Versailles stands between Madison, state

Mohawks look to avenge loss to Tigers in last year's regional finals.

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By Skip Weaver, Staff Writer Updated 2:37 AM Saturday, March 13, 2010

MADISON TWP. — “We don’t want to make memories. We want to make history.”

Those were among the last words Madison High School girls basketball coach John Rossi Jr. said to his team after practice Friday night, March 12.

The Mohawks (25-0) are one of eight Division III girls teams left in Ohio that will be competing today for a regional championship and a trip to the state semifinals in Columbus.

Madison tips off at 1:30 p.m. against Versailles — the last team to beat the Mohawks (in last year’s regional final) — at Springfield High School.

“Their program speaks for itself,” Rossi said of the Tigers, who have been in the state’s final four in each of the last four seasons, including a state championship in 2008.

“They have a very good, solid and physical defense and we have to withstand it,” Rossi said. “I think the Africentric game showed us that we can compete at a higher level, so we just have to go out and continue to do what we do best. Our goal is to win and advance.”

A win today would be the first regional championship for the Mohawks. They won their first district title last season.

“We didn’t expect to be there last year or this year,” Versailles coach Jacki Stonebraker said. “So to be able to play Madison again means we’re in the final and we’re very excited to play such a great team.”

Stonebraker actually predicted the Mohawks’ success after beating them last year.

“They’re going to be the team to beat in the southwest regional next year,” Stonebraker told The Journal after a 43-31 win on Saturday, March 14, 2009.

This year, the Tigers are a different team.

“At the beginning of the tournament, I would have said our defense was not as good as last year’s,” Stonebraker said. “Offensively, we’re more tentative and we slow it down more, but these seniors have been part of our tournament trail since they were freshmen. Now they are the ones we depend on and they want to make a name for themselves.”

Megan Campbell is one of six seniors on the Tigers squad. She’s been Versailles’ top player, averaging 15.9 points per game this year.

“She has been our go-to when times are tough,” Stonebraker said. “We like her to touch the ball as much as possible, but we are a complete team. The other seniors have stepped up. They don’t care what role they play. They just want to be on the court and win.”

Madison is led by junior Ally Malott and senior Lindsay Hoskins, who average 17.9 and 14.1 points per game, respectively.

Both were part of the loss to Versailles last year.

“It was pretty gut-wrenching,” said Rossi, who admitted he never watched last year’s game tape until the beginning of this season. “It was a tough pill to swallow. We don’t ever want to feel that way again and that will be a big motivation for us in this game.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.

Today’s game

What: Division III regional girls basketball final

Who: Versailles Tigers (18-6) vs. Madison Mohawks (25-0)

When: 1:30 p.m.

Where: Springfield High School

Radio: WPFB-AM (910)

What’s next: The winner advances to the state semifinals in Columbus

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