Mercy's Melissa Clavier appears to lose her head fighting two Beavercreek players for a loose ball. (Mike Simon photos) | ZOOM |

        FAIRBORN — It was bound to happen. Coming off mediocre performances against Fairfield and St. Ursula, the undefeated and No. 1 ranked Beavercreek Beavers put on a clinic Saturday at Wright State University's Nutter Center.

        Shooting an incredible 63.6 from the field and 82.4 from the free throw line, the Beavers dismantled the Mercy Bobcats 59-23 to win the Division I regional championship.

        Beavercreek, the 1995 state champions and ranked No. 1 in the nation in the Fox Sports Fab 15, advances to the state semifinals on Friday (7 p.m.) at Ohio State's Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

        “Everyone said we were lucky and didn't deserve to be here,” Alison Bales, Beavercreek's 6-foot-7 sophomore center, said. “We were motivated to prove we are the best team.”

        St. Ursula could have eliminated the Beavers on Thursday in the semifinals but the Bulldogs missed two free throws with three seconds remaining and Beavercreek went on to win in overtime.

Clavier runs up against 6-7 center Alison Bales. | ZOOM |

        “They played great and stopped us totally in everything we tried to do,” Mercy coach Mary Jo Huismann said. “We were hoping they would play like they did the past couple games. We're embarrassed.”

        Beavercreek took control during the first 90 seconds. Heather Kaiser scored on a layup off the opening tipoff, Emily Williams followed with a layup off an inbounds pass and nailed a 3-pointer for a 7-0 lead.

        It didn't stop there.

        With Mercy turning the ball over on four of the first five possessions and committing four fouls, Tiffany Webb sank four consecutive free throws and Katie Hamilton added a field goal for a 13-0 lead and 18-5 at the break.

        “We challenged the girls before the game because everyone was saying we were overrated,” Beavercreek coach Ed Zink said. “Getting off to a good start was big. It gave our girls confidence and set the tone for the game.”

        During the first quarter, Beavercreek was six-of-11 from the field while Mercy was one-of-seven against the Beavers' 2-3 zone defense, which the Bobcats never solved.

Clavier (center) agonizes at the end with Siobhan Zerilla and Jen Winwright. (Mike Simon photos) | ZOOM |

        “Their zone was so active that it was hard to solve,” Huismann said. “They ran the same defense against St. Ursula, but their guards were much quicker today.”

        Leading 30-9 at halftime, Beavercreek hit eight-of-10 from the field in the third quarter to take a 48-19 lead.

        “I thought we would make a run in the third quarter,” Huismann said. “We weren't out of it until they came out strong in the third quarter.”

        After Melissa Clavier opened the third quarter with two free throws, Bales scored the next five points and the Bobcats' hopes to play in the final four were over.

        “This was by far our best game of the season offenesively and defensively,” Zink said. “Mercy is well coached and we beat a good team today.”

        MERCY (23) -- Zerilla 1-4 4-5 6, Heintz 1-4 0-0 2, M. Clavier 0-4 2-2 2, Mullen 0-2 0-0 0, Winright 3-12 0-0 8, Obert 1-2 1-2 3, Brunner 1-3 0-1 2, Dehne 0 -1 0-0 0, Rutherford 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 7-33 7-10 23.

        BEAVERCREEK (59) -- Kaiser 1-1 0-0 2, Williams 5-8 2-2 14, Bales 7-9 4-5 18, Webb 4-7 7-8 16, Hamilton 2-3 0-1 4, Ingle 1-2 1-2 3, Snyder 1-2 0-0 2, Rammel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 21-33 14-17 59.

        Mercy 5-4-10-4--23

        Beavercreek 18-12-18-11--59

        3-pointers: M (2-15) Winright 2. B (3-7) Williams 2, Webb. Rebounds: M (16) M. Clavier 3). B (26) Bales 6, Ingle 4. Assists: M (6) Heintz 2, Clavier 2. B (14) Webb 4, Hamilton 4. Turnovers: M 19, B 15. Blocks: M (0). B (5) Bales 4. Steals: M (5) Winright 4. B (15) Hamilton 4, Webb 3. Officials: Harold Steinke, Jon Warden, James Goforth. Attendance: 5,500 (estimated).

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