There was a buzz inside the new Firestone High School on Thursday night for the City Series girls basketball postseason championship.
A crowd of about 1,200 braved the cold temperatures and snow outside to watch Buchtel and Firestone meet for a third time this season after splitting their regular-season matchups.
This game on this night was for the big title, and Buchtel senior Armani Jackson did not display any stage fright in scoring 28 points to lead the Griffins to a 59-44 win.
“I like this court,” said Jackson, a 5-foot-11 forward who scored 29 points at Firestone in Buchtel’s 58-45 win on Dec. 8. “I like the pressure of playing in a bigger atmosphere with more people.”
Jackson scored 20 of her 28 points Thursday in the second half. Most of her baskets were layups as Buchtel (14-7) rallied from a 26-23 halftime deficit.
“At halftime, we made an adjustment,” Buchtel coach Brian Neugebauer said. “We were playing a zone in the first half primarily, and in the second half we turned it up and went man-to-man full court. That sped the game up and caused them to make turnovers.”
Neugebauer said he was pleased with the way Jackson attacked the basket in the second half.
“Armani really got going,” Neugebauer said. “Sometimes, she starts slow and we need to pull her out, talk to her and then get her back in there. Once she gets going, though, she is a load. She can run, she can catch and she can finish around the basket. She is a good player. She imposes her speed and size on people.”
Jackson also grabbed 13 rebounds, and freshman Javaan Rogers had 11 points and five rebounds.
“Javaan is composed and not scared of big moments,” said Neugebauer, a 1991 Firestone graduate.
Senior Savannah Blackwell paced Firestone (14-8) with 17 points and six rebounds. Junior Kandyce Wharton (14 points, 14 rebounds), senior Tatiana McAdoo (five points, seven rebounds) and freshman Jayda Wallace (four points, four rebounds) were also active for the Falcons.
“One of the things that went right for us is that in the first half we came out much more aggressive,” Firestone coach Theresa Clere said. “Traditionally, we have kind of been more of a second-half team with a slower start in the beginning. Today was a little flipped.
“What kind of killed us in the second half was a few of our key players were off on offense, so it kind of took them out of their game completely, rather than looking for other ways to make up for that.”
Firestone, which won 55-52 at Buchtel on Jan. 23, finished with 22 turnovers on Thursday, 17 in the second half, compared to 16 total for Buchtel.
“In the first half, we turned the ball over,” Jackson said. “We were getting frustrated, but we went to the locker room at halftime and got it all together. We told each other we can win this game, and that is what we did in the second half.”
Buchtel received 20 points and 23 rebounds from seniors Daichele Hatcher and Terynn Williams, juniors G’Vahn Pace and Cassidy Thomas and sophomore Imani Jackson.
“This feels really good,” Rogers said. “I have never been in a championship game before tonight. I like how this feels.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.