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HARRISON — For the 11th time in the 11 years Lakota West High School's girls basketball program has existed, the Firebirds will play in a Division I sectional final.

And it couldn't have come any easier for the state's third-ranked squad.

West dominated in every facet of the game, rolling past Greater Miami Conference foe Hamilton 83-33 Saturday afternoon in a sectional semifinal at Harrison.

The top-seeded Firebirds (21-1) will face No. 18 Turpin (15-7) at 6 p.m. Friday at Harrison.

"The girls came out and executed the game plan," West coach Andy Fishman said. "It's great to play a team like Hamilton. You know they're going to play hard and be well-coached.

"You don't look at the score," he continued. "You look at what you get out of it. Their organization made us execute our game plan and made it a worthwhile game."

Senior Amber Gray filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, nine boards, six blocks, five assists and three steals.

Junior Alexis Rogers (12 points) and senior Stephanie Whitenack (10) also reached double figures for the Firebirds, who had 30 assists on their 34 baskets and had all 12 players score.

"We shared the ball," said Whitenack, who dished out five assists. "That's a big part of our game. Our team is so deep, and we can all do that. We can all count on each other for support."

West burst out to a 12-3 lead on back-to-back free-throw-line jumpers from Rogers, then Kindsay Brandt scored seven points in an 81-second span late in the first quarter to help the Firebirds take a 22-8 advantage after one frame.

Included in Brandt's scoring surge was a traditional three-point play in which she was the recipient of a textbook behind-the-back pass from Gray on a two-on-one break.

West outscored the Big Blue 20-2 in the second quarter to put the game out of hand.

"Offensively, we got the shots we expected to get out of their zone," Fishman said. "Our ball movement was excellent."

Senior Emma Zieverink distributed a team-high six assists, and classmate Quinessa Johnson had five of the Firebirds' 20 steals.

No. 32 Hamilton — which finishes the season 2-19 — was led by freshman Dominique Singletary, who scored 15 points, while junior Sarah Goins added eight points.

"I think they should win the whole thing (the state title)," HHS coach Jesse Weisbrod said of West. "That's the best girls basketball team I've ever seen. They're very well-coached, very fundamental and they play well together. They can definitely do it."

It was the final game for three Big Blue seniors — Nicole Fansler, Mary Franklin and Lanie Calihan.

"They've meant a lot to the program," Weisbrod said. "It's been a frustrating season, but I've seen a lot of positives. The kids could have laid down and quit, but they showed great character and drive to get better every day at practice. I'm very proud of them."

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113

or smatthews@coxohio.com.