MiddletownJournal.com

COLUMBUS — For nearly the past two weeks, Lakota West High's girls basketball team has been living in a world of uncertainty.

So it was only appropriate that the season's biggest game on the biggest stage was postponed due to the blizzard warning that struck the Ohio Valley.

The Firebirds' state finals showdown with Mount Notre Dame that was originally slated for 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, was moved to the same time Monday, March 10, at Ohio State's Value City Arena.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association made the announcement around 9 a.m. Saturday. All of Saturday's championship games were rescheduled for Monday.

West coach Andy Fishman — whose squad had to deal with three schedule changes during regionals — said his players are taking it all in stride.

"When you're 15, 16, 17 years old, if you compare this to a typical snowy Saturday, they have it better than most teenagers," Fishman said. "They're not restricted to their home. They have each other, plus they have an indoor waterpark (Fort Rapids)."

Aside from all the scheduling adjustments, the Firebirds' charter bus broke down Friday night, March 7, and another one was provided by Crown. They retained the same bus driver, Frank Blue, though.

West will make a decision this morning on whether to return to West Chester Twp. today, March 9.

"Everything that they've done for many years, even prior to high school, was geared to playing in the Final Four," Fishman said. "Then to beat a storied program like Boardman to get to play in the championship, it's a great honor. At this point, how can you let anything else get in the way or distract you or deter you? It's just ironic that the longest season in school history is going to get a little longer."

The third-ranked Firebirds (26-1) defeated Youngstown Boardman 62-42 Friday night in the state semifinals, setting up a rematch with the second-ranked Cougars (25-2), who have won three out of the last four state titles — including the last two — and knocked the Firebirds out of the last two postseasons.

The Firebirds defeated MND 61-55 in the season-opener for both teams back on Nov. 21 at West.

West athletic director Gerry Weisgerber said pep buses will be organized Monday morning at school; 120 students had signed up for Friday night's contest.

"I'm glad that they did move it back to Monday," Weisgerber said. "It would have been tough to get there (Saturday). The roads should be cleared Monday to get up there. I imagine we'll have a nice crowd Monday night."

Pep buses for West students will leave the school at 5 p.m. Monday. All students will receive free T-shirts and rally towels, and will need to purchase tickets at the game ($10 each).

On Monday, the Division II game will tip-off at 10:45 a.m., with the D-IV contest scheduled for 2 p.m. followed by D-III at 5:15 p.m.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5113 or smatthews@coxohio.com.