Columbus — Even in defeat, Hilliard Darby has shattered its ceiling as a girls’ basketball program. On Saturday, the Lady Panthers made history by playing in their first-ever district championship game, facing off against OCC rival Dublin Jerome. With both teams vying for their first district title, the game was bound to make history no matter the outcome.
Facing Dublin Jerome for the third time this season, Hilliard Darby’s preparation remained consistent, even with the high stakes. “We had a similar plan with minor adjustments,” Head Coach Chris Savage said. “When you see a team three times, you just look at the film and see what well and what didn’t.”
Both teams showed some early nerves offensively, combining for 11 turnovers in the first half. For Darby, Gianna Lane and Taylor Cahill stepped up as the offensive anchors, contributing 14 of the Lady Panthers’ 16 first-half points. Meanwhile, their defense successfully kept Dublin Jerome’s Angel Ezirim scoreless in the opening half.
Despite their strong gameplan, the Lady Panthers found themselves trailing 21-16 at halftime, as Jerome managed to close both quarters with key three-pointers that shifted the momentum. It was a factor that even the best gameplans couldn’t always account for. “They hit some shots in the first half that they might not have normally made,” Savage noted. “They had some clutch shots from clutch players.”
Dublin Jerome began to take control in the third quarter, forcing turnovers and extending their lead to double digits, finishing the period with a 34-25 advantage. The Lady Celtics focused on attacking the paint, which allowed Ezirim to find her offensive rhythm, while Darby struggled to establish any consistent flow on the offensive end.
The Lady Panthers came out strong to start the fourth quarter. Ava Baird and Taylor Cahill each hit a three-pointer, while Carmela Biedenbach’s putback layup cut the deficit to just 36-33 with 5:21 remaining in the game. It was a momentum swing, but it wouldn’t get any closer.
Dublin Jerome ultimately executed better down the stretch, securing a 48-40 victory over Hilliard Darby. Despite the loss, the Lady Panthers returned to Hilliard as district runners-up for the first time in program history, marking a significant achievement for Darby.
Senior Gianna Lane led Hilliard Darby with 15 points, while freshman Taylor Cahill stepped up with 11 points in her biggest spotlight yet. Freshman Mia Heaton and sophomore Sam McGough each grabbed 10 rebounds, helping the Lady Panthers win the rebounding battle 28-25 over Dublin Jerome. These performances offer a glimpse of the bright future that lies ahead for Darby.
This historic season has laid a solid foundation for Hilliard Darby’s future, with the team’s young roster poised to carry the momentum forward. “Gianna and Ava did an amazing job leading our program to this point and getting us to a district championship game,” Savage said. “These freshman and sophomores who played against this mature Jerome team gained experience from this. The future is bright and I am super happy about where we are going after this.”
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