COLUMBUS — Jill Vertanen spent part of this season playing on Canfield's junior varsity team. Lucky for the Cardinals that varsity coach Patrick Pavlansky decided the sophomore forward deserved a promotion.

        Vertanen scored 12 points on perfect shooting and made several key baskets in the fourth quarter as Canfield reached the Division II championship game with a 54-40 victory over Pemberville Eastwood in a state semifinal Thursday night.

        Canfield plays McNicholas Saturday.

        Vertanen, who hit 5-of-5 shots from the floor and both of her free throw attempts off the bench, hit consecutive jumpers to give the unranked Cardinals (21-6) a 45-38 lead with 5:42 to play.

        Eastwood (24-3) had just pulled within three points for the second time in the second half and looked to have the momentum.

        Vertanen changed that with two baskets, and she hit another to make it 47-40 with 2:56 to play.

        “Normally I don't like to shoot a lot, but I was open so I just knocked down shots,” Vertanen said.

        CANFIELD (21-6) - Vlajkovich 4-13 0-0 8, Playforth 3-8 4-5 10, Williams 3-8 1-3 9, Miller 0-0 0-0 0, Martin 4-13 4-6 13, Ramunno 1-1 0-0 2, Lisotto 0-0 0-0 0, Fening 0-0 0-0 0, Gifford 0-0 0-0 0, Vertanen 5-5 2-2 12, Turocy 0-0 0-0 0, Boak 0-0 0-0 0, Hoffman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 20-48 11-16 54.

        PEMBERVILLE EASTWOOD (24-3) - Lib. Speck 5-9 0-0 10, B. Hartman 5-8 4-4 14, Weiland 0-4 0-1 0, Madaras 1-3 0-2 2, Schult 4-8 4-4 12, Fox 0-0 0-0 0, Burwell 0-0 0-0 0, Lac. Speck 0-0 0-0 0, Skibicki 0-0 0-0 0, Bushman 0-0 0-0 0, W. Hartman 1-3 0-0 2, Hartley 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-35 8-11 40.

        Canfield 11 22 6 15—54

        Pemberville Eastwood 14 8 12 6—40

        3-Point Goals—Canfield 3-10 (Williams 2-6, Martin 1-2, Vlajkovich 0-1, Playforth 0-1), Pemberville Eastwood 0-5 (Lib. Speck 0-1, Weiland 0-1, Schult 0-1, W. Hartman 0-2). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—Canfield 22 (Playforth 6), Pemberville Eastwood 28 (Lib. Speck, B. Hartman 11). Assists—Canfield 9 (Playforth 4), Pemberville Eastwood 10 (Lib. Speck, Schult 3). Total fouls—Canfield 11, Pemberville Eastwood 15. A—7,386.

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