Margaretta Polar Bears roll into district final with 54-26 semifinal win FREMONT, Ohio — The top-ranked team in the state looked the part Wednesday night. Margaretta used a dominant stretch spanning the second and third quarters to turn a competitive opening period into a runaway, defeating the Lakota Raiders 54-26 in a Division VI district semifinal at Fremont Ross High School. The Polar Bears (23-1) held a modest 12-8 advantage after one quarter before overwhelming Lakota over the next 16 minutes. Margaretta outscored the Raiders 28-7 across the middle quarters, building a 29-13 halftime lead and extending it to 40-15 entering the fourth. Senior leaders Cassidy Lane and Kenadie Saylor controlled that decisive stretch. The pair, listed at 6-foot and 5-foot-10 respectively, each finished with a game-high 16 points. Saylor poured in 14 of her points during the second and third quarters, attacking off the dribble and knocking down perimeter jumpers. Lane scored 13 of her 16 in the same span, establishing position inside and converting with polished footwork both near the rim and from short range. Margaretta seized control in the second quarter. After allowing Lakota to hang within four through the opening eight minutes, the Bears opened the second period with six straight points to push the lead to 18-8. They later closed the half on a 9-0 run, turning a competitive game into a double-digit margin by intermission. Margaretta won the quarter 17-5. Defense continued to dictate the tempo in the third. The Bears limited Lakota to just two points in the period while Lane and Saylor accounted for all 11 of Margaretta’s points. The Raiders struggled to generate clean looks as the Bears’ defensive intensity translated into transition opportunities. Margaretta’s supporting cast added balance. Ashlynn Kingsborough, Renna Keller and Addyson Fitzthum combined for 18 points. Keller scored eight and connected from beyond the arc, while Kingsborough added five points, including a 3-pointer. Fitzthum contributed five points and went 3 of 4 from the foul line. Lillian Belak chipped in three points and helped shift momentum with her defensive energy in the second quarter. Ellyse Schaefer added a free throw. The free-throw line underscored the Bears’ physical edge. Margaretta converted 14 of 24 attempts, while Lakota went just 3 of 6. Overall, the Bears made four 3-pointers — two from Saylor and one each from Keller and Kingsborough — and finished with 18 field goals. With the victory, the state’s No. 1-ranked Polar Bears advance with momentum, to Saturday's District Final against Wynford back at Fremont Ross High School at 3:00pm. MARGARETTA (23-1) Ashlynn Kingsborough 2 0-0 5, Lillian Belak 1 1-2 3, Renna Keller 2 3-4 8, Cassidy Lane 6 4-6 16, Addyson Fitzthum 1 3-4 5, Ellyse Schaefer 0 1-2 1, Kenadie Saylor 6 2-4 16. TOTALS 18 14-24 54 Lakota 8 5 2 11 — 26 Margaretta 12 17 11 14 — 54 Three-point goals: Lakota 3 (Moon 3); Margaretta 4 (Saylor 2, Keller, Kingsborough) OH Report Play of the Game: Click Here OH Report Player of the Game Interview: Click Here Matt McKenzie Photos: Click Here