ZANESVILLE, OH — For the first time in school history, the Circleville Tigers girls basketball team has “kicked in the door” to the State Final Four.
Following a dominant 40-26 victory over Indian Creek on Friday night at Zanesville, the Tigers officially punched their ticket to the D-IV State Semifinals at the University of Dayton Arena. While the program reached the Regional Final in the 2019-20 season, this year’s squad has finally broken through to the ultimate stage.
Defensive Masterclass
The Tigers’ path to victory was paved by a clinical defensive strategy designed by Coach Blakeman. To neutralize Indian Creek star Kaydence Walker, Circleville shifted from a zone defense to a high-pressure “spy” tactic. Brooklyn Cramer and Juliana Sims-Ross shared the defensive burden, effectively shutting down Indian Creek’s primary scoring threat and holding the Redskins to just 26 points.
Edgington Dominates the Paint
On the offensive end, Addison Edgington continued her postseason tear. The star standout nearly recorded a double-double, racking up 23 points and 9 rebounds (8 of which were offensive). Remarkably, Edgington scored 14 of her points in the final 16 minutes, marking her third consecutive game scoring at least a third of the Tigers’ total points.
Supporting the effort, Maddie Blakeman contributed 8 points and 6 boards, while Sims-Ross (5), Cramer (2), and Mallory McConnell (2) helped round out the scoring.
The Ultimate Test: A Date with Perfection
Circleville (23-4) now prepares for a high-stakes collision with the Bellevue Redmen (28-0). The matchup features a battle of impressive streaks: the Tigers have won 15 straight at home, while the Redmen have won 15 straight on the road.
Bellevue enters the matchup as a juggernaut, coming off a 59-31 thrashing of Genoa Area. They have won 21 games this season by a margin of 21 points or more, setting the stage for a “David vs. Goliath” battle in Dayton.
Road to the Championship
The Tigers will compete in the second of the D-IV State Semifinal games this week:
- When: Thursday, March 12, at 2:00 p.m.
- Where: UD Arena, Dayton, Ohio.
- What’s at Stake: A win on Thursday sends the Tigers to the State Championship game on Friday the 13th at 12:30 p.m.
As the Tigers head to Dayton, the Circleville community is rallying behind a team that has already made history—and isn’t finished yet.
