

The Blue Aces, the LCL-Buckeye champions, are the No. 1 seed and have been considered the district’s top team all season. They, however, recently fell to Bexley, which is in the other district final, and have played their best this winter after a perceived slight, and Wednesday was no different.

“We found a way to play with a chip on our shoulder. We found a way to motivate our girls and play four full quarters,” Tate Moore said. “First time we played (Heath) it was 41-14 at the half. They beat us in the second half, and we have heard about that since about maybe they have found a way to beat us.”