Columbus — As Selection Sunday unfolded, Dublin Scioto waited patiently, knowing their path in the Division II girls basketball tournament would inevitably run through familiar territory. Three potential matchups loomed: Westerville South, Westerville Central, or Worthington Kilbourne—each presenting its own challenge on the road ahead.
When Teays Valley opted for Kilbourne’s bracket with the pick before them, the decision became clear for Dublin Scioto. For Head Coach Jermaine Hester, the path was set. “We knew our goal was to make the district finals, even if it meant facing Westerville South for a third time,” Hester said. “Once Teays Valley made their choice, I knew this was our best shot at getting there.”
All that stood between the Lady Irish and their goal was Walnut Ridge. Hampered by injuries, Walnut Ridge entered the state playoffs with a shorthanded roster, forcing them to lean heavily on senior Nya Hubbard while relying on less experienced players to fill the gaps. For Dublin Scioto, it was a matchup that played right into their hands.
Hubbard wasted no time etching her name in Walnut Ridge history, scoring her first basket to eclipse the 1,000-point milestone and finishing her career with 1,021 points. But beyond that moment, the day belonged entirely to Dublin Scioto.
The Lady Irish stumbled out of the gate offensively, but their relentless pressure proved overwhelming. Forcing 32 turnovers and crashing the boards for 16 offensive rebounds, their persistence eventually broke the game open. Niah Smedley led the charge with a dominant 23-point, 10-rebound double-double, powering Dublin Scioto to a commanding 74-35 victory over the Lady Scots.
Kamarice Jackson (13) and Ali Haywood (12) joined Smedley in double figures for Scioto, rounding out their offensive attack. On the other side, Hubbard carried Walnut Ridge with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Aniyah Brown (4) was the only other Lady Scot to score more than two points in the game.
Dublin Scioto kept their mistakes to a minimum, committing just 10 turnovers in the win—an area Head Coach Jermaine Hester knows will be crucial in Thursday’s district championship against Westerville South. “We have to take care of the ball because they will pressure us,” Hester said. “We also have to contain Peanut (Ariyana White) and White (CirRye White).”
Dublin Scioto will take on Westerville South on Thursday at 8:30 PM at the Ohio Expo Center, with a trip to the regional tournament on the line.
Footnote: Header Image Credit – Cody Wong (X/@capturedbycody)
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